What Can Your Senior Do to Avoid Colds This Year?
There is no medication or vaccine to cure or to prevent the common cold, so your senior’s best opportunity for not getting a cold is to do everything that she can to simply avoid it. The good news is that there is a lot more that she can do to achieve that goal than you might think.
Homecare Windsor CA – What Can Your Senior Do to Avoid Colds This Year?
All the General “Good Health” Solutions Matter
There’s a lot your senior does all the time that contribute to avoiding a cold. Things like getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising as much as her doctor has said is safe are all helpful. Drinking plenty of water is also important, especially if your elderly family member does get sick. You might want to talk to your senior’s doctor about vitamins or supplements before adding them to her routine. There may be some that interact with medications she’s already taking.
Keep up with a Handwashing Schedule
One thing that the Covid-19 pandemic has reminded people of is the importance of handwashing. Your senior can remove or kill the majority of germs that she comes into contact with on a daily basis by simply washing them away with soap and water. Remember, at least 20 to 30 seconds with plain soap and water is enough. If soap and water aren’t an option, hand sanitizer that is at least 60 percent alcohol will do in a pinch. Remember that touching the nose, eyes, or mouth in between handwashing is a bad idea because that’s a fast track to getting germs into your senior’s body.
Try to Avoid People Who Are Sick
If you or your senior know that someone is sick, it’s best to avoid spending time with that person. That’s especially true if spending time around that person would mean being in an enclosed space for an extended period of time. Family members who aren’t feeling well should be aware of being careful around your senior, too. You may need a backup plan for yourself as well, just in case you get sick. Bringing in homecare providers may be exactly what you need.
Be Careful about Spreading Germs, Too
It’s also important that if your senior does get sick, you help her to avoid spreading those germs to other people. Staying at home while she’s sick is a really good choice. Coughing into a tissue is also a good idea, because the tissue can be thrown away immediately. Handwashing is still important, to avoid infecting other people and to help your senior avoid reinfecting herself. Increasing disinfecting routines is also a good idea but might be difficult for your senior when she’s not feeling well. Homecare providers can help with this, too.
Talk to your senior’s doctor about what other options she has to help her to avoid a cold this year.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Homecare Services in Windsor CA, call At Your Service Home Care. Call today! (707) 573-1003
She became a discharge planner and immediately fell in love with the concept of home care and the autonomous clinical practice it affords nurses. Dr. Lucy was hooked and has been a strong supporter of home care ever since.Believing people need advocates in healthcare systems, she has championed that cause across the acute care and post-acute care setting.
Dr. Lucy has worked in every aspect of home care from Medicare Certified, DME, Infusion, Hospice and finally Private Duty/Private Pay services. She also works as a home care consultant across the country and as a legal nurse consultant for the home care industry.
Having worked in all areas of home care, Dr. Lucy has a well-rounded perspective of the challenges facing patients, families and the home care industry, and as a provider she advocates for patients through the maze of health care services. Dr. Lucy celebrated over 37 years as a nurse and patient advocate.
Dr. Lucy has a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois.In 1994, she received her Masters of Science in Health Service Administration from St. Mary's University, Moraga, California. Dr. Lucy received her Doctor of Nursing Practice awarded in 2016, graduating with Distinction and a 4.0 GPA.
She did her doctoral work on the global dementia crisis, aging and prevention strategies for healthy living. Developed dementia and Alzheimer's disease plans for aging patients leaving the hospital setting or entering long-term care or home health and hospice environments. She also developed a specialized program for those at risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
In 1992, Dr. Lucy was designated CAHSAH Certified Home Care Administrator in the inaugural offering of this designation through the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH).
She is the founder and CEO of Creative Solutions Home Care Consulting Services and At Your Service Nursing & Home Care, a concierge nursing & home care agency that provides the services she believes are essential for seniors to age in place.She offers a higher level of care allowing people to be in their own homes with an emphasis on independence, safety, and quality of life.
Dr. Lucy is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) and sits on the Board of Directors for California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH).
She has served on the boards for both state and national board associations, and is currently on the following boards and committees: Board of Directors, California State Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH), 2002-present, National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC's) Private Duty Home Care Association Director, and multiple state and national home care committees.
Dr. Lucy goes to Washington, DC, several times a year to advocate for senior services and home care issues. She was past Commissioner for the Sonoma Commission on Human Rights.She is past chair of the local Senior Advocacy Services.
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