Family Health

The immune system gets weaker with age. This makes older adults more prone to infections-especially those that are bacterial, affect breathing, and are related to hospital stays.

High-risk and hospital-linked infections

• Older adults are at higher risk for pneumonia, flu, tuberculosis (TB), blood and wound infections, urinary tract infections, salmonella, and hepatitis.

Long-term care places

• Skin checks and basic safety steps for vaccines, catheter use, and food prep can help prevent infections.
• TB tests and tetanus shots may also be needed for older adults.

Pneumonia

• Older adults face the most danger from breathing illnesses.
• Seniors have the highest number of pneumonia cases.
• The vaccine works well to stop problems.

Influenza

• Older adults have high rates of hospital visits and deaths.
• Flu shots work about 70% of the time and must be taken every year because the virus changes.
• Amantadine is a drug that can help treat the influenza A virus when shots cannot be used.

Geovany Lizarraga, MPH, CHES, Health Education Specialist, Bilingual I

Categories: Health Education Corner