Most of us try to keep our homes as tidy as we can, but life can sort of get in the way. After all, the challenges of daily work schedules, family life, and the essentials of day-to-day living might make it difficult to clean as much or as thoroughly as we’d like. Yet, for the most part we can manage things to an adequate level, ensuring effective bacterial and infection control in the home. Seniors, though, can find it very difficult to do so, and there are some shocking statistics that prove it is an issue that requires much more attention.

As an example, the American Academy of Family Physicians has released these figures about the elderly and infection:

• Infectious diseases account for one-third of all deaths in people over the age of 65.
• More than 90% of all deaths from pneumonia occur in people over 65.
• A recent upswing in drug resistant bacteria showed that Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is particularly dangerous for the elderly, which makes infection control in the home even more important.

That same organization went on to explain that the most common infections that elderly people deal with include skin infections, bacterial pneumonia, UTIs and influenza. Many of these issues can be kept at bay with appropriate infection control in the home, so where do you begin?

Get Help with Infection Control in the Home

Most infectious diseases that affect seniors are quite preventable, but it takes a bit of attention and help to do so. As an example, your elderly parent or grandparent may still be independent, handling their light housekeeping, day-to-day living activities, personal hygiene, and more. Yet, you notice their home and even their person is not as well-kept as it once was. A caregiver can be the ideal solution. They can work with your loved one to ensure that their skin care is kept up, as this is a key preventative of infection. They can tackle the kinds of housekeeping chores that ensure optimal health and safety, including food safety and infection control, and even work on hand washing as well as other simple remedies to reduce risks of infection.

At Capital City Nurses, the team uses a system of ongoing educational material and training to ensure that all clients get the best care possible. Full safety training that incorporates infection control, food safety and environmental safety (i.e. creating a home free of trip and fall risks, and so on) are only part of what they offer. If you want to ensure your loved one remains safe and sound, give them a call to discuss their services.