According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the leading causes of death in aging adults in the United States is infections. This explains why aging adults need close monitoring, to prevent contracting infections. Below are some of the infections seniors face, and ways senior assisted living in Chamblee, GA, can help prevent these infections:
Bacterial Pneumonia
Bacterial pneumonia is a common infection among aging adults, and becomes riskier if not treated. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, over 60% of adults older than 65 years are hospitalized as a result of pneumonia. This age demographic is more prone to infection due to diabetes complications, changes in lung capacity, and increased exposure to diseases.
Assisted living communities prevent this infection in aging adults by helping them practice good health habits. In addition to ensuring your loved ones get the pneumococcal vaccines, they also discourage unhealthy habits, like smoking that can trigger the infection.
Influenza
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza and pneumonia are among the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Aging weakens the immune system of adults, therefore exposing them to different chronic conditions like influenza. Team members in assisted living communities encourage aging adults to take flu vaccinations annually to prevent infection.
The doctors in these communities can also prescribe medications to mitigate symptoms in an aging adult with this infection. According to the National Council on Aging, these doctors are also in the best position to recommend vaccines that will help your loved ones.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are also common in aging adults. However, women are more prone to this condition than men. Women have weakened bladders as they grow older, and emptying them becomes difficult. Due to this, the urine remains in the bladder, making them more susceptible to infection.
In men, urinary tract infections are caused by an enlarged prostate. In addition, the bacteria grow easily and lead to infection in women as a result of estrogen deficiency. Assisted living communities help your loved ones avoid this infection by encouraging them to drink plenty of water. The water will dilute urine, ensuring they urinate frequently, and flushes the bacteria out of the body.
Gastrointestinal Infections
Another infection on the list is gastrointestinal infections, such as clostridium difficile and norovirus. These infections can lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea and in the long run, gastritis. The major cause of these infections are changes in digestion. Aging adults can ingest bacteria through food, and once the body fails to fight it off, it becomes an infection.
Retirement communities have safety practices to prevent this infection in your loved ones. For example, aging adults are encouraged to wash their hands before eating. Since antibiotics aren’t needed for treating these infections, aging adults are encouraged to stay hydrated, to counter the effects of the symptoms.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
This bacterial infection causes painful, swollen bumps on the skin. The bumps may appear like pimples, however, they grow larger and turn into boils, with time. The infection is highly contagious, and your loved ones can get infected through direct contact. It’s a special type of staph infection, and is more difficult to treat.
Assisted living communities will help prevent this by ensuring your loved ones wash their hands regularly and monitor any skin irritations.
