Pneumonia in Seniors: Symptoms, Treatments, and Prevention

Vancouver Senior Health  |  November 30, 2020

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

Pneumonia in Seniors | As a natural part of aging, seniors are much more susceptible to medical complications – including pneumonia. Pneumonia, one of the most common infections in older adults, is an inflammatory condition that affects air sacks in one or both lungs. The symptoms of pneumonia can range from mild to severe. Unfortunately, when seniors are in question, pneumonia can be fatal.

This article can help you recognize the signs of pneumonia and learn more about available treatment options, helping your loved ones stay healthy throughout their golden years.

Symptoms of Pneumonia in Seniors

The common signs of pneumonia are coughing, fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing out green or yellow sputum, and fatigue. A sudden worsening of the cold or flu can be also triggered by pneumonia.

Why Is Pneumonia More Common in Seniors?

Lungs change as we age – Our respiratory system gets weaker with age. As a result, seniors sometimes cannot properly clear out the secretion that may accumulate in their lungs. When those secretions go down into the bronchial tubes, an infection may arise.

Weak immune system – Aging adults have a hard time fighting off infections because of their deteriorating immune systems. Certain health issues can even make these infections more severe – issues such as recent organ transplants, long-time steroid use, chemotherapy, and more.

Chronic medical conditions – Many seniors live with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to pneumonia. Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, various types of cancer, cystic fibrosis, asthma, bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can all lead to developing pneumonia in the golden years.

Treatments for Pneumonia in Seniors

Your loved one’s physician will typically recommend a chest X-ray and blood tests. This will help determine whether they have pneumonia and find out about the origin of the infection. If pneumonia is bacterial, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics. On the other hand, when the infection is viral, the treatment will call for antiviral medicine. To alleviate the symptoms and boost treatment, doctors may also recommend your loved one take fluids, oxygen, and pain relief.

Minimizing the Risk of Pneumonia in the Elderly

There are several ways through which seniors can significantly reduce the risk of developing pneumonia. For instance, your elderly loved one can:

• Get a one-time pneumococcal vaccine and receive a seasonal flu shot once a year.
• Maintain good hygiene and wash hands regularly
• Refrain from tobacco or quit smoking altogether
• Practice a healthy lifestyle consisting of senior-friendly exercise and a well-balanced, nutritious diet.

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

Many families prefer Comfort Keepers® when arranging senior home care services for a loved one in or around Vancouver, British Columbia. 

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones, we can help with 24-hour care. Comfort Keepers Vancouver also provides home care services like respite care, overnight care, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care, personal care, and more! 

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver Can Help with Companion Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Personal and empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our clients’ needs. Comfort Keeper’s philosophy is to elevate the human spirit, and our caregivers ensure your loved one experiences a better quality of life.

Trained caregivers help provide our senior clients with personal home care to help maintain the highest possible quality of life, keeping them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ delivers a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Bring The Best Home Care Assistance for Seniors Right Where You Live with Comfort Keepers®

Comfort Keepers® Vancouver is proud to provide elder care in homes throughout Vancouver, keeping 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. 

Personal Care and Senior Homecare in Vancouver, BC

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.

Accredited and Quality Respite Care Available 24/7 for British Columbia Families

Accreditation Canada has awarded Comfort Keepers® Vancouver with Exemplary Standing. This designation is only achieved after an organization’s policies, procedures, and processes undergo a thorough evaluation by industry experts to ensure they meet or exceed the stringent quality standards set by Accreditation Canada for Home Care companies.

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