This winter seniors need to worry about more than just getting colds or the flu. Covid-19 is still rampant, and doctors are also warning seniors about RSV. RSV is a respiratory syncytial virus, a respiratory virus that can cause severe respiratory problems in seniors and small children.
Senior Home Care
The symptoms of RSV in seniors are usually more severe than the symptoms that other age groups experience if they catch RSV. Common RSV symptoms in seniors are: high fever, bad cough, blue skin, trouble breathing, and wheezing in the chest.
According to the CDC 60,000-160,000 older adults in the United States are hospitalized and 6,000-10,000 die due to RSV infection every year. There is a vaccine that seniors can get to help protect them from RSV. Seniors who need help getting to a clinic or pharmacy to get vaccinated should have senior home care. A senior home care provider can help seniors get to medical appointments like vaccination appointments and medical appointments.
Wash Your Hands
The best way to avoid colds, the flu, Covid-19, and RSV is for seniors and anyone spending time around them, like a senior home care provider or family friends, to wash their hands often. Washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds is a very effective way to prevent the spread of RSV.
Maintain Social Distance
Maintaining a social distance of six feet from others is a good idea during the cold and flu season because it can help stop the spread of many illnesses, including RSV. Even when it’s not required seniors and the people around them should keep a six foot distance from others.
Get Vaccinated
Getting vaccinated may not prevent seniors from getting RSV, but it can help make the illness less severe if seniors do get RSV. All seniors should be vaccinated against RSV, the flu, and Covid-19.
Cover Your Mouth
The people who are regularly around seniors should be sure to cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough. Seniors should consider wearing a mask to protect themselves from airborne virus particles if they are going to be around other people.
Skip Crowds
The holiday season is coming, but seniors may want to be selective about what events they attend. Seniors should avoid crowded holiday parties or large gatherings in restaurants so that they can minimize their exposure to illnesses like RSV.
Regular Cleaning and Disinfection
Seniors aging at home should have senior home care to help keep their home clean and disinfected. That can prevent the spread of a lot of illnesses, including RSV.
Boosting Immune Health
Seniors should be eating fruits and vegetables, exercising, and getting enough sleep to make sure that they have a healthy immune system that can fight off viruses like RSV.
Refill Inhalers Or Nebulizers
Seniors that are already struggling with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD should keep extra refills of their inhalers and nebulizers on hand in case they need a little extra help breathing.
Watch The News
If there is an RSV outbreak in the area seniors should avoid going out until the outbreak is under control.
Go To Urgent Care
Seniors who are experiencing any of the symptoms of RSV shouldn’t wait to get medical attention. They should immediately go to urgent care or the emergency room so they can get treatment right away before the symptoms become deadly.