Handwashing Tips for Reduce the Risk of Infection
Infection is one of the most serious risks that an elderly adult faces. From colds and flu to pneumonia, to infections in wounds, these can occur rapidly and develop into a potentially fatal condition known as sepsis. Because elderly adults have immune systems that are already weaker, they are at increased risk of suffering infections and the serious consequences that can occur as a result of them. As a family caregiver, it is important that you take steps to reduce the risk that your senior will suffer an infection, and give them the care that they need to cope with such an infection if it does occur. One of the easiest and most effective things that you can do is adopt effective handwashing practices.
Home Care Services in Springfield VA: Senior Handwashing Tips
Use these tips to help reduce the risk of infection with proper handwashing:
• Wash hands frequently throughout the day, particularly before and after performing care tasks for your parent
• Wet your hands under warm or cold running water, ensuring all of the skin is thoroughly wet
• Lather for a minimum of 20 seconds, ensuring that all areas of the skin are covered in lather, including between the fingers, around the wrists, and under the nails
• Keep in mind that antibacterial soap does not work any better than regular soap at killing germs and can actually compromise your ability to fight germs naturally
• Rinse well and dry your hands on a paper towel or a clean towel, or allow them to air dry
• When running water or soap is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill germs. Apply this product to the hands and rub on all surfaces of the hands and wrists until the gel dries
What else can you do?
Being a family caregiver for an elderly adult is challenging, and you may encounter times when you feel that you are not fulfilling all of your senior’s needs, or that they would benefit from additional support and care. Whether this is because you live at a distance or have a schedule that is so busy that you feel you are not able to be with your parent as often as you would like to be, or you have challenges and limitations that keep you from handling all of their care needs as efficiently as they need, this can leave you feeling stressed and like you are not giving your parent what they deserve.
Fortunately, elder care can help. An elderly home care services provider can step in to fill any care gaps that might exist and offer your parent support, care, and assistance specifically tailored to your parent’s individual challenges and needs so that they can stay healthy, happy, comfortable, and safe while pursuing as much independence as possible. This not only improves their quality of life but also eases your stress and enables you to focus your time and energy on them in the best way possible.
Are you or a loved-one considering hiring home care services in Springfield, VA? Please call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today.
Contact: 703-273-8818
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/hai/surveillance/index.html
http://professionals.site.apic.org/
http://professionals.site.apic.org/iipw/
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.
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