It accounts for an average of 50,000 plus deaths per year. Vaccines are available to prevent some types of pneumonia and the flu. What about the flu? Preventing pneumonia in the elderly is possible, providing you take some extra precautionary measures. What causes pneumonia. Two vaccines offer protection against pneumococcal disease: PCV13 and PPSV23. Here are some ways to prevent it: Influenza vaccine. 5 Ways to Prevent Pneumonia in Elderly People Immunization is vital for preventing deaths from pneumonia. Sometimes it’s bacterial, sometimes it’s fungal, and sometimes it’s a virus. Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice. Home » Blog » Preventing Pneumonia in the Elderly Pneumonia is a killer: it preys on the young and the old, the weak and the immunocompromised. But what else can you do for your immune system? Good nutrition will help the immune system remain strong and keep the ability to fight off infections. Pneumonia can affect people of any age, but it's more common, and can be more serious, in certain groups of people, such as the very young or the elderly. How do you know when to wait it out, and when to seek medical care, or try other treatments? Germs can be spread a variety of ways. It is not always possible to prevent pneumonia… Pneumonia can happen to anyone, at any age. Pneumonia often occurs following an upper respiratory infection. Pneumonia is common among children and older adults, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people over the age … That also means an increased risk and vulnerability to respiratory infections. Babies under 2 and adults over 65 are recommended to get the pneumonia vaccine. (877) 268-3277. Babies under age 2 and adults over age 65 are at higher risk. Here are a few ways to make sure your elderly loved on is staying healthy throughout the winter and lowering their risk for pneumonia: Be familiar with the symptoms of pneumonia. Help your older loved one take the following steps to prevent pneumonia. So in concurrence with this, the best way to avoid pneumonia is to lead a healthy life—which you usually do when you want to prevent any of these conditions. Get medical help right away if you are having. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Here's what you can do for coughing, fever, and more. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. Wash your hands often in warm, soapy water. Good hygiene also may help. Here are a few ways to make sure your elderly loved on is staying healthy throughout the winter and lowering their risk for pneumonia: Be familiar with the symptoms of pneumonia. They’re caused by germs, such as viruses, fungi, and bacteria. find a caregiver near you. Pneumonia Immunization There is a one-time vaccine against bacterial pneumonia, and The Mayo Clinic and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute both have advisories out urging that you have seniors or any other “at-risk” individual vaccinated. They may even catch pneumonia from being in the hospital. How to Prevent Pneumonia in the Elderly. About one million Americans visit the hospital for pneumonia every year. Other types of respiratory infections such as cold, flu, and bronchitis can lead to pneumonia. Preventing Pneumonia in the Elderly To lower their risk of pneumonia, seniors should: Wash their hands frequently: Everyone knows this piece of advice, but not everyone follows it. Get vaccinated. This can be tough because pneumonia involves 50+ breathing illnesses involving the lungs. Pneumonia is an infection in your lungs. Grandparents with pneumonia should avoid seeing their infant grandchildren while they are infectious, and vice-versa. Pneumonia is a preventable condition, but you need a strong immune system to resist the infection. Drink lots of fluid to help eliminate congestion. Make sure children get vaccinated. There is no vaccine which can prevent all types of pneumonia. Hygiene. But another of the most serious conditions affecting elderly people is pneumonia. Many people think of these as hallmarks of pneumonia, but respiratory symptoms can actually be completely absent in infected seniors. Pneumonia can be a serious illness that takes weeks or months to recover from. Pneumonia, which sends about one million people to the hospital and kills 50,000 every year, affects alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs. Section snippets Protective reflexes and aspiration pneumonia in the elderly. What Are the Risks of Having COPD and Pneumonia? Fortunately, pneumonia in the elderly can be prevented. Keep your mouth clean – Good oral care is important to help prevent pneumonia. Talk with your doctor about getting these shots. And practice good oral health as well; tooth and gum infections can open the door to lung infections. Other vaccines are available that combat against the bacteria and viruses that can lead to elderly pneumonia as well.Although it should be a standard practice, washing hands frequently is necessary. However, the CDC recommends that all older adults receive 2 pneumococcal vaccines to help prevent bacterial pneumonia in the elderly. It is also important, however, to work with a team of doctors and therapists to keep you safe and healthy. Online therapy has proven to help those dealing with isolation, depression, anxiety. To prevent pneumonia, remember to wash your hands regularly, and carry hand sanitizer with you so you can keep your hands clean on the go. Many options can reduce the risk of contracting pneumonia. People with COPD are more likely to develop complications from…. contact our caregiving team today online or call us at They should though, because frequent handwashing can greatly lower the risk of infections, including pneumonia. The chances of having a heart problem related to your pneumonia are higher if you are elderly, are in the hospital, or already have a heart condition. Home remedies can't treat pneumonia, but they can be used to effectively manage its symptoms. Last medically reviewed on November 1, 2017. Resting and drinking lots of fluids can help you get better more quickly. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands. Ensure that caregivers are doing all they can to prevent infections. To learn more about our home care services. “Bedridden patients need to be turned and repositioned every two hours to prevent bed sores, which can turn into infections and pneumonia… Thank you very much for reading How To Prevent Pneumonia in … Aging Immune System. It’s easy to confuse these symptoms of pneumonia in adults 65 and over with those of a cold or the flu, or with the effects of aging, but they shouldn’t be ignored. There are two vaccines that help prevent pneumococcal disease among adults 65 years or older. This immunization will prevent or at least reduce the severity of having pneumonia. Even if they are usually healthy and fit, they can get pneumonia after you have caught a simple cold or flu. Adequate protective reflexes in the airway are important to prevent aspiration pneumonia, and the suppression or absence of these reflexes is a major risk factor for its development. Sputum test. More than 50,000 of them will die, 85% of which are seniors. But exposure to other people with respiratory tract infections will increase the risk of becoming infected yourself. However, there are over 30 different types of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are linked to the disease. 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