The flu and now COVID 19 are particularly dangerous for elderly individuals, especially those with underlying health conditions. If you’ve been worried about a loved one who is under your care becoming ill, here is what you need to know:

Get Educated: The CDC and the WHO both have great information on a variety of illnesses including the flu and COVID 19. When in doubt, follow the guidance of these websites and check your local city website for the most accurate updates. While the news is a viable source of information, it is important that news writers and broadcasters want to write an interesting story, and a lot of the time, this means embellishing facts.

Know What ‘At Risk’ Means: The CDC cites older age, lung disease, diabetes, and heart disease as factors for COVID 19. Lung disease includes asthma, COPD, and other lung-related illnesses. However, healthy, young individuals are not immune to the virus. Even if you have a good immune system, you should still be taking precautions if you are caring for someone who is ill with COVID 19 or the flu.

Do a Medications Check: It’s always a good idea to periodically refill medications that your loved one is regularly taking. You also want to make sure that you have cold and flu medications at home. If you notice that you’re running low, make sure to call the doctor to restock.

Practice Social Distancing and Good Hygiene: This is important now with COVID 19, but it’s also helpful to take precautions such as staying home when you are ill and washing your hands regularly year-round.

Taking care of a loved one who needs help is always tough and Sutton In-Home Health is here to help. Our staff is highly professional and dedicated to the safety of your household. Call us today for more information.