Infection control is an important home health care task, especially in your senior loved one's residence. Elderly family members have a greater risk of infections like COVID-19, pneumonia, and influenza due to naturally decreasing immunity and other factors, such as pre-existing conditions. Here's how to help your loved one stay healthy and infection-free in their home. 

How to Reduce Infection Chances in Older Family Members

Encourage hand washing to reduce the spread of disease, especially after using the bathroom, coughing or sneezing, touching garbage, handling animal waste, and before preparing and eating food. Washing for at least 20 seconds with antibacterial soap kills viruses and bacteria that can enter the body when someone touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. 

Look for antiseptic soaps without triclosan, an active antimicrobial compound that creates antibiotic-resistant bacteria when it is used over time. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria exposure can compromise your loved one’s health if they need to take antibiotic medication for bacterial pneumonia or another infectious disease. 

3. Provide Nutrient-Rich Foods

Prepare meals made with immune-boosting foods such as citrus fruits, red bell peppers, garlic, spinach, broccoli, and ginger to fortify your loved one’s immune system against disease. Reduce their intake of sugary foods that compromise immunity and promote fatigue. A whole food diet combined with regular exercise, such as low-impact walking and swimming, can also boost immunity. 

4. Schedule Annual Vaccinations 

Create a vaccination schedule to protect your elderly loved one against infectious diseases. Flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia vaccines allow the body to create antibodies that guard against the infections; for example, the flu vaccine reduces the risk by 40% to 60%. Ask about vaccines made specifically for older individuals, as they often invoke a stronger immune system reaction. 

Help your beloved senior family member thrive with home health care services from Safe Haven Home Care. They provide residents throughout Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, and Brooklyn, NY, with tailored caregiving services, and employ bilingual staff members to accommodate more people. They'll take measures to keep your loved one infection-free so that they can continue living at home. Call (718) 968-6970 today to discuss your loved one’s needs, or learn more about their home health care services online.