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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2005
Helpful
Advice for the Elderly on Avoiding the Flu
(Chicago) -- The winter season can
be a risky time for everyone, but for the elderly it can
be deadly. Seniors are at increased risk of developing
influenza, or the flu, during the colder months, which
can lead to serious medical complications. The Illinois
Council on Long Term Care, a statewide association of
long term care facilities, offers helpful advice to the
elderly on how to avoid the dangers of this potentially
fatal disease.
“We want to share our tips to
ensure the continued welfare and safety for thousands
of older Illinoisans throughout the state,” said Susan
Duda-Gardiner, director of clinical services for the
Council. “Illinois nursing home professionals have a
great deal of experience in protecting the elderly from
influenza, and have important information to impart.”
The flu is spread in respiratory
droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. Persons
infected by the droplets have to be near, within three
feet, of individuals who are coughing in order for the
droplets to be deposited in their mouth or nose.
Although transmission is usually from person to person,
touching items contaminated by respiratory secretions,
such as doorknobs or books, can transmit the flu.
Studies show that the flu virus can survive on surfaces
for two to eight hours.
Persons over the age of 65 account
for more than 90 percent of the 35,000 influenza-related
deaths in the United States. Symptoms of the flu include
fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry
cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle
aches. Other viruses usually cause stomach symptoms in
adults. The common cold has many symptoms in common with
the flu; however, it is usually milder than the flu.
Persons with a cold usually have a runny or stuffy nose
and do not develop serious illness.
Here are some important suggestions
for the elderly on avoiding the flu:
- Get
vaccinated. The best way to prevent the flu is
to get vaccinated each fall. About two weeks after
vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against
influenza virus infection. It is best to get
vaccinated between October and November, but getting
vaccinated in December or later can still be
beneficial.
- Keep
a distance. Encourage people who are coughing to
stay at least three feet away from you. If possible,
stay away from people who are sick.
- Wash
your hands often. Make sure to clean your hands
often throughout the day to ward off infections. Use
alcohol-based hand rubs for those times you are away
from a sink and water. If your hands are dirty,
avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as much as
possible until you have thoroughly cleaned them.
- Eat
nutritious foods and drink extra fluids. An
improper diet can lead to a lowered immune system
and increased susceptibility to flu. Also, be sure
to get plenty of rest to stay healthy.
- Cover
your mouth and nose. The hands are a primary
source for transmitting the flu. Use a tissue when
coughing and sneezing and dispose of it immediately.
Encourage others to do the same. If you
have to cough, and you don’t have a tissue handy,
cough into your sleeve and not your hand to minimize
your chances of transmitting disease.
Persons in nursing homes are at
extreme risk of catching the flu. Stay away from the
nursing home if you are sick with influenza. If you must
visit, consider wearing a facial mask, and stay three
feet away from the residents. Wash your hands often to
minimize your chances of spreading the disease.
With any case of influenza, the
Council advises that individuals consult with their
physicians to avoid any serious complications from the
illness. These complications include bacterial
pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical
conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or
diabetes.
By practicing healthy lifestyle
habits, and getting vaccinated every year, seniors can
guard themselves successfully from the potentially
life-threatening complications of influenza, one of the
most dangerous illnesses for the elderly.
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The Illinois Council on Long Term
Care is an association of nearly 200 Illinois nursing
facilities that employ 26,000 professionals who provide
care to more than 37,000 residents. To learn more
information about senior care in Illinois, visit the
Council’s Web site at www.nursinghome.org.
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