No one likes to get sick, and for your elderly loved one, it can be especially stressful. A pneumonia diagnosis can be worrisome because of the complications that pneumonia can develop into. If not managed, pneumonia can lead to breathing complications that may land your loved one in the hospital. Therefore, a pneumonia diagnosis should be taken very seriously, and care plans should be made with loved ones and home care assistance providers for how to nurse your loved one back to health.
Know the Warning Signs of Worsening Pneumonia
The standard symptoms of pneumonia are coughing, fatigue, and fever. For the elderly, it can also include some mental confusion and loss of appetite. Once diagnosed and care is started (and possibly medications), symptoms should slowly get better, but it can take 2-3 weeks for a full recovery.
If your loved one develops any of the following symptoms during that recovery time, you or home care assistance should have her visit her physician immediately for a follow-up exam:
- Difficulty in breathing
- Lips or fingertips that are bluish, indicating enough oxygen is not getting to them.
- A cough or mucus that is getting worse
- A returning high fever
- Signs of dehydration
Care Plan for Your Senior with Pneumonia
If your elderly loved one doesn’t have someone to stay with her during recovery, a home care assistance provider can help ensure she gets the care and treatment she needs to improve. It’s a long, slow process, and having someone like a home care assistance provider watching out for her will help you rest better that she is getting the care she needs and also has an extra set of eyes on her in case things don’t get better.
Five Steps for Pneumonia Recovery at Home.
- Get plenty of rest. The body needs rest to recover but resting can be difficult if your loved one feels there are things she needs to do like take care of her pets, take the garbage out, or prepare meals. A home care assistance provider will help with daily and weekly chores so that your loved one can rest as needed without worrying about things not getting done.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can occur when your loved one is sleeping a lot and has no appetite. If vomiting or diarrhea is present, she might lose fluids more quickly than she can restore them. Your loved one should strive to drink enough water to stay hydrated.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking. Both may be difficult for those who struggle with addiction to avoid, but encouraging reducing the amount of smoking or drinking will help the body recover more quickly.
- Eat heart-healthy foods. The body needs fuel to recover, and while digging into comfort foods may seem inviting, your loved one should also try to include foods and drinks that will provide her body with the nutrients and vitamins it needs to have the strength to repair the damage done by pneumonia. Foods to avoid include processed meats, which increase inflammation of the lungs, and sugary drinks, which can lead to bronchitis.
- Add in activity each day. While rest is necessary, so is activity once your loved one is up to it. Being active helps her body regain its strength. Slow and easy with the help of a home care assistance provider will ensure she doesn’t overdo it.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Assistance in Carmel Valley, CA, please contact the caring staff at La Jolla Nurses Homecare today. Call (858) 454-9339
La Jolla Nurses Homecare is a top provider of home care services in San Diego, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carmel Valley, Point Loma, Bankers Hill, Mission Hills, Kensington, Coronado, University City, Pacific Beach, and all of San Diego County.
- Pneumonia Recovery Tips for Seniors - October 11, 2024
