Seniors and Pneumonia: Everything You Need to Know

Vancouver Senior Health  |  January 28, 2019

What Every Senior in Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About Pneumonia This Season

Seniors and Pneumonia | Heart disease, cancer, and other major diseases usually top the list for health concerns of aging adults, but pneumonia needs to be considered, as well. It’s especially life-threatening to older adults. Viruses, bacteria, or fungi can cause pneumonia, with more than a million people hospitalized from it each year. Many of those are over 65 years of age. Seniors are predisposed to pneumonia as they age.

Seniors and Pneumonia: What Happens As We Age?

Our immunity weakens as we age, reducing natural defences to flu, infections, and even the common cold.  This makes seniors more susceptible to health problems with slower recovery rates, as well. People in weakened states, perhaps from illness or post-surgery, are even more vulnerable. It can become hard to cough and clear out the lungs. At that point, a common cold can lead to lung infection. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), diabetes, HIV, cardiac disease, and other conditions create even bigger challenges for recuperation.

Although pneumonia is commonplace for seniors, it’s not a normal part of aging and we can reduce the likelihood of pneumonia by taking precautions. Reduce your own risk as much as possible with the following precautions.

Seniors and Pneumonia: Precautions

• Keep Updated on Vaccinations: Talk with your doctor. Perhaps he or she will recommend vaccinations for flu and pneumonia before flu season.
• Keep Hands Clean: Suds up your hands often with soap and water and keep sanitizer in your purse or pocket for those times when you can’t avoid touching germy surfaces.
• Stop smoking ASAP: Smoking takes its toll on the body. It reduces immunity even further, putting people at higher risk for illness.
• Build Your Immunity with Healthy Foods: Talk with your doctor. Ask for a recommended diet to strengthen your immune system.

Comfort Keepers® is the Best Senior Home Care Provider in Vancouver, BC

Comfort Keepers® is the preferred choice for many families when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, Respite Care, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Interactive Caregiving™

Comfort Keepers®’s trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. Learn more about our unique service which offers personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers® Vancouver office.

Comfort Keepers® Brings You The Best Home Care Assistance Right Where You Live.

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide home care throughout Vancouver that keeps seniors safe in their homes. We provide home care for the seniors of Vancouver and the surrounding areas of Burnaby, Langley, Maple Ridge, and Richmond please call (604) 689-8609. 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers® offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada. 

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