How to Prevent the Flu in Seniors

Leaves are changing and the weather is cooling off. Along with the welcome changes of the fall, comes an unwelcome season – flu season. Beginning in October and sometimes stretching into May, flu season is the period of time when the influenza virus is most active. It’s a time to step up self-care and flu prevention efforts, keeping our loved ones healthy and well to enjoy all the good things the season has to offer.

Learn more about flu prevention, symptoms, and treatments to protect your senior loved ones this season.

Senior Flu Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that adults 65 and older are at a greater risk of complications from the flu because of weakened immune systems. They estimate that between 70%-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths and 54%-70% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred in people 65 and over. Because of their increased risk for health complications from the flu, it’s crucial to exercise flu prevention methods.

The best way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine. Adjusted every year to better protect against the current flu strand, seniors and their caregivers should get the flu shot every year. The CDC has found that the flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu illness by 40%-60%.

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Even for seniors who often have a weakened immune system and a weaker response to vaccines, the flu vaccine can protect against illness and the serious consequences of getting the flu, like hospitalization and death. The vaccine can also mitigate the flu virus so that even if you or a senior loved one contracts the virus, its effects will be less if a flu vaccine is present.

Other than the flu vaccine, flu prevention methods include:

Avoiding contact with people who are sick
Resting at the first symptoms of a cold or virus
Consistently washing hands
Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly
Limit eye, nose, and mouth contact
Maintain a healthy diet to boost immunity
Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night
Quitting smoking as smokers have a more exaggerated response to the flu

Flu Symptoms in Seniors

Unfortunately, the flu is often overlooked or misdiagnosed in seniors. Many seniors do not develop typical symptoms of the flu and health professionals are less likely to test seniors for the flu. Delayed or missed diagnosis of the flu can have serious implications on senior health, especially for seniors who have a chronic illness.

The CDC defines “influenza-like illness” as having a temperature over 100°F and a cough and/or a sore throat, and no other known cause of symptoms. However, many seniors that get sick from the flu do not have a fever, cough, or a sore throat. In fact, a study on influenza testing in seniors during flu season found that 26% of hospitalized seniors with proven influenza did not exhibit the typical “flu-like” illness symptoms.

Symptoms of the flu in seniors include:

Weakness
Dizziness or feeling light-headed
Loss of appetite
Delirium
Malaise
A worsening of chronic heart or lung condition

If you suspect yourself or a loved one has the flu, see a doctor immediately. Your doctor will be able to give you a diagnosis from a swab sample on the back of the nose or throat. You may also be diagnosed on symptoms alone. Ignoring symptoms or misdiagnosing the flu can result in pneumonia, dehydration, and even death.

Flu Treatment for Seniors

Because the flu is a virus, bed rest and plenty of fluids are often the best treatment method. In some cases, you may be prescribed an antiviral medication to help shorten the flu’s duration. Additionally, over the counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help fight the aches associated with the flu.

If you know you have the flu and experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Chest pain
Abdominal pain
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe vomiting
Flu-like symptoms that get better and then suddenly get worse
Swollen mouth or throat

Have you or a loved one had the flu? Share your experiences, prevention methods, and treatment methods in the comments below.

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About the Author

Alissa Sauer

Alissa has been working in marketing and the senior living industry for over ten years. With a B.S. in advertising from the University of Illinois, Alissa has worked all over the world as a freelance communications strategist and writer. Published in Forbes, Senior Finance Advisor, Alzheimers.net and on other leading senior care blogs, she leverages her working knowledge of the senior care industry with leading research and best practices to create engaging content benefitting seniors and their caregivers. In her free time, Alissa loves to travel, read, cook, and spend time with her family.