How Can Caregivers from Visiting Angels Help Seniors in McKinney, TX and Surrounding Areas Stay Healthy During Flu Season?

Learn how our caregivers are helping seniors in McKinney, Allen, Frisco, Prosper and surrounding areas in Collin County, TX stay safe during flu season

The flu season often begins in October and lasts until February or March. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of Americans become ill with the flu this time of year, with hundreds of thousands being hospitalized. The majority of flu-related hospitalizations occur among vulnerable groups, specifically those 65 and older.

Reducing the risk of catching the flu is especially important for older adults this flu season since COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to strain the hospital system. Seniors and their families should be aware of the risks and actions that must be done in order to avoid illness.

If you are concerned about your elderly loved one at this time of year, Visiting Angels McKinney can assist you. Our caregivers can help your loved one incorporate routines into their daily life that will keep them safe and healthy during flu season. Best of all, our home care services are tailored to the requirements and schedule of the care recipient, allowing us to be present when your loved one needs it the most.

How Our Home Care Services Can Help Your Loved One During Flu Season

Here are some of the ways caregivers from Visiting Angels McKinney can help your loved one stay healthy this flu season:

Assist with personal hygiene

To avoid contracting or spreading the flu, elderly adults should practice good personal hygiene. Our caregivers at Visiting Angels McKinney can help your loved one take care of themselves while treating them with the respect and dignity they deserve. We can encourage your loved one to wash their hands on a regular basis, cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze and assist them in bathing or showering when they get home from running errands or visiting friends and family.

Keep their home clean

In addition to assisting your loved one with taking care of their personal hygiene, our caregivers can assist in keeping your loved one's house tidy. According to the Mayo Clinic, the flu virus may survive for several hours or even days on stainless steel, plastic and other hard surfaces. As a result, we provide assistance with light housekeeping duties. Cleaning countertops and high-touch areas like doorknobs and light switches can help us establish a clean in-home atmosphere. We can also replace the linens, wash the laundry and clean the dishes.

Prepare healthy meals

Because older adults are more susceptible to contracting the flu, it's critical that they consume a well-balanced diet to help their immune system battle the virus. Healthy eating, on the other hand, might be difficult for certain seniors, particularly those with mobility and cognitive impairments. Fortunately, our caregivers can create meals and snacks that your loved one would like and can provide them with the vitamins and nutrients they require to gain strength and stay healthy.

Transportation to get the flu shot

Flu vaccines are both safe and effective in reducing the risk of serious disease, and they are readily available at pharmacies, medical offices, walk-in clinics and hospitals. Seniors should receive the flu vaccination at the start of flu season in order to stay protected for longer. Flu vaccines may be even more necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic because your loved one might be infected with both COVID-19 and the flu. Furthermore, catching the flu may make your loved one more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

Our caregivers can assist your loved one in getting to the nearest clinic or doctor's office for a flu vaccine. We can also send them reminders after they've scheduled an appointment and monitor them for any side effects.

Help with running errands and providing companionship

During flu season, seniors may benefit from staying at home as much as possible to prevent coming into close contact with individuals who are sick. The flu can be communicable for a day before symptoms show and can last up to seven days. For people with weakened immune systems, the infectious period lasts considerably longer.

Our caregivers can assist your loved one in avoiding infection by going out and completing any errands they require. In addition, with our companion care services, we can fulfill your loved one's needs for social engagement and companionship.

You can trust Visiting Angels McKinney to keep your loved one safe since we follow CDC recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic (wearing facemasks and other PPE when we're with clients and using hand sanitizer on a regular basis).

The flu may be dangerous for elderly adults, but with appropriate preparation and care and assistance from caregivers at Visiting Angels McKinney, your loved one can stay safe during this flu season.

To learn how our home care services can help your loved one stay safe at home, call Visiting Angels McKinney at 214-491-1999 to schedule a free in-home consultation.