Elder Care Millington TN

Pneumonia can be one of the most dangerous infections that your elder parent can experience in their later years. While it can and does occur at any age, adults over the age of 64 are at particular risk for developing pneumonia, and are the most likely to experience severe consequences including death. As a family caregiver, it is essential that you help your elder parent reduce their risk so that they can stay as healthy as possible throughout their later years.

Some ways that you can help your aging parent avoid pneumonia include:

• Make handwashing an important part of the day. Handwashing is an extremely important part of controlling germs and helping to prevent illness and infection. Wash your hands regularly throughout the day and make sure that your aging parent washes their hands before and after tasks such as using the bathroom, cooking, eating, caring for animals, touching money, taking out the trash, or coming into contact with others.

• Encourage them to stop smoking. Use of tobacco products puts your parent at increased risk of developing pneumonia. If your parent smokes, encourage them to stop to help them improve their lung health, prevent this infection, and reducing the severity of the consequences if this illness does arise.

• Pay close attention to any illnesses. Pneumonia can develop from even minor respiratory illnesses, so pay close attention any time that your aging parent develops symptoms of illness, or becomes sick and does not get better within a few days. This is especially important if they seem to get worse when they should be recovering, or develop new symptoms.

• Ask about the vaccine. Talk to your aging parent’s doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine. They can evaluate your parent’s health and risk factors and give recommendations about whether this type of vaccination might be right for your aging parent to help them reduce the risk of experiencing this type of infection.

• Live a healthy lifestyle. One of the most basic ways that you can help protect your senior from illnesses and infections including pneumonia is to encourage them to live a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a well-balanced, healthy diet and staying active to keep their body strong, getting enough rest, and practicing germ control in their home.

If you are concerned about your elder parent’s health, especially during the fall and winter seasons, starting elder care for them might be the ideal solution. An elder home care services provider can offer your aging parent a highly personalized set of services tailored to their individual needs, challenges, and limitations, as well as their personality, beliefs, and lifestyle. Through this customized approach to care, support, encouragement, and assistance this care provider can help your parent manage their condition, get through their recovery in the most effective way possible, stay healthier and safer, and avoid future infections and illnesses.

When it comes to helping your parent avoid pneumonia, this elder care provider can help your parent eat a healthier diet, stay more active, and practice aggressive germ control that will help them to prevent illness and infection. With a continued care relationship, your parent can enjoy a lifestyle that is more active, engaged, and independent for a healthier, happier, and higher quality of life.

Source: https://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/preventing-pneumonia.html?

For Elder Care Services in Millington TN, please contact the caring staff at Personal Care Services MidSouth today!