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7 Things Caregivers Should Know About Swine Flu (and the Elderly)

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  • 7 Things Caregivers Should Know About Swine Flu (and the Elderly)

    Source: http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2...out-swine-flu/


    The New Old Age | Caring and Coping
    May 1, 2009, 2:54 pm
    7 Things Caregivers Should Know About Swine Flu
    By Anne Underwood

    Every year, there are 36,000 deaths due to flu, mostly among the elderly, very young children and those with compromised immune systems. In the United States, the new swine flu, officially called A(H1N1), does not appear to be more dangerous than the seasonal flu, but experts are uncertain as to its future course.

    ?Our big worry is that this flu will become more virulent,? said Dr. Stephen Morse, professor of clinical epidemiology at Columbia University?s Mailman School of Public Health. ?The first wave may be the most mild.?

    So what do the elderly and their caregivers need to know about the new swine flu? We spoke with several experts.

    1. The risk: So far, the A(H1N1) virus does not seem to have disproportionately affected the elderly, but that could be a matter of luck. ?The initial exposures [in the United States] were among schoolchildren who went to Mexico on spring break,? said Dr. Morse. ?I would speculate that the main reason we haven?t seen outbreaks in nursing homes and among the elderly is simply that they haven?t been exposed yet.?

    The elderly often have reduced immune system function and lower lung capacity, both of which increase their vulnerability to the flu. There is no cause for panic at this point, but caregivers should be vigilant and take precautions.

    2. The precautions: The measures normally used to avoid the flu should be effective. ?You cannot wash your hands often enough,? said Dr. Aaron Glatt, president of New Island Hospital in Bethpage, N.Y., and spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Use soap and water or alcohol-based hand-sanitizers. You can also help prevent transmission of germs around the house by cleaning hard surfaces, including doorknobs, refrigerator handles, faucets and telephones. Use disinfectants like Lysol or sanitizing cloths.

    This is probably not the time for a visit from anyone who?s been ill or around someone who?s been ill, especially a child who has been sick or attends a school where there has been a swine flu outbreak.

    3. Group settings: Make sure any facility in which an elderly family member resides makes it a policy to isolate residents who contract the flu. ?There?s a saying among geriatricians that nothing spreads faster than flu through a nursing home,? said Dr. John W. Rowe, a geriatrician and professor of health policy at Columbia University?s Mailman School of Public Health.

    In case of infection, the medical director of the facility may decide to treat all the residents with the antiviral Tamiflu as a prophylactic measure. Doctors would normally discourage widespread use of the drug in order to preserve its effectiveness, but exceptions are made for a particularly vulnerable populations.

    4. The symptoms: If an aging parent has sudden onset of typical flu symptoms ? chills, aches and fever ? first call the doctor. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, signs of more severe infections may include difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, confusion and vomiting. Most cases of A(H1N1) in this country, however, have not been serious. ?So far it?s about as mild as flu gets,? said Dr. Morse. Read more about symptoms and treatment of influenza here.

    5. The emergency room: Unless an elderly patient is severely ill, experts advise against a trip to the emergency room. You risk spreading the disease to other vulnerable people. The patient?s regular physician may be able to make an evaluation over the phone and to call in a prescription for Tamiflu. Experts believe it and another antiviral, Relenza, are effective against the new strain.

    6. Caregiver illness: It?s a good idea, flu outbreak or not, for there to be a backup plan for elderly family members should a caregiver become ill. Should you contract the flu, try to avoid close physical contact with an elderly family member. You might consider wearing a standard surgical mask or an N-95 respirator mask. Both can be purchased at a pharmacy or hardware store.

    7. The moving target: Scientists are still trying to answer important questions about A(H1N1), and it?s possible that recommendations for prevention and treatment may suddenly change. Keep an eye out for new advisories.
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