Caring for a Loved One with Pneumonia

Caring for a Loved One with Pneumonia www.careanswers.com

According to the American Lung Association, next to influenza,pneumonia is ranked as the eighth leading cause of death in the UnitedStates.www.careanswers.com

• Typically, pneumonia exists when a patient’s immune system is weakened due to another illness, such as bronchitis or the flu.• Many people develop it in the hospital.• During the illness, seniors will need support from a caregiver.www.careanswers.com

If a loved one has the flu, watch for these warning signs which coulddevelop into pneumonia: Seek immediate medical attention is a loved one has difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the abdomen or chest, confusion, abrupt dizziness and/or continual vomiting. Dehydration and a worsening of any other medical conditions, such as heart problems, emphysema or asthma, are also cause for alarm.www.careanswers.com

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to treat a loved one at hometo promote recovery.Here are some tips for taking care of a loved one with pneumonia athome:www.careanswers.com

1. Give your loved one plenty of fluids and make sure he or she rests, saving strength for recovery. Fluids help loosen secretions so that the patient can bring up phlegm.2. Try to get your loved one to eat something that will build up his or her strength, such as lentil or chicken soup.3. Don’t let your loved one do any chores until he or she is stronger.www.careanswers.com

4. Give your loved one aspirin or acetaminophen to control any fever.5. Wash your hands before preparing your loved one’s food or touching him or her.6. Make sure no visitors have colds or coughs.7. Try propping your parent up in bed to see if that helps his or her breathing.www.careanswers.com

Nearly 1 in 5 people with pneumonia make costly, stressful return tripsto the hospital within the first 30 days of being diagnosed with thecondition.Individuals with pneumonia also are at a higher risk of having additional,underlying conditions that can make it more difficult to get better withoutassistance.www.careanswers.com

Research shows that many of these rehospitalizations are potentiallypreventable through the use of proactive, team-basedcare-coordination programs.BrightStar Care is equipped with the expertise and passion to work withpatients, families, and physicians to reduce the likelihood of hospitalreadmissions for individuals with pneumonia.www.careanswers.com

BrightStar Clinical Pathways for Pneumonia uses clinically provenmethods to educate people with pneumonia and their families on thekey aspects of the condition and how to monitor symptoms, adhere to aplan of care, take their medication, improve wellness, and stay healthy.Click here for more information.www.careanswers.com

Find Quality Care Now Locate a BrightStar Near You!Find a location in the USFind a location in Canada www.careanswers.com

Caring for a Loved One with Pneumonia

by BrightStar Care on Jun 22, 2012

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