It is widely known that the 65 and older age group is at a much higher risk to develop severe complications from the influenza virus. Between 50% and 60% of hospital stays from the flu and its complications occur within this senior group in the United States. This is due to weakening immune systems as individuals age. This turns any disease into a serious threat, especially the flu.

Luckily, there are several preventative measures that seniors and their loved ones can take to combat the flu season. However, these preventative measure are not a surefire way to make sure you or a loved one remain untouched by the flu. If anyone you know presents with flu like symptoms, they should immediately consult a healthcare professional.

Influenza Vaccines

The first step in preventing the flu is to make sure you and your loved one receive flu vaccines. Again, the immune system begins to weaken as we age, and individuals become extremely vulnerable to the flu virus. It’s crucial to encourage those aged 65 or older receive their flu vaccines. There are currently two options for this. One vaccine is a normal dose and the other is considered a high does flu vaccine. You can read more about them here.

It is important to consult a medical professional when deciding which is best. Most communities have flu vaccines available around the month of October. The best bet is to get it as soon as possible.

Practice Proper Hygiene

Everyone needs to practice proper hygiene, but especially your aging loved one, as well as yourself. Even though you might not feel sick, you may still carry germs that can then be transported to your loved one. Keeping proper hygiene is one of the single most effective ways to combat flu season.

• Wash your hands – It is extremely important to keep hands clean. This may be done with soap and warm water. Wash the hands for at least 20 to 30 seconds before rinsing. Be sure to dry with a clean cloth afterwards. If there is no soap and/or water present, use an alcohol based
  hand sanitizer.
• Cover your nose and mouth – Cover the nose and mouth every time a cough or sneeze threatens, if possible. Cleanse or sanitize hands immediately after each and every sneeze or cough.
• Don’t touch your eyes or mouth – Try to make a conscious habit of not touching any of the orifices of the face. This include the eyes. They’re a direct path for pathogens to enter your body.
• Keep countertops sanitized – This is especially important if anyone present is sick. Try your best to keep all surfaces in all rooms clean.
• Wash clothes and towels – Wash your cloths and towels on a regular basis. It’s also a good idea to wash bathing items and clothes used by sick individuals immediately after use, as well at keeping the sheets and pillow cases clean.
• Avoid sick individuals – Do not allows persons to visit until they are fully recovered to prevent the flu from spreading. Small children often are not old enough to be completely conscious of good hygiene habits and may spread the virus unintentionally.

These are some of the steps you can take to help your loved one remain healthy throughout flu season. We would like to reiterate that it’s not going to guarantee you that they remain unscathed for all of winter. However, it will greatly reduce their chances!