Elder Care: Seniors and Flu Season, Taking Care of Elderly Loved Ones and Preventing Flu

The Center for Disease Control (also known as the CDC) reports that every year, more than 200,000 individuals are hospitalized because of the flu and 36,000 pass away. For elderly folks and older adults, flu season can be very serious, and in worst cases, deadly. 90% of flu-related deaths and more than ½ of all flu-related hospitalizations occur in individuals age 65 and older. Seniors in their 70's and 80's are at even higher risk than those in their 60's-immunity declines with age. This is especially important for individuals who have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, lung problems, or other serious conditions.

Senior Care: Getting an Annual Flu Shot

Even if you received a 2009 H1N1 seasonal vaccine, it's still a good idea to get vaccinated this year-vaccine viruses are regularly updated each year, with recipients gaining flu immunity two weeks after vaccination. For elderly individuals or elder care providers, it's best to speak with your doctor or nurse to determine the best option for your flu prevention. In general, it's worth getting vaccinated as aging can weaken your immune system, making yourself or your senior loved one more vulnerable to flu viruses.

Elder Care for Flu Symptoms

If your elderly loved one comes down with flu symptoms, they may need medical evaluation immediately, including immediate treatment with antiviral drugs.

Symptoms include chills, fatigue, headache, body aches, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, and fever.

If you're providing elder care for a parent or loved one, get them medical care promptly if you notice they have purple or blue lips (lip discoloration), chest pain or difficulty breathing, frequent vomiting and cannot keep down food or liquids, or if they show signs of dehydration, cannot urinate, feel very dizzy when standing, experience seizures, or appear confused and non-responsive.

If you're providing elder care for a family member or parent, avoid close contact with your loved one for the first few days, as he or she is most likely to spread flu virus and infection. Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizer also helps prevent cold and flu from infecting others.A good elder care tip is to provide your loved one with a healthy diet to boost immunity from the flu, and keep your parent or loved one warm at all times.

Flu season runs from October to February and seniors are vulnerable to complications. Vaccination is the most important factor in senior flu prevention, and is up to 90% effective. Individuals providing elder care should be aware of the dangers the flu poses for their elderly loved ones.If you wish to learn more about elder care, flu prevention, or respite care for families, speak with an elder care provider.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.  You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this article with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS ARTICLE.

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Elder Care: the elderly and flu season, taking care of elderly loved ones and prevent influenza

The Center for Disease Control (CDC also known as) reports that each year more than 200,000 people, influenza can be admitted to hospital because she and 36,000 pass. the elderly and older adults, seasonal flu can be very serious and deadly at worst. 90% of flu deaths and more than half of all hospital admissions related to influenza occur in people older than 65 years. Older people in their 70 and 80 are infected are at higher risk than their60's immunity declines with age. This is especially important for people, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease or other serious illnesses.

Senior Care: Getting an annual flu vaccination

Although he received a vaccine against the H1N1 seasonal in 2009, is a good idea a year, this year immunized vaccine virus is regularly updated each increase in target immunity two weeks after influenza vaccination. For older people or provider of care for the elderlyit is best to avoid talking with your doctor or nurse to determine the influence, the best option for you. In general, it is worth getting or old age as the vaccinated immune system so that your elderly loved ones more vulnerable to flu viruses.

Elder care for flu symptoms

If your lover is elderly with flu symptoms, they may need immediate medical evaluation, including immediate treatment with antiviralDrugs.

Symptoms include chills, fatigue, headache, body aches, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and fever.

If you care for the elderly are a parent or loved one, who receive medical treatment immediately if you have purple or blue lips (lip discoloration), chest pain or shortness of breath, vomiting and out can not keep food or liquids, or shows signs of dehydration point difficulty urinating, I feel very dizzy standing, experience seizures or seem confused and unresponsive.

If you choose to provide for an elderly family member or a parent, avoid close contact with your loved ones in a few days earlier when he or she more likely to spread infections and influenza virus. Frequent hand washing and disinfecting hands also helps to prevent colds and flu infect others.A geriatric care is a good tip to offer your loved ones with a healthy diet to boost immunity by influenza, and keep your parents or relatives welcome at any time.

> Flu season runs from October to February and the elderly are exposed to complications. Vaccination is the most important factor in prevention of seniors, and is up to 90% effective. People, older people should be aware of the dangers of influenza is their age ones.If loved for more elderly, the immunocompromised or care for families who speak with an elderly care provider.

Disclaimer: The information in this article do notor tacit, as a substitute for medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment. They are required to confirm any information from or about this article with other sources, and check all the details on health status or treatment with your doctor. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay medical treatment to go, because you have something in OR READ article about this.

