If you are facing challenges while caring for your senior loved one, talk to an aging care manager in Pinellas County, FL. He or she can offer you tips and strategies on how to prevent social isolation, manage your loved one’s finances, and prevent your loved one from getting sick. Here are some things that may help protect seniors from illness.
Frequent Hand Washing
Aging care managers in Pinellas County, FL, may tell you that frequent hand washing will help keep your senior loved one from getting sick with an infection. While alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used occasionally, washing the hands with soap and water is the body’s best defense against the transmission of infections.
If your aging loved one is unable to wash his or her hands, do it for the person. In addition to washing the hands, make sure that you clean any dirt or debris from underneath the fingernails. Also, keeping the fingernails trimmed will help prevent microbial buildup under the nails.
Monitor Medications
Some seniors forget to take their prescribed medications or not take them at all because they are unable to afford them. When aging adults fail to take their medications, chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes can worsen, leading to acute illness and potential hospitalization.
If the older adult doesn’t take his or her medications because of intolerable side effects, tell the doctor. He or she can decrease the dosage or prescribe a different medication. Also, if your loved one is unable to pay for his or her medications, and if you are unable to help, talk to an aging care manager to learn about prescription drug discounts.
To learn more about senior care, call or visit the website.
