One of the hot questions of the moment is, how do vaccines work? Let's look at exactly what vaccines are, why they work, and how they save lives.What is a vaccine?A vaccine is a type of medical treatment that's designed to prevent diseases, and it does this by teaching the body's immune system to fight off a virus or bacteria it hasn't come into contact with before. Of course, that's a simple explanation of what vaccines are and how they work! They're complex pieces of scientific engineering that can take many years to develop and test.The HistoryEdward Jenner invented the first vaccine, made from pustules from cowpox lesions, and administered it to an 8-year-old boy in 1796. When the boy was exposed to smallpox, he did not develop the infection. These findings quickly made the practice widespread, and his method underwent medical and technological changes over the next 200 years. The story of vaccines did not begin with Edward Jenners vaccine however, evidence exists that the Chinese employed similar practices as early as 1000 CE!Today, we have vaccines for some of the most dangerous and deadly diseases. Depending on your stage of life, location, and travel plans, you may need different vaccines for certain illnesses.How They WorkWhen a virus or bacteria invades your body causing disease, your immune response is triggered, identifying, and destroying the infectious agents. Part of this process is where your white blood cells create proteins known as antibodies. These antibodies track down the bacteria or virus and mark it to be destroyed. Once the bacteria or virus is dealt with and you recover, your body produces memory cells, meaning if you encounter the same virus or bacteria again, your body's immune response is much faster and more targeted.Most vaccines contain a harmless form of a weakened form of bacteria or virus that is enough to trigger the body's natural immune response, without causing a full-blown illness. Once the vaccine has been administered, and your immune system has responded, you will have the antibodies and memory cells specific to that disease. So, if you do reencounter the virus or bacteria, your body will remember it, and deal with it before even you notice it's there!Why They Save LivesThe WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that vaccines prevent 4-5 million deaths per year. By receiving a vaccine, you gain protection from diseases that can make you seriously ill or even prove fatal. Receiving a vaccine doesn't just protect you, it protects others as well! You may have heard the buzz words, herd immunity in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, but what exactly does it mean? Essentially, it's the indirect protection from infectious diseases that comes when enough people have immunity to them, often through vaccinations.For those who can't be vaccinated, herd immunity is the only thing that can protect them from the virus or bacteria. When enough people are immune, the disease can't spread in the community since the lines of transmission are cut off. So, by getting vaccinated, you're helping to prevent potentially deadly diseases from spreading to those who cannot have vaccines.As we are currently living during a global pandemic, we must rely on vaccines to protect our most vulnerable population: seniors. Older adults are more likely to fall sick from COVID-19, meaning they might need hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, otherwise their sickness may end in death.Our Stance on VaccinesThe work on vaccines, including the currentCovid-19 vaccines, have been remarkable, and we owe a great deal to the experts who have made it possible. We strongly support the science behind vaccines and encourage everyone to voluntarily get vaccinated for Covid-19 as soon as possible. Vaccinations are a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases, and is one of the best tools we have to ensure a safer, healthier world.

Most of us think that joint issues, and specifically knee pain, are an inevitable part of aging. While some aches and twinges may likely be age-related, knee pain is not a foregone conclusion for seniors. Diagnosing the cause of knee pain in elderly adults and properly treating knee pain when it does occur can help avoid or at least mitigate its discomforts. In this post, well review some of the common causes of senior knee pain and knee pain treatment options.Causes of Elderly Knee PainSome issues that can cause elderly knee pain include:Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis to affect the knee. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative process where the cartilage in the joint gradually wears away. Rheumatoid arthritis is another form of arthritis that can affect the knee, although it tends to affect younger adults as well.Tendonitis. Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon generally caused by overuse or repetitive movement. Running, jumping, and cycling can all lead to tendonitis in the knee.Mechanical issues. Mechanical issues is a fancy way to say that some sort of injury has led to knee pain. This could include a fall or blow to the knee, a sprain, or a twist. Sudden knee pain in elderly adults can most likely be attributed to some sort of mechanical issue.Old injuries. Old injuriesfor example, an ACL tear from high school that was seemingly completely healedcan begin to hurt again as we age. Tissue that was damaged in the past is more susceptible to instability, strain, and degeneration.Elderly Knee Pain TreatmentThe treatment for elderly knee pain depends on what is causing the pain. Your primary care doctor or an orthopedist can help you determine the cause of your pain and then work with you to come up with a treatment plan.Some common treatments for elderly knee pain include:Medications. An over-the-counter pain relief medicine may be enough to calm your knee pain. Your doctor may also be able to prescribe a medication to treat the specific cause of the pain, especially if the pain is caused by osteoarthritis.Physical therapy. Strengthening the muscles around the joint can help relieve knee pain. A physical therapist can help with specific exercises that will address the cause of the pain, particularly if it is tendonitis or a mechanical issue.Injections. There are a few types of injections that can help with knee pain, again depending on the cause of the pain. A corticosteroid injection can help reduce pain and relieve the symptoms of arthritis. A hyaluronic acid injection can lubricate the joint and help reduce pain when moving. Platelet-Rich Plasma injections, a newer treatment, have been shown to reduce inflammation and promote healing for many different conditions.Surgery. Arthroscopic surgery is typically the first type of surgery considered to repair injuries to the knee. It is minimally invasive and the recovery period is relatively short. Partial or total knee replacement surgery is an option when the pain or damage to the knee has become too much to bear. The replacement knee joint (or parts) are made of metal alloys and high-grade plastics so they last a very long time.Medicine and technology have come a long way from the days when knee replacement surgery would require months of bedrest and rehab. Additionally, there are many more options to alleviate knee pain than there were in the past. If you or your elderly loved one does begin to experience knee pain, know that it is not something you simply have to live with, and there are many treatment options that can provide relief.To learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at (877) 268-3277. 

