How We Help Your Loved One Beat Cold And Flu Season

It’s that time of the year again–cold and flu season. And nobody ever wants to feel under the weather. Luckily, there are ways to reduce the risk of your loved one getting the flu or a cold. At Park View Estates Assisted Living & Memory Care community, our experienced staff is dedicated to helping your loved one stay healthy this fall. Want to know how? Keep reading to learn how we help your loved one avoid and remedy sickness.

Tips for Avoiding Sickness

Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids is a great way to help your loved one’s body fight off germs this fall. At Park View, we often provide residents with hot tea or water to stay hydrated. If they want or need to remain lying down, we also offer them large water bottles or cups with a straw, making it easy to stay hydrated from bed.
Wash hands thoroughly and often: By washing or sanitizing their hands frequently, your loved one can keep cold and flu germs away. Our staff makes sure residents are washing their hands effectively by using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol or washing their hands with regular soap for at least 20 seconds. We can also even leave hand sanitizer near their bedside if they need easier access.
Avoid touching the face: Even though your loved one should be washing their hands frequently, it’s still important to encourage them to minimize touching their eyes, mouth and nose, as germs may still be present. This will help avoid any germs from entering their body!
Avoid crowds: Being in large crowds or visiting places where a lot of people come through can increase the likelihood of transmitting a cold or the flu. We try to ensure that our residents have adequate space from each other to avoid exposing them to germs.
Stay active: Staying active and moving the body can help boost your loved one’s immune system, ultimately helping fight off sickness. Park View offers many ways for your loved one to engage in exercises that match their abilities, such as armchair yoga.
Keep the environment germ-free: Regular cleaning of your loved one’s environment can help reduce their risk of illness. Our lovely staff frequently disinfects common areas, bathrooms, doorknobs, light switches, electronics, and other frequently-used areas or items to protect residents!

While these are all great ways to reduce the risk of your loved one catching the flu or a fall cold, they are not guaranteed to prevent them. So, here are tips for a healthy living if your loved one is experiencing symptoms of a cold or flu.

If Your Loved One Becomes Sick

Go to the doctor: If your loved one begins to experience flu-like symptoms, such as a cough, sore throat, sneezing, chills, or fever, then you should take them to the doctor. They should be able to give you a diagnosis and share their recommendations for medicine and treatment.
Avoid spreading: To avoid spreading any illness to other people, we make sure that your loved one is not coming in contact with other residents by bringing meals to their room and avoiding common areas.
Rest at a 45-degree angle: Rather than laying flat when sleeping or resting, we ensure your loved one rests at an angle. This will help reduce the build-up of mucus and inflammation.

At Park View, our assisted living community in Costa Mesa, CA, we pride ourselves on ensuring that our residents stay in their best health. We have nurses on site to care for residents, and also provide frequent cleaning to reduce the risk of your loved one getting sick.

To learn more about our Orange County senior living apartments, Park View Estates, or schedule a tour, contact our friendly staff today.