The flu can be a scary thing for elderly adults and their family caregivers.
You know that seniors tend to have an immune system that is not as effective as those of younger adults, meaning that they are more vulnerable to illness and infection, and have a more difficult time fighting off these illnesses and infections if they do develop them. This means that your senior is not only more likely to contract the flu but have a higher risk of suffering potentially serious consequences that can result, including increased risk of further infections such as pneumonia and even death. As a family caregiver, it is critical that you give your aging parent attentive, meaningful care as they are dealing with the flu so that you can help them to cope with their symptoms and recover as quickly and effectively as possible.
Use these tips to help you care for a senior who is suffering from the flu:
Encourage your parent to get plenty of rest. The flu tends to cause fatigue, but it is also important that they rest so they can give their body the opportunity to heal and fight the illness. Doing too much and over-tiring themselves can give the virus more time to thrive and cause more serious problems
Increase the amount of senior care that they are receiving so that they are not inclined to do too much while they are recovering. This care provider can handle tasks such as tidying up the house, doing laundry, preparing meals and washing dishes so that your parents can get more rest
Encourage your aging parent to drink as many fluids as is safe and healthy for them. If they do not have any restrictions regarding their fluid intake, encourage them to drink as much as they will. This will help their body to stay properly hydrated and encourage better fighting of the virus
Treat the symptoms with over the counter medications and remedies that are recommended by their doctor. While these will not actually fight the virus itself, they will help your parent to feel more comfortable, improving their rest and making it easier for their body to fight
Avoid contact with others who have been sick and discourage much visiting as this can expose your parent to other germs that can cause them to contract another infection or illness while their immune system is compromised
Though they may not have much of an appetite, encourage your parent to get as much high-quality nutrition as they can to support their immune system. Smoothies and soups are often easy to consume vehicles for nutrients
Starting senior care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make for your elderly parent during the course of your caregiver journey with them.
A senior home care services provider can be there with your aging parent on a schedule that is fully customized not just to your parent’s individual needs and challenges, but also to the care efforts that you give them. This ensures that your parent gets all of the care, support, and assistance that they need while also keeping you at the forefront of their care routine. The highly personalized services of this care provider are designed to help your parent manage their needs in the way that is right for them while also encouraging a lifestyle that is an independent, active, and engaged as they age in place. These can include assistance with personal care tasks, mobility support, help to keep the home clean and provide transportation to get your parent where they need and want to go on their own schedule.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Senior Care in Rockridge CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203
https://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.who.int/
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