The Most Common Infections in Seniors

While various types of infections can happen to anyone, as your senior ages and their body changes, they become more at risk for these kinds of illnesses. In order to preserve your elderly loved one’s good health, it’s important to understand the kinds of infections to which they are most susceptible. Senior health experts explain that the following infections are commonly seen in elderly people:

Urinary Tract Infections

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) states that urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common bacterial infection in seniors. UTI risks are heightened for seniors who must use catheters. While your elderly loved one may experience pain or discomfort at the onset of a UTI, the infection doesn’t always show itself physically. Look for sudden changes in behavior, or urinary incontinence, too. If you suspect your elderly parent is dealing with a UTI, encourage them to drink plenty of water and see a physician right away.

Skin infections

Skin infections are another common senior health issue. For those who care for elderly loved ones, it’s important to remain aware of these kinds of health issues. The good news is that most skin infections in seniors are highly treatable, though they do require attention from a trained medical professional. To fight off such infections, encourage proper hand washing and make sure that your senior gets a shingles vaccine.

Bacterial pneumonia

The AAFP explains that 60 percent of seniors over 65 are admitted into the hospital as a result of pneumonia. Changes in lung capacity and increased exposure to disease up an elderly individual’s chances of contracting the disease. Understand that fever, chills, and cough often don’t come along with pneumonia in seniors. Instead, be on the lookout for symptoms like weakness, confusion, and delirium. Bacterial pneumonia can often be treated with antibiotics, but it’s important to take action right away.

Gastrointestinal infections

As the body changes with age, a person becomes more at risk for gastrointestinal infections. Two of the most common infections are Helicobacter pylori and Clostridium difficle. Symptoms of these conditions often include nausea, upper abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. These infections become increasingly common in long-term care facilities, making vigilance important. 

Tips for Fall-Proofing Your Senior’s Home

One slight slip can put your senior at risk of serious and devastating injury. With six out of 10 falls happening at home, it’s important that you create a fall-proof environment for your elderly loved one.1 There are a few key strategies you can use to make sure your elderly loved one is safe as they spend time at home. Some strategies include:

Make sure floors are always kept clear

Grandkids’ toys, clothing, shoes, pets’ food bowls, and even the corner of a rug that has turned up over the years can pose a risk for your elderly loved one. To keep them safe at home, make sure that floors are always kept clean and clear of clutter. According to those who work in elder care services, Asheville families should consider removing unnecessary area rugs, and should make sure that food or beverage spills aren’t creating a slick surface.

To make it easier and safer to walk throughout the home, put non-slip strips on floors and steps. Use only non-skid wax on waxed floors within the residence. It doesn’t take much to endure a serious fall, so keeping a focus on the floors is essential to senior health.

Install grab bars in bathrooms

Bathroom surfaces can become slippery very quickly, thus posing a risk to your senior. To make showering or bathing safer and easier, install grab bars by the toilet and near the shower. These allow your elderly loved one to quickly maintain their balance and stay upright as they get clean. If your elderly parent has a difficult time standing for extended periods, consider investing in a shower seat. This way they can bathe safely, without having to worry about maneuvering around in the shower.

Make sure lightbulbs are working properly

Poor lighting is another reason why seniors end up falling at home. When lightbulbs burn out, it becomes harder to navigate and identify potential hazards in the house. Make sure that all lightbulbs are working well, and verify that there are enough lamps throughout the home to keep the property safe. Make sure there is sufficient lighting on stairwells too. 

Homecare professionals explain that these small yet highly important preventative measures can keep seniors safe from enduring falls at home. Even small risks can lead to major injury, so make it a point to inspect your loved one’s home regularly to identify these potential problems and correct them quickly. 

1http://nihseniorhealth.gov/falls/homesafety/01.html

Stress Relief Tips for Caregivers

Constant caregiving, while important, can take a serious toll on the person attending to their loved one’s needs. Many caretakers end up neglecting their own health as they make sure that their senior is physically and mentally well. While caretaking can become stressful, there are a few strategies that a person can use to relax without neglecting their duties.

Don’t focus on what you can’t provide

Many caregivers continually beat themselves up, striving for perfection and feeling disappointed when they can’t achieve it. Remember that the house doesn’t need to be perfectly clean at all times, and no one will mind eating leftovers. As long as your senior is clean, taking their medication, and receiving proper nutrition, that’s all that matters. There is no need to strive for perfection as a caregiver.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

When it comes to care for seniors, there is no shame in asking for assistance. Many caregivers try to take on the full burden of the task on their own, and end up burning themselves out. If you’re trying to manage a career, a family, and your senior’s needs too, consider bringing in an elder care professional to help out. This greatly reduces stress, while ensuring that the senior still has everything they need to feel well.

Seek support

Providing care for elderly family members is not an easy task, and a person can quickly feel alienated if the people they interact with on a daily basis can’t relate to the situation they’re in. Because of this, many people find that support groups are a useful and healthy outlet for them. They allow that family member to share stories and strategies with other caregivers. Instead of feeling as if they’re the only one dealing with the responsibility of caring for an elderly loved one, they can commiserate with others going through a similar situation.

Focus on self-care

It’s important that a caregiver builds in time each day that is solely for themselves. Whether it’s time to read a book, take a yoga class, or have lunch with a friend, these physical and mental breaks are a key part of that individual’s mental health.

Focusing on self-care is a must for any caregiver. In many instances, the best way to do this is to rely on professional caregiving services. This way, there are no sacrifices made to the senior’s health, but the caregiver feels refreshed and re-energized. 

Key End of Life Planning Issues to Tackle with Seniors

As your senior ages, it’s important to start to tackle end of life planning with them. While the topic may not be a pleasant one to discuss, you want to make sure that you have a strong idea about your elderly loved one’s wishes. In order to cover end of life planning thoroughly, consider approaching the following key issues:

A will

A will dictates how items that your elderly family member values will be distributed when they’re no longer around. This includes money, property, special keepsakes, and even pets. To have a will drawn up, consult with an attorney first. It should be a fairly easy process, but it’s highly important too. 

If you feel uncomfortable approaching the subject, elder care professionals suggest saying: “I don’t want to upset you, but I want to make sure that if something happened to you, your wishes are honored properly. Do you have an updated will?”

Power of attorney

This enables another individual to make legal and financial decisions on behalf of your senior in the event that they become unable to do so on their own. It’s important that this person knows that they’ll hold this responsibility, and that they’re aware of exactly how the elderly individual feels about certain issues. Senior health professionals suggest having a lawyer draw up the power of attorney paperwork. 

Advance healthcare directives

Senior care professionals explain that advance healthcare directives are made up of a living will, a health proxy, a HIPPA release, and other documentation. These items become crucial in the event that your loved one is incapacitated and unable to make decisions on their own. In order to broach this discussion topic, try saying, “If you were to be on life support, I would be devastated and not in the best frame of mind for decision making. I think it would be useful for both of us if you put some of your wishes in writing.”

While it’s not always easy to talk about end of life plans with your elderly parent, doing so ensures that their wishes are honored and that everyone can enjoy some peace of mind.