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Helping Seniors Recover from Pneumonia Post-Hospitalization

June 19, 2020 0 Comment Category: Foothill Heights

Pneumonia is a type of lung infection that leads to the inflammation of the alveoli in one or both the lungs. As the air sacs fill with fluid, it becomes difficult for the patient to breathe normally. The condition can cause many symptoms like painful breathing, heavy coughing, fever, fatigue, shortness of breath, and more. Pneumonia can affect people of all ages, but it can be particularly serious when seniors are affected by a lung infection.

Most seniors require hospitalization to manage the symptoms related to pneumonia. Even when the senior is healed enough to be discharged from the hospital, proper rehabilitative care is important to ensure a full recovery. This can be overwhelming for the family members, which is why most seniors treated for pneumonia are recommended short-term rehabilitative care at a skilled nursing facility post-hospitalization.

How Skilled Nursing Homes Help Seniors Recover from Pneumonia

One of the most important things to ensure quick recovery post-hospitalization is an adequate diet. This is even more significant for seniors with pneumonia, as they usually lose interest in eating. Skilled nursing homes realize that a balanced diet with the right amount of proteins and carbohydrates is essential for recovering from pneumonia. That is why they prepare a meal plan as per the health condition, preferences, and dietary requirements of their residents.

Expert nutritionists in the skilled nursing facility will create a diet plan for seniors, ensuring that it is rich in protein and carbs. This helps the body to rebuild the damaged respiratory cells as well as get the energy needed to counter fatigue and other lingering effects of pneumonia. Seniors will also have lots of fruits and vegetables in their daily diet, which will help to maintain a healthy balance of nutrients in the body.

Aside from the nutritious meal plans, caregivers at the skilled nursing facility will also ensure that seniors remain hydrated for a speedy recovery from pneumonia. Drinking plenty of water is vital for seniors and it helps to maintain their daily wellness. It even works to detoxify and eliminate the toxins in their body. Besides, staying hydrated also helps with digestion and the breakdown of nutrients in the meal.

The pneumonia recovery process in a skilled nursing home can last from a few weeks to a couple of months depending upon the overall health of the senior. The caregivers at the skilled nursing care facility will monitor the medications prescribed post-hospitalization and can help with medication administration as well to ensure a quick recovery. They will also assist seniors in maintaining good hygiene, which is a key element of recuperating from pneumonia. Contact Foothill Heights Care Center to learn more about a short-term stay for your senior loved one recovering from pneumonia.