Pneumonia is an infection in your senior’s lungs. That infection might be bacterial, viral, or even fungal. Even mild cases of pneumonia can land your senior in the hospital, so it’s vital that she takes the best care of herself possible while she’s healing. That might mean changing some of her habits and routines to accommodate her need for healing.
Drink Plenty of Water and Warm Beverages
Water and especially warm beverages can help to open your senior’s airways and assist her with breathing easier. The extra fluids help to thin mucus and makes it easier for her to cough up phlegm. Warm beverages help because your senior is breathing in the more humid air as she sips her drink. If your elderly family member doesn’t enjoy drinking more fluids, talk to her doctor about what some of the best options for her are.
Follow Doctor’s Recommendations about Medications
Your senior’s doctor will prescribe any medications that she needs to take, but there may be over-the-counter medications that are helpful for her situation, too. Make sure to talk to your senior’s doctor about OTC meds before your senior takes them. Some, like NSAIDS and cough medications, could interfere with your senior’s other medications, so always check before she takes something non-prescription.
Avoid Smoke and Any Other Lung Irritants
Lung irritants, especially smoke, can seriously impede your senior’s ability to heal from pneumonia. If your elderly family member is a smoker, this can be difficult. Talk to your senior about whether she’s ready to talk about quitting. Even if she isn’t willing to quit, cutting back can be hugely beneficial. That can still be difficult to do. Home health care providers can help your senior stick to a quitting plan and keep them busy with exercise or hobbies to keep their mind off of it.
Get as Much Rest as Possible
Resting is a huge key to recovering fully from pneumonia. Your elderly family member may not realize when she’s overdoing things, even, especially if her pneumonia was a surprise diagnosis. Having help with meal preparation and household tasks is important. It’s even more important though, particularly with more difficult cases of pneumonia, to have someone there to monitor how your senior is feeling. Home health care providers can keep tabs on your senior’s condition and make sure that she’s healing instead of getting worse.
Pneumonia recovery can be complicated and might take a lot longer than your elderly family member expects it to take. Being patient and sticking with her doctor’s recommendations can help your senior quite a bit.
