La Jolla Senior Care News

Home Care Tips: Protecting Your Seniors from Infections

 

Home Care La Jolla CA

Researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio found that infections account for at least 30 percent of deaths among older adults over the age of 65, while the National Center for Health Statistics notes a direct correlation between the increase in age and the vulnerability to contracting infections. Beyond those types of infections that are common causes of death among aging adults, other types of infections, including skin infections and urinary tract infections, can lead to pain, limited mobility, increased vulnerability to other illnesses, and overall reduction in quality of life.

Understanding infections and how you can help prevent them can allow you to make protecting your aging loved ones from infection part of your regular home care routine. This can help keep them from suffering serious illnesses that reduce their ability to live an active, exciting, and engaged lifestyle.

Some ways that you and your aging parents’ caregiver can protect your seniors from infections throughout your regular routine include:

  • Practice germ control. While most people are very aware of the risks of germs and infections during peak season of the fall and winter, germ control is something that you should pay attention to throughout the entirety of the year. Make sure that you are keeping surfaces throughout the home clean and pay attention to deep cleaning and disinfection of the germy areas of the home, including the kitchen and the bathroom, to ensure you keep bacteria, germs, and viruses from thriving
  • Protect their skin. The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and since it is exposed to all of the influences of the environment and all of the activities of the person, the most vulnerable. The elderly tend to have thinner, dryer skin that is more prone to injury and that does not heal as quickly or as efficiently as younger adults. This means that protecting their skin carefully is critical to preventing germs and bacteria from entering the body. Cleanse their skin thoroughly using gentle cleanser and warm, not hot, water, and pat dry, making sure that you dry areas of the skin that touch each other, such as under the arms, between the toes or in other folds. Apply a quality moisturizer to prevent dry skin from tearing or breaking.
  • Keep them in shoes. Some people prefer not to wear shoes, but this can be a dangerous practice for your loved ones, especially if they have a condition that diminishes their ability to feel pain or temperature changes, such as diabetes. Not wearing shoes can lead to them stubbing their toes and injuring their toenails, stepping on sharp objects, getting splinters, or getting burns or damage caused by cold. If they are unable to feel properly, they may not even notice that this has happened, leading them to not treat the injury or get the proper medical attention.
  • Take care of their nails. They do not always have to be perfectly manicured and painted, though this may help your aging mother feel better about herself, but it is important to make taking care of their nails a regular part of your grooming and hygiene routine for your aging parents. Nails that are not well groomed can snag and tear, causing damage around the cuticles that can let in infection. Sharp nails can also cut or scrape the skin, allowing in germs and bacteria. Proper care of the nails also works to remove. bacteria, germs, and other debris that has built up under the nails, preventing them from getting into the body.

La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Costa, CA, and the surrounding communities."]” data-sheets-userformat=”[null,null,767,[null,0],[null,2,10667209],[null,[[null,2,0,null,null,[null,2,0]],[null,0,0,3],[null,1,0,null,1]]],[null,[[null,2,0,null,null,[null,2,0]],[null,0,0,3],[null,1,0,null,1]]],[null,[[null,2,0,null,null,[null,2,0]],[null,0,0,3],[null,1,0,null,1]]],[null,[[null,2,0,null,null,[null,2,0]],[null,0,0,3],[null,1,0,null,1]]],2,2,null,0]”>For more information about how the caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.

Brittnei Salerno

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