Seniors with Pneumonia: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention

Vancouver Senior Home Care  |  January 27, 2020

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

What we need to know about Seniors with Pneumonia. With age immune system tends to weaken, which is why seniors are more prone to various infections. Unfortunately, one of them is pneumonia. It infects one or both lungs and it can be mild as well as severe. In some cases, it can even be fatal. This infection is mostly caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi that enter the lungs and trigger inflammation.

Seniors with Pneumonia: How Age Affects the Chances of Infection

#1. Changes to the lungs as we age.

Older adults are often not able to clear secretions from their lungs. These discharges go sown into bronchial tubes and lead to an infection.

#2. Weakened immune systems.

Seniors often have weakened immune systems, which is especially the case with individuals who have gone through chemotherapy, had organ transplants or have been taking certain medications for a long period.

#3. Senior health conditions.

Older adults who have conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, HIV, cystic fibrosis, asthma, and COPD are more prone to infections.

Signs of Pneumonia in Seniors

Seniors who have been infected show symptoms such as coughing, fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain and fatigue.

Seniors with Pneumonia: Treatments

To determine whether a patient has pneumonia, doctors will do a blood test and a chest X-ray. If a senior is diagnosed with pneumonia, apart from medications, health providers can give them fluids, oxygen, and painkillers.

Seniors with Pneumonia: Reducing the Risk

There are several ways seniors can reduce their risk of pneumonia. Older adults who are interested in pneumonia prevention should talk to their doctor and determine the best plan.

Get vaccinated. Every senior should get an annual flu shot as well as a one-time pneumonia vaccine that keeps them protected from the pneumonia bacteria.

Take steps to quit smoking. Smokers have lungs with weaker defense mechanisms and therefore are at greater risk of pneumonia.

Practice a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise and healthy nutrition can boost one’s immune system and lower the risk of pneumonia.

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 Respite Care, Overnight Care, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care, End of Life Care, and much more! 

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

Trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep 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).

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. 

Seniors with Pneumonia and 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.

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

We are 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. 

Quality and Accredited Respite Care for British Columbia Families

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. 

Share This Post: