With the winter weather just around the corner, A.G. Rhodes takes a lot of winter weather precautions to ensure we’re prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings. Aside from what the outside snow and conditions may entail, our staff is particularly focused on the health and safety of our residents, especially those who show flu-like symptoms or are at higher risk for getting the flu.
Getting the flu is inconvenient and painful no matter what your age. No one wants to experience the muscle aches, dizziness and pain that can accompany the flu. For some people, however, getting the flu is more than just an inconvenience. For older adults and those with pre-existing health conditions, getting the flu can be life-threatening.
Influenza and the serious health consequences that accompany the disease are responsible for tens of thousands of deaths every year, and a disproportionate number of those deaths occur in the elderly. If you are a senior, or if you are caring for an elderly loved one, you need to understand the serious danger seasonal flu poses – and you need to take steps to protect your health and the health of your loved ones.
One of the most important things to know about the flu is that getting sick can open the door to other serious medical conditions. Among the most serious consequences of seasonal flu is pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening condition that can affect breathing and require hospitalization.
For the elderly, pneumonia can be even more serious, and this complication of the flu is responsible for thousands of hospitalizations every year. The risk of pneumonia is always present for those who get the flu, but seniors with pre-existing respiratory conditions like emphysema and lung cancer are at particular risk.
Current and former smokers are also at special risk from both seasonal flu and pneumonia. An infection that a younger and healthier person could fight off easily can be debilitating in an elderly person with a compromised immune system. That is why it is so important for anyone in this age group to protect their health with a flu shot.
Getting a flu shot is perhaps the most effective thing you can do to safeguard your health and prevent the complications of this serious disease. Getting the annual flu shot at the beginning of flu season is the best way to protect yourself, but you can get the shot at any time during the season.
Getting an annual flu shot protects your health, but it can also protect the people you care most about. If you have young grandchildren in your home or visit with them often, it is important to get a flu shot to protect their health as well.
Seasonal flu deaths are typically highest among the elderly and those with pre-existing medical challenges, but young children and infants are also at special risk. Their immature immune systems and exposure to other children can make getting the flu more likely, and their young bodies may not be able to fight off the disease as effectively. Seniors who get an annual flu shot every year are taking steps to safeguard their own health, but they are also helping to protect the health of the next generation. At A.G. Rhodes, we administer the flu shot to our residents and staff, free of charge.