Most Common Infections in the Elderly
Everyone is susceptible to common infections like flu or urinary tract infections from time to time, but for elderly people, they can be a more common occurrence and cause more serious health concerns. There are multiple reasons for this, from a weakened immune system to complications because of existing health conditions.
As a result, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of some common infections in the elderly to help enable you to seek medical support quickly and minimise more serious health implications.
In this guide, we explore five of the most common infections in the elderly and share how having the dedicated support of one-to-one live-in care or visiting care can help minimise your risk of infections and complications.
5 Common infections in the elderly
1. Influenza
Influenza, or flu, is one of the most common infections affecting older people. Not only can it be more prevalent as you get older, but it is also more likely to lead to serious complications and result in a hospital stay.
Common symptoms of the flu include:
- A high temperature
- Aches and pains
- Feeling exhausted
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Sickness
- Diarrhoea
Often these symptoms come on very quickly, usually within a few hours, and leave you feeling too exhausted to continue functioning as normal.
There are several reasons why people over 65 are more at risk of the flu, including:
- A weakened immune system
- Underlying or existing health conditions, like heart disease or diabetes
- Increased exposure – this can be from hospital stays, more frequent visits to the GP surgery or from residential care or daycare settings
So, taking necessary precautions to reduce the risk of catching the flu as you age is essential.
One of the best ways to do this is to get your annual flu vaccination, which is free on the NHS to anyone over the age of 65. However, it’s also important to practice good hand hygiene to reduce the spread of the infection and to remain vigilant to the signs of infection. This allows you to take swift action to prevent the condition from worsening and leading to other common elderly illnesses like pneumonia or bronchitis.
2. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Pneumonia is often more common in older people due to:
- Natural changes to lung capacity caused by ageing
- Increased exposure due to more frequent hospital stays, doctors visits etc
- Weakened immune system
- Increased susceptibility due to existing health conditions
- Increased risk of aspiration pneumonia due to difficulties swallowing (dysphagia)
Like with the flu, prevention is the key to reducing your risk of developing this condition, and one of the best ways to do this is by having a pneumococcal vaccine, which is free to anyone over 65 through the NHS. It’s also important to have your annual flu vaccination, as one of the complications of flu in older people can be the development of pneumonia.
Other ways to reduce your risk of pneumonia include practising good hand hygiene, avoiding smoking, which can make it harder for your lungs to fight off an infection and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to help keep your immune system strong.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of pneumonia in older people can also be beneficial, as it can help you spot the infection sooner and seek treatment. Common symptoms of a pneumonia infection include:
- A cough – sometimes you may cough up green or yellow phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- High temperature
- Chest pain
- Aching body
- Feeling very tired
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling more confused than normal
3. Skin infections
Changes to the skin’s ability to heal as we age can mean that skin infections become more common as we get older. In addition, some conditions like diabetes, which can affect circulation, can also impact the skin’s ability to heal which means some older people are at even greater risk of skin infections.
Some of the most common skin infections older people may experience include:
- Bacterial or fungal foot infections
- Cellulitis (skin infection)
- Drug-resistant infections such as MRSA
- Viral infections
To avoid skin infections, it is important you pay close attention to:
- Any skin wounds or lesions you develop
- Unusual itching or skin soreness
- Pressure sores
The best way to prevent skin infections is to maintain good hygiene, by washing and caring for your skin regularly.
At Trinity Homecare, we understand that washing can become more difficult as you age, but our carers can help alleviate the burden by helping you with your personal care in a supportive and dignified manner. This can help you continue to live a happy and healthy life in the home you love.
4. Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections in older people. In addition, diabetes and any medical conditions which mean a person frequently needs catheters can increase an older person’s risk of having a UTI.
UTIs can often be harder to spot in older people as many don’t experience pain when urinating, usually one of the first signs of a urine infection. This can mean that UTIs can go untreated for longer and lead to more serious complications.
In many cases, one of the first signs of a UTI in an older person will be a sudden change in their behaviour. This could be unusual aggression, increased confusion or delirium or a worsening of dementia symptoms. These symptoms can often be quite drastic and can be distressing for family and loved ones to witness, but the good news is that if they are the result of a UTI, diagnosis and treatment can usually be made swiftly.
Other symptoms to look out for include:
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid heart rate
- Unusual urinary incontinence
- Poor appetite
- Drowsiness
- Frequent falls
To diagnose a UTI, your GP will usually request a urine sample from you. They can then prescribe suitable antibiotics if your sample shows you have an infection.
To reduce your risk of getting a UTI it’s important you:
- Drink enough water
- Urinate as soon as possible when you feel the need to go and empty your bladder fully
- Wipe front to back
- Urinate after sex
- Wear loose cotton underwear
5. Gastrointestinal infections
Age-related changes to digestion and gastro-intestinal bacteria can increase an older person’s risk of catching gastrointestinal infections. Two of the most common gastrointestinal infections affecting older people include Helicobacter Pylori and Clostridium difficile.
Helicobacter Pylori
This is a common gastrointestinal infection that typically causes fever, nausea and upper abdominal pain which if left untreated can lead to long-term conditions like gastritis.
Clostridium difficile
This infection can be more common in older people as a result of more frequent antibiotic use, which can kill the gut’s healthy bacteria and leave it susceptible to infection. Symptoms typically include diarrhoea, which can lead to colitis (inflammation of the colon).
To reduce your risk of developing a gastrointestinal infection it’s important to:
- Follow good hand hygiene
- Maintain a clean and hygienic home, especially in the kitchen where food is prepared
- Only drink safe drinking water
- Avoid contact with contaminated surfaces
If you are struggling around the home with tasks like preparing meals or keeping on top of the cleaning, home help could provide the ideal solution. It offers you support with the tasks you are finding more difficult to ensure that your home remains clean, safe and hygienic, which can help to reduce your risk of gastrointestinal infections.
How can home care help prevent infections in the elderly?
Getting older can put you at increased risk of a range of infections, as well as making you more susceptible to becoming more poorly as a result. However, the dedicated one-to-one support of a home carer can help reduce your risk of infections. That’s because not only can they help with tasks to uphold good personal and home hygiene standards they are also fully trained to know the signs and symptoms to look out for that may indicate all is not well with you.
What’s more, our home carers can support you through an illness, providing additional care should you need it to ensure you can take the necessary rest to allow you to fully recover.
Trusted home care from Trinity
If you’re looking for some support to help you continue to live well in the home you love, trust Trinity Homecare. For the past 25 years, we have provided the highest standards of care in the comfort of people’s own homes. Our carers can provide support with a wide range of tasks to ensure that whatever your needs, you get the care and support you need.
Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all nationwide care companies in England. With this in mind, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care and specialist support.
If you have any questions about arranging home care, simply get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging nationwide home care with Trinity is straightforward. Simply follow these five steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well-suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time