Are you worried about your aging loved one developing pneumonia? Many seniors struggle with the illness each year, leaving millions hospitalized for emergency treatments. Around 50,000 elderly adults succumb to pneumonia every year, so it’s a good idea for family caregivers, home health care providers and anyone else who works with seniors to recognize the symptoms of pneumonia in aging adults.
Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs where the small air sacs fill with fluid as they become inflamed. The fluid prohibits the effective intake of oxygen into the lungs and transferring it to the blood stream. The result is that the body gets deprived of the oxygen it needs, causing a range of health issues. If the illness is not treated aggressively and immediately, it can result in a long hospital stay or even in death. It’s important for all your elderly relative’s supporters, like friends, home health care providers and you, to learn about pneumonia and how to spot the early stages.
Of course, symptoms of pneumonia will vary from person to person, depending on their current health and wellness. Also, many of the symptoms may be identical to those of other illnesses, such as influenza. That’s why you must pay close attention when you first notice them in your elderly relative, so they can receive prompt medical attention.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of pneumonia as they appear in aging adults:
- Fatigue
- Wheezing
- Coughing with phlegm
- Panting or rapid breathing
- Pale, clammy skin
- Fever
- Chest pain
- Disorientation and confusion
- Weakened muscles
For many seniors, early diagnosis means the difference between getting treated at home and suffering through a long hospital stay. In mild to moderate cases, the doctor will allow the elderly adult to recover at home while taking antibiotics and fever-reducing medicine. They will certainly need assistance from family caregivers and home health care providers as they will be quite weak and need to rest. In moderate to severe cases of pneumonia, aging adults often stay in the hospital for intensive breathing treatments and constant monitoring.
You’ll really help your elderly loved one when you and others concentrate on preventing pneumonia in the first place. Insist that everyone wash their hands and cover when they cough or sneeze. Seniors can also get a pneumonia vaccine that significantly lowers the risk of contracting the illness. Of course, a healthy body is better able to resist germs in the first place, so you can give your aging relative a healthy diet and encourage regular exercise and activity. With the help of home health care providers, friends, and family members, aging adults can avoid pneumonia. If they do catch it, an early diagnosis may just save their life.
If you or an aging loved one are in need of Home Health Care Services in Northport NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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