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Healthy Habits to Prevent Illness

By: acd499c4_admin November 5, 2015

Being a caregiver for senior home care requires having vigilance during cold and flu season to provide a healthy environment for your client. While having germs in our environments can be stimulating to our immune systems, certain germs are not good. Taking steps to prevent illness during cold and flu season will reduce the chances of the flu turning into pneumonia, which is more common in the elderly than younger people. Therefore, preventative care is a top priority.

Working in senior home care requires helping clients to practice good hand washing techniques, get the recommended amount and type of exercise, and eat a nutritious diet. Keeping a clean house will help in limiting the germs that are present too, especially homes. Since our bodies depend on being hydrated to work efficiently, it is important to drink plenty of water. Avoid sugary drinks and alcohol, because they dampen the immune system, and cigarettes to avoid aggravating the airways. As a caregiver for in-home health care, help your clients stay healthy this cold and flu season.

Working with the client to get immunizations for both the flu and pneumonia will help reduce the chances of becoming ill when so many viruses are circulating. As a caregiver, you can watch for symptoms and help to address health concerns early on if any symptoms present. Symptoms of the flu may include fever, headache, fatigue, a dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, achiness, vomiting, dizziness, and/or a sore throat. The flu usually includes several of the symptoms and has a quick onset. The flu can develop into pneumonia. Pneumonia may have different symptoms, depending on the type: bacterial, viral, advanced viral, or walking. If your client has difficulty breathing, pain in the chest, shortness of breath or any other severe symptoms, contact their health care provider immediately. 

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