How To Help A Senior Recover From Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious respiratory condition that affects nearly a million people each year. Seniors have a high risk of getting pneumonia and they can experience symptoms that are quite severe. In-home care services for seniors are a must for any senior recovering from an illness.

What Is Pneumonia?

In-Home Care Paramus NJ – How To Help A Senior Recover From Pneumonia

Pneumonia can be bacterial or viral. It’s a respiratory infection that often impacts just one part of a lung. It’s very common for seniors to develop pneumonia after having the flu, RSV, or COVID-19.

• Symptoms of pneumonia include:
• Chest pain when you breathe or cough
• Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
• Cough, which may produce phlegm
• Fatigue
• Fever, sweating, and shaking chills
• Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath

If your senior parent shows any of these symptoms don’t wait to get them to a doctor. Some seniors may need to be hospitalized as a result of developing pneumonia.

If your senior parent is recovering at home from pneumonia some things that you can do to help them are:

Get In-Home Care

Seniors who are recovering will need help with things like getting in and out of bed, getting to the bathroom, making meals, housework, laundry, and other tasks. In-home care is a comprehensive service that will help your senior parent with whatever they need during recovery.

Arrange For Grocery And Meal Delivery

Your senior parent will need to be at home for a while, which means they won’t be able to shop. Grocery delivery is an easy way to make sure they have all the food, household supplies, and medications they need during recovery. Your senior parent can use a tablet or their phone to choose the products they want and have them delivered to the house. There are also meal services that will drop off fully cooked and ready-to-eat meals to seniors.

Have A Home Health Aide Check In Regularly

While your senior parent is recovering it’s a good idea to have a home health aide check in on them regularly. A home health aide is different from an in-home care provider because they have medical training. Visits from a home health aide will ensure that your senior parent is recovering the way they should without forcing them to go out and be around people before it’s safe for them to leave the house.

Make Sure The Air Quality In The House Is Good

You can help your senior parent breathe easier at home by making sure the house has a humidifier, an air purifier, and other items that can help maintain good air quality indoors. Having in-home care will help with keeping allergens and dust at bay, but an air purifier, plants, and other items that will improve air quality are strongly recommended.

Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354204
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/symptoms-and-diagnosis

If you or a senior family member are considering hiring In-Home Care Services in Paramus NJ, please contact the caring staff at Caring Solutions Home Care LLC. In-home senior care servicing Bergen & Passaic Counties. Call today at (973) 427-3553.