The Importance of Good Hand Hygiene for Seniors in Eldersburg, MD and Surrounding Areas

Here’s how our home health providers help seniors in Eldersburg, Westminster, Ellicott City, Columbia, Baltimore, Randallstown and surrounding areas in Maryland maintain good hand hygiene           

We all know our body changes with age. One of those changes concerns our immune system, which becomes slower in senior years. That is why seniors get colds more frequently than younger adults. While your loved one can protect themselves from the flu with a vaccine, there is no shot for the common cold, which can also cause serious health complications in aging adults.

To boost their immune system, your parent should eat a healthy diet, stay physically active and maintain good hand hygiene. Our home health providers at Visiting Angels Eldersburg can assist with all these tasks, helping senior clients stay healthy as they age.

Colds Can be Serious for Seniors

Both the common cold and flu can take a serious toll on a senior’s well-being, especially if they live with a chronic condition like diabetes. Some common complications include pneumonia as well as aggravating the symptoms of heart disease or asthma.

Since the common cold is caused by germs, one of the best preventative measures your parent can take is to regularly and properly wash their hands. People are mostly unaware of how easily germs spread. Every time your loved one takes out the trash, prepares food, uses the toilet, plays with their pet, coughs, or sneezes, germs spread on their hands. That is why it is of utmost importance that they wash their hands after performing these activities.

While soap and water can prevent the spread of germs, many older adults are unaware that they are not washing their hands properly. Our home health providers can make certain your parent washes their hands for 20 seconds and thoroughly clean their palms, backs of hands, between their fingers and under their nails.

Use Sanitizer in a Pinch

Your loved one can use a hand sanitizer if they need to wash their hands but have no soap or water at their disposal. Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol can get rid of germs, but it is important to note that it is not a replacement for soap and water.

Seniors with mobility problems and those who are bedridden can use a hand sanitizer to keep their hands clean without having to go to the bathroom, but they should not solely rely on it. Home health providers from Visiting Angels provide professional mobility assistance and they can help your loved one go to the bathroom whenever needed.

Our Home Health Providers Are Trained in Good Hand Hygiene

Our caregivers know just how significant it is to maintain good hand hygiene, especially in senior years when people can develop severe health problems from the cold. They can assist your loved one with handwashing as well as keeping the home clean and disinfecting high-traffic items like remote controls or doorknobs.

With our home care services, your loved one can enjoy a healthier, happier life as they age and perform daily tasks with ease.

Please reach out to our Eldersburg, MD office today to learn more and get started with our in-home senior care services.