Contracting the flu is something everyone detests. Having to spend your days coughing and living with a runny nose affects your daily routine. Older adults today may think that the flu is not all that serious, but the truth is that adults aged 65 years or older account for almost 70% of all flu-related hospitalizations and 85% of flu-related deaths. So why not try to prevent contracting it in the first place? Here are some ways retirement communities in Castle Hills, TX can help their residents stay healthy, especially during this flu season.
Flu Shots
The best way to protect yourself from contracting the flu is by taking flu shots. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults aged 65 and above are advised to take flu vaccines annually, with three specific ones being Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Fluad or Flublok Quadrivalent vaccine, which are proven to be more effective. With four times the antigen amount in a regular shot, these higher dosage shots allow for a stronger immune response. It is always better to prevent the flu than to find solutions to battle it.
Good Healthcare
When being in a retirement community, the utmost priority is always health. These communities need to prioritize the health of their residents. Besides creating a clean and healthy environment, there must be a group of medical professionals to help combat the flu and other illnesses. It is key to ensure they are well-trained to deal with the residents of the retirement community to act on situations accordingly. The most important thing is to keep a lookout for the symptoms of the flu. Should any persons be symptomatic, they should receive immediate medical attention.
Prevention Measures
In order to prevent contracting the flu and stay healthy, your lifestyle plays a role as well. Besides the flu vaccines that should be administered, it is vital to ensure residents of retirement communities stay active. There are many tips on staying active, but the most crucial is diet and adequate exercise.
It is important to have well-balanced and healthy meals throughout the day, as many foods have antioxidants that help boost the immune system. Vitamins and other minerals can also go a long way in reducing the risk of contracting the flu. As for exercising, doing simple and short exercises every day promotes healthy living and is vital for your body to stay physically active. Leading a healthy lifestyle helps protect against viruses and is what your body will thank you for in the long run.
Saying Goodbye to the Flu Season
While flu seasons vary in severity, older adults are the most susceptible to the illness due to the weakening of the immune system defense with age. Therefore, taking extra steps and precautions is key to protecting you from the virus. Retirement communities must put into place protocols and go the extra mile to boost the residents’ immune systems. Only by doing so can they ensure that everyone is in the pink of health and protected in the flu season.
