Seniors Need to Know About The Risks of Pneumonia

Edmonton Senior Health  |  January 19, 2024

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

The Risks of Pneumonia | Numerous health conditions are connected with older adults. Cardiac disease and cancer usually top the list, but pneumonia is also a life-threatening condition that must be taken seriously.

Pneumonia is a respiratory lung infection initiated by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. More than a million people are hospitalized annually in the U.S. as a result of pneumonia, and many are seniors. Are seniors predisposed to pneumonia more than other age groups?

The problem is that the immune system weakens as we age and our natural defenses to colds, flu, and infections become less reliable than when we are younger, making seniors more susceptible.

If a senior patient is in a weakened state while recovering from illness or surgery, it’s even worse. It may be harder for him or her to cough and rid the lungs of infectious elements. At that point, even a common cold can quickly lead to a lung infection.

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® in Edmonton Can Help with In-Home Elder Care!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with retirement care, 24-hour care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers®’ are trained caregivers who help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Moreover, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality: empathy. Empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. 

Home Care Edmonton

To learn more about senior care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office to discuss our unique service offering. If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

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

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible. Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services, clearly demonstrating Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton.

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