Caring for Seniors During Flu Season

Flu vaccinations are in plentiful supply this year. Anyone caring for a senior should get a seasonal flu shot and make sure the senior gets immunized too. Keep in mind there is more than one strain of the flu virus. The influenza vaccine is updated every year to include current viruses. The Center for Disease Control shares helpful tips for managing caregiving during the flu season.

For older adults, the seasonal flu can be very serious, even deadly. Each year in the U.S., an average of 23,600 deaths result from flu-related causes and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from serious flu complications.

Fast Fact:  90% of flu-related deaths and more than 50% of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people age 65 and older.

Quick Tips for Caregivers During Flu Season

• Ill caregivers should not be involved in caring for senior clients as they may already have compromised immune systems. Even using a mask will not be adequate to prevent possible transmission. Take sick leave and do not return to work until 24-hours after a fever has subsided.

• Do not share food, utensils and drinks to avoid passing along any flu virus and germs

• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used and wash your hands afterwards

• Keep surfaces, especially bedside tables and bathroom surfaces clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant

• Wash bed linens separately and avoid hugging laundry prior to washing, use household laundry soap and tumble dry on a hot setting. Clean your hands with a water or alcohol-based hand rub right after handling dirty laundry.

• Wash eating utensils immediately after use using hot water and soap.

• Avoid face-to-face contact and wear a face mask

• Be aware that you can be contagious to spread the flu virus from 1 day prior to developing symptoms to up to 7 days afterwards.

Preventive Care Actions:

• Avoid people who are sick with the flu
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Wash your hands often
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth
• Get plenty of sleep, stay physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food

Note: flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue but not always vomiting and diarrhea. Some people may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms only.

Seniors, age 65 years and older will have 2 flu shots available to choose from this year: a regular dose flu vaccine and a new flu vaccine designed for older adults which is a higher dose. This should result in a stronger immune response. Both vaccines will protect against the same 3 flu viruses.

http://www.flu.gov/widgets/vaccinelocator.html