Vaccinations
How Pneumonia Vaccinations, Along with North Bay Home Care, Can Save Lives
Pneumonia: it’s one word we never want to hear in relation to our senior loved ones, but unfortunately, seniors are more susceptible to this extremely serious lung infection, for a variety of reasons: a weakened immune system, chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and diabetes that put them at a higher risk, surgeries, and frailty.
Symptoms of pneumonia can include:
Fever and chills
Coughing that produces yellow or green discharge
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Lethargy
Recovering from a recent cold/flu
With a fatality rate in seniors of between 30% and 40%, pneumonia kills more people worldwide than any other infectious disease. These alarming statistics on their own should prompt all of those over the age of 65 to seek out the pneumonia vaccine, but additionally, the pneumococcus bacterium that causes pneumonia can also cause further problems: ear infections, deadly blood infections, and meningitis.
Not surprisingly, the CDC unequivocally … Read More »
Hired Hands Homecare Shares Important Shingles Details Seniors Need to Know
When it comes to odd disease names, the shingles virus tops the list. The name of the disease might cause you to picture someone with rows and rows of roofing materials layered over his skin. In actuality, shingles, also known as the herpes zoster virus, is a very painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox in younger people. If you’ve ever had the chickenpox, unfortunately you are now at risk for also contracting shingles. Shingles risk increases with age, with a full one-half of adults contracting the shingles virus by the age of 80.
To see what the shingles virus really looks like, take a look at this page of photos from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. It is estimated that there are a million instances of shingles diagnosed in the U.S. each year. For that … Read More »
California Senior Care: Back to School Vaccinations Aren’t Just for Kids!
As summer winds down, parents are busy shopping for school supplies, checking last year’s clothing to see what still fits, scheduling appointments for physical and dental exams, and more often than not, subjecting their children to vaccinations. But fall isn’t just the time for school kids to roll up their sleeves for the dreaded shots. This time of year, even adults should get in on the act, including seniors over age 60.
According to this report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), adults over the age of 60 should be up to date on the following vaccinations; and if your senior loved one needs a booster, our California senior care services can help!
Influenza – every year
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis – every ten years
Varicella (chickenpox) – two doses throughout one’s life
Herpes zoster (shingles) – one dose after the age of 60
Pneumococcal (PPSV23) … Read More »
