It’s that time of year again when everyone seems to be getting sick. How can you protect yourself or your senior loved one from getting sick this cold and flu season? Keep reading to find some tips for seniors in retirement living!
- Don’t Touch Your Face
Illness can enter the body quickly through your eyes, nose, and mouth. When you touch your face, even unintentionally, you can speed up and increase your chances of getting sick. To reduce the risk of getting sick, minimize touching your face.
- Wash Your Hands Often
Soap and water can help remove viruses from your hands. A common saying is to sing “Happy Birthday” twice while scrubbing your hands vigorously – this should take around 20 seconds! It is also helpful to keep alcohol-based hand sanitizer nearby to use if there are no sinks nearby.
- Keep Your Surroundings Clean
Germs and viruses can stay on surfaces, resulting in you picking up an illness from doorknobs, light switches, or handrails. At Garneau Hall, our staff diligently keeps the retirement community clean and safe. However, you should also be aware and responsible for keeping your surroundings clean. We recommend sanitizing your mobile devices regularly with sanitizing wipes or rubbing alcohol, being careful to not wet the electronics.
- Drink Lots of Liquids
Staying hydrated, especially with hot tea and plain water, is essential for helping the body fight germs and illnesses better. Ensure you are drinking lots of healthy fluids, especially during cold and flu season! However, it’s important to remember that heavily caffeinated drinks can result in dehydration, causing headaches and other illnesses. At Garneau Hall, you can find complementary refreshment stations throughout our retirement community for your convenience.
- Exercise Regularly
As we have talked about in previous blogs, regularly participating in moderate exercise boosts the immune system, potentially reducing the risk of a cold. We recommend 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise, five days a week. Exercise isn’t just beneficial during cold and flu season at a retirement community, though! Regular exercise also reduces the risk of many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and respiratory illnesses. At Garneau Hall, we offer many exercise classes and activities for all ability levels.
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If you’re looking for a VRS seniors retirement home that offers a fulfilling community, we are here for you. Feel free to contact us with any questions you have. Call 604.731.1020 to arrange a tour at one of VRS’ warm and friendly independent senior communities.