Seniors Need to Know About The Risks of Pneumonia

Edmonton Senior Health  |  January 19, 2024

What Every Senior in Edmonton, AB, Needs to Know About the Risks of Pneumonia

What do you need to know about the risks of pneumonia? Seniors are often afflicted with numerous health conditions. Cardiac disease and cancer usually top the list, but pneumonia is another life-threatening condition for seniors.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a respiratory lung infection initiated by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Seniors make up the more than a million people who are hospitalized annually as a result of pneumonia.

Are seniors predisposed to pneumonia more than other age groups?

The immune system weakens as we age and our natural defenses against colds, flu, and infections become less reliable and this makes seniors more susceptible to the germs.

A senior patient recovering from illness or surgery is more susceptible to becoming ill. Even a common cold can quickly lead to a lung infection making it harder to rid the lungs of infectious elements. Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), HIV, heart disease, and other conditions can make greater challenges for a quick recovery, too.

Pneumonia may commonly occur, but it is not an anticipated part of aging. We can reduce the risk of pneumonia by being proactive. Of course, there’s no guarantee, but adults can reduce their risk as much as possible. Here are some suggestions for maintaining better health this year.

Reduce the Risks of Pneumonia:

• Get vaccinated: Influenza can lead to pneumonia, so talk with your doctor about the flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
• Practice good hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly and often. Keep sanitizer available and as much as possible avoid touching surfaces like door handles and grocery cart handles.
• Stop smoking: Smokers are at a higher risk for pneumonia, as well as other illnesses, so stop!
• Build immunity through diet: Talk to your physician about a diet to help strengthen the immune system.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is Proud to Offer a Wide Range of Home Senior Care Services

Our trained caregivers will ensure your loved one is comfortable, independent and safe in their home. On top of that, we will also aim to enhance their overall health, quality of life and general happiness. 

Top-Notch Home Healthcare for Seniors in Edmonton, Alberta

Comfort Keepers of Edmonton offers a wider range of senior care services. We offer retirement care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, and senior living transition services. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care and more!

Helping Seniors Age-in-Place with Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our clients’ needs. Our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind, empathy. We strive to stimulate our clients emotionally, mentally and socially, thus enhancing their overall quality of life. 

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). The system increases seniors’ sense of well-being, independence and companionship by focusing on Senior Mind, Senior Body, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Safety.

Affordable and Client-Directed Homecare is Available for Qualifying Albertans

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. 

What is the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program (CDHCI)?

CDHCI is a great program provided by Alberta Health Services (AHS), allowing clients to choose an approved agency like, Comfort Keepers Edmonton for Personal Care, Respite Care and Homemaking needs. The chosen agency can then bill AHS directly for services rendered for approved hours through Alberta Blue Cross. Read more about the program HERE.

Accredited Home Care Edmonton

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton was awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada. This honour demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton, AB.

To learn more about senior in-home care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office. Our service territory includes Edmonton, Devon, Sherwood Park, Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office at 780-465-4665.

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