Helping Seniors Navigate the Common Cold
Home Care Assistance: Preventing Senior Colds in Grand Rapids, MI
The common cold is an inherent menace that arrives with the frigid winter winds. This seasonal annoyance might be particularly difficult for seniors to deal with since their immune systems may not be as strong as they once were. However, seniors can successfully navigate through the chilly season by using a small amount of advance planning along with a dash of common sense. In addition, the home care assistance they receive from seniors and loved ones can go a long way.
Give Prevention First Priority
Having home care assistance gives seniors built-in encouragement to prioritize prevention. Some of the ways home care aides and loved ones can help seniors are explored below:
Hand Hygiene: Seniors should wash their hands often, preferably for at least 20 seconds, using soap and water, especially after being in public or among sick people.
Refrain from Touching Their Face: The mouth, nose, and eyes are viral entrance locations. Seniors should avoid touching their faces as much as possible, especially with unclean hands.
Keep Away from Sick People: While maintaining social connections is crucial, seniors should use caution when hanging around with those who might be feeling sick.
Strengthen The Defenses
In addition to prioritizing prevention, it’s crucial to strengthen defenses. What does that mean? Continue reading to learn more.
Nutritious Diet: Seniors can strengthen their immune system by eating a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. For some, this might be easy, but for others, they might not be sure where to start. The good news is that seniors with home care assistance gain help with healthy meal planning, prepping, and cooking.
Maintain Hydration: Getting enough liquids, especially water and herbal teas, will help keep seniors’ mucous membranes hydrated and less susceptible to infection. This is another area where seniors with home care assistance thrive since home care aides can remind seniors to drink even when they’re not thirsty.
Maintain Proper Respiratory Hygiene
In addition to regular hygiene tips and tricks, seniors should be encouraged to use proper respiratory hygiene as well. Some tips include the following:
Cover Coughs and Sneezes: With home care assistance by their side, seniors can be reminded to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of their elbow when they cough or sneeze and to throw away tissues right away.
Put on a Mask: If seniors find it difficult to maintain social distance in crowded or indoor environments, wearing a mask can offer an additional degree of protection for them and other people.
Seniors can confidently navigate through the winter season with these common-sense strategies, even though the common cold may be a familiar nemesis. The tips above allow them to lessen the negative effects of colds and other respiratory infections on their health and wellbeing by emphasizing prevention, boosting their immune system, adhering to good respiratory etiquette, and more. In addition, seniors with home care assistance will have the support they need if they do get a cold.
Sources: Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3
If you or someone you know needs help with Home Care Assistance in Grand Rapids, MI contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
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