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Elder Care: the elderly and flu season, caring for elderly loved ones and prevent influenza

The Center for Disease Control (CDC also known as) reports that each year more than 200,000 people, influenza can be admitted to hospital because she and 36,000 pass. the elderly and older adults, seasonal flu can be very serious and deadly at worst. 90% of flu deaths and more than half of all hospital admissions related to influenza occur in people older than 65 years. Older people in their 70 and 80 are infected are at higher risk than their60's immunity declines with age. This is especially important for people, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease or other serious illnesses.

Senior Care: Getting an annual flu vaccination

Although he received a vaccine against the H1N1 seasonal in 2009, is a good idea a year, this vaccine virus is regularly updated each year immunized recipients win immunity two weeks after influenza vaccination. For older people or provider of care for the elderlyit is best to avoid talking with your doctor or nurse to determine the influence, the best option for you. In general, it is worth getting or old age as the vaccinated immune system so that your elderly loved ones more vulnerable to flu viruses.

Elder care for flu symptoms

If your lover is elderly with flu symptoms, they may need immediate medical evaluation, including immediate treatment with antiviralDrugs.

Symptoms include chills, fatigue, headache, body aches, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough and fever.

If you care for the elderly are a parent or loved one, who receive medical treatment immediately if you have purple or blue lips (lip discoloration), chest pain or shortness of breath, vomiting and out can not keep food or liquids, point or shows signs of dehydration can not urinate, I feel very dizzy standing, experience seizures or seem confused and unresponsive.

If you choose to provide for an elderly family member or a parent, avoid close contact with your loved ones in a few days earlier when he or she more likely to spread infections and influenza virus. Frequent hand washing and disinfecting hands also helps to prevent colds and flu infect others.A geriatric care is a good tip to offer your loved ones with a healthy diet to boost immunity by influenza, and keep your parents or relatives welcome at any time.

> Flu season runs from October to February and the elderly are exposed to complications. Vaccination is the most important factor in prevention of seniors, and is up to 90% effective. People, older people should be aware of the dangers of influenza is their age ones.If loved for more elderly, the immunocompromised or care for families who speak with an elderly care provider.

Disclaimer: The information in this article do notor tacit, a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. They are required to confirm any information from or about this article with other sources, and check all the details on health status or treatment with your doctor. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay medical treatment to go, because you have something in OR READ article about this.

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Colorectal Cancer Part 6: Chemotherapy for the Elderly -- Is It Worth It?

According to the editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine (Older age -- not a barrier to cancer treatment. Vol: 345: 1128-1129. October 2001), more than half of all new cancers in the US occur in patients 65 years of age or older. Similarly about two thirds to three fourth of colorectal cancer cases occur in this elderly age group and three fourths of them die of the disease. In another report, published in the same journal (Vol: 345: 1091-1097), entitled: "A pooled analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy for resected colon cancer in elderly patients" Dr. Daniel Sargent and colleagues analysed data from 3,351 patients and compared the performance of patients in four different age groups. They concluded that:

1. "Selected elderly patients with colon cancer can receive the same benefit" from chemotherapy as their younger counterparts.

2. The five-year overall survival was 71% for those who received chemotherapy, and 64% for those who did not receive chemotherapy.

3. The toxic effects of the therapy were nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis and leucopenia (i.e., lowering of white blood cells). The toxic effects in those above 75 years old were not increased compared to other age groups.

Question: The difference of benefits between chemotherapy (5-FU + leucovorin or 5-FU
+ levamisole) and no chemotherapy was 7%. This benefit of increased survival comes with toxic side effects. While the younger patients might be able to tolerate the side effects, I wonder if the elderly would want to go through such "sufferings." To the oncologists and researchers, the results were "statistically significant," but from the viewpoint of patients, I wonder if it worth it?

Theodore, J. I. & Lamont, E.B (in: Effectiveness of adjuvant fluorouracil in clinical practice: A population-based cohort study of elderly patients with stage III colon cancer. J. of Clinical Oncology. October 2002. Vol: 20: 3992-3998) wrote:

"At five years, 52.7% of the elderly, stage III colon patients treated with adjuvant 5-FU were alive compared to only 40.7% of those untreated patients."

Questions: If you are old and had a surgery for your Stage 3 colon, but decided not to go for chemotherapy -- would you die soon after that? The answer is NO. The data of this research shows that you can still be alive after five years even if you do not undergo chemotherapy. Think about this carefully: for every 100 elderly patients who are subjected to chemotherapy, only 12 of them will benefit from the treatment. This means that 88 elderly patients have to endure the side effects of chemotherapy and they do not benefit from the treatment.

