Elderly Care in Mansfield OH
The fall is here and that means that if you are like many family caregivers, you are thinking about the cold and flu season. This is a time when your elderly parent is extremely vulnerable to illness and infection, putting them at serious risk of dangerous health complications. Since elderly adults have a less effective immune system than younger adults, an infection or illness that might seem minor to a younger adult can develop into something very dangerous, such as pneumonia. Understanding the risks of illness that they face can help you to be the most effective caregiver possible for your elderly loved one.
Some things that you should know about the flu and your elderly loved one include:
- “Flu” is short for influenza, a term that encompasses several respiratory viruses
- The flu can range from a very mild condition to one so severe that it can threaten your aging parent’s life
- Though many people immediately think of a fever when they are contemplating the symptoms of a serious condition, not everyone who has the flu will experience a fever
- Adults who develop the condition can spread the virus to others starting the day before they start exhibiting symptoms and can continue to spread it for up to a week after starting to exhibit symptoms
- Your elderly loved one may be contagious for a longer period of time due to their weakened immune system
- Most people begin to show symptoms of the flu between 1 and 4 days after coming into contact with the germ
- Flu is spread primarily through respiratory droplets that travel through the air when a person talks, sneezes, or coughs. These droplets can land in the nose or mouth of a person nearby, or onto a hard surface, which can then transfer into a person’s mouth or nose when they touch that surface
- Flu can develop into a variety of conditions including ear infections, pneumonia, sinus infections, and dehydration, as well as worsen other conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, and diabetes
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends handwashing, avoiding contact with sick people, and considering a flu vaccine as means of preventing the flu
If your aging parent has been suffering from an illness or infection, or you are concerned about their health and wellbeing during the cold and flu season, starting elderly care for them may be the ideal solution for feeling more confident. An elderly home care services provider can be with your aging loved one to help them through their recovery period and then to encourage them to live a healthier lifestyle so that they can avoid future illness and infections. This can include a variety of tasks including bringing your parent to the grocery store to help them select healthy foods, assistance with meal preparation, encouraging them to stay more active and engaged, and helping them to establish and maintain a healthy sleep pattern. This can help your parent to live a lifestyle that is safe, comfortable, healthy, and as independent as possible.
If you are considering hiring elderly care in Mansfield, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Mt. Gilead, Loudonville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Wooster, and the surrounding areas.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
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