Along with old age comes many changes, some more subtle than others. For instance, older adults are at greater risk for infection and are more likely to experience atypical symptoms that can be more challenging to diagnose. Unfortunately, that also means older adults are at greater risk of sepsis. But what's unique about sepsis in elderly patients, and what kinds of things do you need to be on the lookout to spot?Sepsis in Elderly Patients Things to Know:Sepsis refers to the inflammation response that occurs when our bodies are trying to fight off a bloodstream infection. This inflammatory response causes the body to damage itself, not unlike an ordinary fever, but with far greater risks.Every year in the US, roughly three-quarters of a million people will develop sepsis, including a disproportionately large number of the elderly. In fact, one study of hospital discharge records found sepsis was nearly eight times more common among the elderly. For older adults, the most common causes of sepsis are respiratory, genitourinary, or bloodstream infections. For instance, urinary sepsis in the elderly is when a UTI infection escapes into the bloodstream. Or pneumonia sepsis elderly patients have an infection that entered from the lungs but has since spread.How Dangerous is Sepsis in the Elderly?Unfortunately, death from sepsis in the elderly is quite common. Outside of coronary ICUs, it's actually the second leading cause of death. It's also worth noting the sepsis survival rate in elderly populations is quite distinct from younger adults. With only mild sepsis, a full recovery is the most common outcome. But for septic shock, the mortality rate is estimated to range between 25-40% and closer to the higher end of that figure for the elderly.As sepsis becomes worse, complications of sepsis in elderly patients will start to emerge. Those complications include organ damage, organ failure, and death.A sepsis prognosis in the elderly can also be complicated because of the possibility of lasting damage from sepsis.That's because research has shown many of the older adults who survive a septic shock are at greater risk of entering a mental or physical decline in the years following. It's also estimated And as many as40%of those who survived a sepsis hospitalization died within the next two years.Avoiding Sepsis in Elderly Adults:Given the great danger involved, prompt treatment with antibiotic medications is usually of paramount importance to outcomes. As such, it's also worth being familiar with some of the more common symptoms of sepsis, including confusion, rapid breathing, lower blood pressure, accelerated heart rate, severe pain, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and lower body temperature.Apart from early identification and treatment, prevention can be just as important. Fortunately, that's often achievable by following some fairly common-sense guidelines, like washing your hands with soap, staying vaccinated, managing chronic conditions, and treating infections swiftly. And as always, healthy living goes a long way.

Going to the bathroom should never be a chore. But for elderly adults, it can often pose a safety hazard. Luckily, there are steps you can take to create a safe bathroom for your elderly loved one. In this post, we will review what you need to know about bathroom designs for the elderly and take a look at bathroom remodeling ideas for seniors.Problems with Bathrooms for SeniorsA remodeled bathroom for seniors will address the following concerns:Moisture that causes surfaces to become slippery when wetClimbing or reaching for itemsPoor lightingRoom to maneuver with a cane, walker, or wheelchairBathroom remodels for seniors do not end with this list. For more information, take a look at the Americans with Disabilities Act design standards. Now that we know more about what we need to fix, let's take a closer look at bathroom renovations for the elderly.Essential Bathroom Improvements for SeniorsWhen it comes to bathroom remodel ideas for the elderly, it can be overwhelming to think about all of the things you may need. Rather than thinking about the big picture, its best to only think about one section of the bathroom at a time. Senior-friendly bathroom designs should include all of the following:General AccessibilityYou don't want your loved one to walk upstairs for every bathroom visit. Step one in your bathroom remodel for the elderly should be to ensure you have at least one bathroom on the first floor or install a chair lift for easier access to the second floor. Furthermore, ensure the bathroom is well lit and has enough room to move a walker or wheelchair.EntrywaysIf a bathroom door doesn't unlock from the outside or if it opens into the bathroom, it can create some hassles for seniors. Install pocket doors or widened doors to capitalize on space. It's ideal to widen doorways to about 36 inches so there is plenty of room to navigate with a walker.FloorsFor your loved one, adding non-slip bathmats and rugs can prevent slips and falls. Additionally, you can add thick rugs for cushioning knees if you or a caregiver have to bathe your elderly loved one.Showers/BathsA walk-in tub, a built-in shower seat, a curb less shower, or glass shower doors will make bathing much easier for a senior. You may also want to install grab bars to make entry and exit even simpler.ToiletsIf your loved one struggles with sitting and standing up, sitting on a toilet can be challenging. Consider installing a higher toilet or toilet seat extensions to ensure they can sit down easily. Grab bars around the toilet can also ensure ease of access.SinksEnsure the sink is easily within grasp for your loved one by lowering the counter height or having the sink attached to the wall. Installing lever- or foot-operated faucets can also be helpful for seniors with arthritis.