Seniors and the Dangers of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection that, while fairly common, is a serious danger to older adults.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 1.5 million people who visit emergency departments each year are diagnosed with pneumonia, with nearly 50,000 deaths occurring from the infection.

Causes and symptoms

Pneumonia affects the lungs by causing air sac inflammation in the lung tissue. The tissue then fills with fluid, making it difficult for proper oxygen to flow. This results in shortness of breath, fever, chills, fatigue, and chest pain.

Dangers in older adults

For seniors, pneumonia can be particularly dangerous because we are more susceptible to illnesses like this as we age. For those 65 and older, there is an increased risk for hospitalization and other complications such as bacteremia – an infection that gets into the bloodstream and could become fatal.

Because of the increased susceptibility and weaker immune system, pneumonia in seniors can progress faster than in younger people. This is why early detection and monitoring are so important, which is one of the responses an assisted living community can help with.

Depending on the severity, pneumonia can be treated at home.

The goal in treating pneumonia is to remove the infection while treating the symptoms. Assisted living communities like Heritage Woods of DeKalb can help with determining severity of the symptoms and helping with daily activities if needed because of the 24-hour availability of personal assistance from our staff of certified nurses’ assistants.

With help available quickly, proper treatment for pneumonia can successfully clear the infection and get you feeling better faster.

For more information and to learn how compassionate care in an assisted living community can help with the onset of potential illness, visit our website or call 815-787-6500.

Heritage Woods of DeKalb

2626 N. Annie Glidden Rd

DeKalb, IL 60115

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