Pneumonia in Seniors – Symptoms, Stages, Treatment, Recovery and Minimizing Risks
Anyone can get pneumonia with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Older adults are more likely to get pneumonia and experience serious complications. Due to these higher risks, caregivers need to recognize early pneumonia symptoms in seniors.
Pneumonia Symptoms in Elderly People
While there is no single cause for pneumonia, advanced age is considered to be a top a risk factor for this severe health problem. Confusion or delirium are red-flag signs of pneumonia in older adults as well as lower-than-normal body temperatures. Other symptoms, which can sometimes be confused with a cold and the flu, include:
- Chest pain during breathing or coughing
- Feeling tired or weak
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
Pneumonia can be very tricky to identify in older adults. Some pneumonia symptoms in the elderly can be mild or not present at all. Mild pneumonia, or sometimes referred to as “walking pneumonia,” can cause older adults to feel a bit “under the weather” but typically doesn’t require a trip to the emergency room. However, specific pneumonia symptoms can be intense and would require immediate transportation to the hospital.
While it can be challenging for family members to spot signs of pneumonia, professional in-home care providers are trained to monitor and track their symptoms.
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or other less-common types of illnesses. The condition causes air sacs in the lungs to become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus, leading to:
- Cough
- Fever
- Chills
- Chest pain
- Breathing troubles
- Other symptoms
Pneumonia is classified based on the area of the lungs that it affects. Bronchial pneumonia, which is also called bronchopneumonia, affects areas in both lungs.
Lobar pneumonia affects one or more lobes, or sections, of the lungs and is divided into four stages depending on how it progresses.
Stages of Pneumonia in Older Adults
The four stages of lobar pneumonia include:
Stage 1: Congestion
During the congestion phase, the lungs become very heavy and congested due to infectious fluid accumulated in the air sacs. During this stage, your older loved one may experience early pneumonia symptoms such as:
- Coughing
- A feeling of heaviness in the chest
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Rapid breathing
Stage 2: Red hepatization
Red blood cells and immune cells that enter the fluid-filled lungs to combat the infection give the lungs a red appearance. Although the body is beginning to fight the condition during this stage, your senior loved one may experience worsening symptoms such as:
- Increasingly productive cough
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Extreme fatigue
- Fever
- Chills
- Sweating
- Blue lips or fingernails due to low levels of oxygen in the blood
Some older adults may experience confusion or delirium during this stage. If your senior loved one experiences severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, high fever, or blue lips or fingernails, you should seek emergency treatment or dial 9-1-1 right away.
Stage 3: Gray hepatization
Red blood cells will disintegrate during this stage, giving the lungs a grayish color. However, immune cells remain, and symptoms will likely persist.
Stage 4: Resolution
During the resolution phase, seniors may begin to feel better as immune cells rid their body of infection. However, they may develop a productive cough that helps to remove fluid from the lungs.
Prompt Diagnosis for Proper Treatment
If you suspect your senior loved one may have pneumonia, you should call a doctor immediately. Earlier diagnosis can lead to faster treatment that promotes better outcomes - especially for seniors at a higher risk of developing severe complications.
A doctor will conduct a physical exam and may order imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment will depend on whether the pneumonia is caused by bacteria, virus, or another infection type.
Bacterial pneumonia comes on gradually or suddenly and is typically treated with antibiotics.
Viral pneumonia usually develops over several days and may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, so viral pneumonia is generally treated with supportive care such as increased fluid intake, over-the-counter medications, and rest.
Older adults who experience severe pneumonia symptoms or have other health problems may need to be hospitalized. While in the hospital, treatment may include intravenous (IV) antibiotics, respiratory therapy, and oxygen therapy. Doctors will also watch for signs of complications.
Pneumonia Recovery in the Elderly
Recovery from pneumonia can take several weeks. It may take even longer for older adults to recover - especially if they are living with another chronic medical condition. Suppose your senior loved one has experienced a bout of pneumonia. In that case, they may require temporary or ongoing in-home personal care services to assist with bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing, meal preparation, shopping, and other light household tasks.
Hiring an in-home caregiver during your loved one’s recovery will ensure personal care needs are being met by a qualified professional, providing you with peace of mind. Your loved one’s professional caregiver can also keep an eye out for future signs of pneumonia and promptly alert you.
Minimizing the Risks of Pneumonia in Seniors
There are a few easy steps to avoid complications and decrease pneumonia risks in your elderly loved one.
Experts recommend pneumonia treatment at home to include:
- Rest, rest and more rest
Remember, pneumonia is sneaky and can recur. Just because your loved one feels better, he or she may not be fully recuperated. It is generally better not to jump back into a regular routine until you are sure they have recovered. Not sure? Ask a doctor.
- Stay hydrated
Drinking water will help loosen the mucus in your loved one’s lungs, clearing them sooner.
- Finish medication
It is always important to take all prescribed medications. With pneumonia, doing so is particularly important as bacteria can stay in the lungs, multiply and trigger a recurrence.
Living a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of contracting pneumonia, so it’s not a bad idea to encourage your loved one to start doing so if they haven’t already.
If you’re a caregiver for your elderly loved one and live far away or can’t be there 24/7, you might worry about catching warning signs like these. A trained home caregiver from Visiting Angels Newton/Canton can help. Contact us today for a free in-home consultation.