Yang, T.S. and colleagues (in: Phase II study of a weekly 8-hour 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin infusion for patients with advanced colorectal cancer: dose adjusted according to its toxicity. Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2001. Vol:31: 610-615) studied 26 patients with unresectable, metastastatic or local recurrence colorectal cancer. Patients were treated with 5-FU + leucovorin. The results of their result were:

1. The study commenced in June 1998, but by December 2000, i.e., one and half years later, only 3 patients were alive, meaning 23 of the 26 patients or 88% were dead. They survived for 1.5 to 28.3 months (median survival = 12.1 months).

2. The overall survival rate was 53.8% after 1 year, and 11.5% after 2 years.

3. The most frequent side effects noted were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and mucositis.

4. Hand-foot syndrome occurred in 11.5% of patients.

5. Fatigue or asthenia occurred in 57.7% of patients.

6. The study was terminated because the anticipated response rate was not achievable as expected.

Questions: Do the results of this study done in Taipei, Taiwan, not reflect the agonizing experiences of most cancer patients who had undergone chemotherapy? Are we made to believe that chemotherapy is good for colorectal cancer when 88% were dead 1.5 years after undergoing chemotherapy?

I often tell this to cancer patients: How much longer you live is not important. How you live while alive is the crux of the issue. What is the point of being alive when you have to spend most of your time going in and out of the hospital or enduring the side effects of the treatment?

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Colorectal Cancer Part 6: Chemotherapy for the Elderly - Is It Worth It?

According to the editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine (advanced age - and not a hindrance to cancer treatment. Vol: 345: 1128-1129. October 2001), more than half of all new cancers in the U.S. in patients 65 years of age or older . Also, around two thirds to three quarters of the cases of colorectal cancer in these older age groups and three quarters of them die of the disease. In another report, in the same journal (Vol: 345: 1091-1097) entitled: "A publicpooled analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy for resected colon cancer in elderly patients, "Dr. Daniel Sargent and his colleagues analyzed data from 3351 patients and compared the performance of patients in four different age groups. They concluded that:

1. Selected elderly patients with colorectal cancer may have the same performance "of patients with chemotherapy as their younger colleagues.

2. The five-year survival rate was 71% for those receivingChemotherapy and 64% for those who do not receive chemotherapy.

3. The toxic effects of therapy were nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis and leukopenia (ie) reduction of white blood cells. The toxic effects in those aged over 75 years, not increased as compared to other age groups.

Question: The difference in performance between chemotherapy (5-FU + leucovorin or 5-FU
+ Levamisole) and no chemotherapy was 7%. This benefit of increased survival comes with toxic side effectsEffects. While younger patients may be able to tolerate the side effects, I wonder if the elderly want to go through such "suffering." In order to provide oncologists and researchers, the results were "statistically significant", but from the perspective of the patient, I'm wondering if it worth it?

Theodore, JI & Lamont, EB (in: The efficacy of adjuvant fluorouracil in clinical practice: A population-based cohort study of elderly patients with stage III colon cancer.J. of Clinical Oncology. October 2002. Vol: wrote 20: 3992-3998):

"In five years, were treated, 52.7% of the elderly, patients with stage III colon adjuvant 5-FU alive compared to only 40.7% of untreated patients."

Questions: If you are old and had an operation on your stage 3 colon, but decided not to go for chemotherapy - you would soon die out? The answer is no. The data of these studies show that you may still be alive after five years if youundergone chemotherapy. Think about this carefully: For every 100 elderly patients who are undergoing chemotherapy, only 12 of them benefit from the treatment. This means that 88 elderly patients to tolerate the side effects of chemotherapy, and they do not benefit from treatment.

Yang, TS and colleagues (in Phase II clinical trial of a weekly 8-hour 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid infusion in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: dose adjusted according to theirToxicity. Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2,001th Vol: 31: 610-615) studied 26 patients with inoperable metastastatic or local recurrence of colorectal carcinoma. The patients were treated with 5-FU + leucovorin. The results of their findings were:

1. The study began in June 1998, but until December 2000, and a half years later, only 3 patients alive, that was 23 of 26 patients and 88% were dead. They survived for 1.5 to 28.3 months (median survival = 12.1Months).

2. The overall survival rate was 53.8% at 1 year and 11.5% after 2 years.

3. The most common side effects were observed were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and mucositis.

4. Hand-foot syndrome occurred in 11.5% of patients.

5. Fatigue or weakness occurred in 57.7% of patients.

6. The study was terminated because the expected return rate was not achieved as expected.

Questions: Are the results of this study in Taipei, Taiwan, not thepainful experiences of most cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy? Are we to believe that chemotherapy for colorectal cancer is good if 88% were dead 1.5 years after chemotherapy?

I often tell this to cancer patients: How much longer to live, is not important. How do you live within his lifetime, is the core of the problem. What is the point of being alive if you spend most of your time into and out of the hospital, or enduring the pageEffects of treatment?

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