Skilled Nursing Care | Flu Prevention

When your specialty is skilled nursing care, fall and winter means more than just the holiday season…it’s also Influenza season. Getting the “flu” when recovering from surgery or rehabilitating from another ailment can get in the way of your progress as a skilled nursing care patient. Learn how to prevent Influenza, identify the signs and symptoms of the flu, and recover as quickly as possible should you become afflicted.

Influenza Prevention

Getting your flu shot is the single most impactful measure you can take to prevent contracting the flu this time of year. Most clinics and pharmacies offer flu shots to walk-in patients for maximum convenience and most insurance companies cover the cost of the vaccine.

Other measures you can take to prevent Influenza include washing your hands frequently, using hand sanitizer when you visit the hospital, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep at night, and taking vitamin C to keep your immune system strong.

Is it Influenza? Signs and Symptoms

Influenza is not the same thing as the stomach flu. The most common symptoms associated with true Influenza include:

• fatigue
• body aches
• fever
• headache
• malaise
• dry, nonproductive cough
• rhinitis
• sore throat

It’s important to note that Influenza causes a much more severe illness than the common cold. The primary difference is the fever, fatigue, and body aches that accompany Influenza.

The only way to be sure you have Influenza or rule it out is to visit a doctor and have a diagnostic test done.

Recovering from the Flu

Should you catch the flu, there are things you can do to help with your recovery. Most patients are able to recover from the flu by resting, taking antiviral medications, staying indoors, and drinking plenty of water.

However, recovering from the flu can be difficult for the very young and very old. These patients may be hospitalized and experience severe complications from Influenza. This is why it is flu prevention is so critical.

Whether or not you have a scheduled stay at a skilled nursing care facility, staying healthy this season is important. At Santé, we take healthcare seriously and want to make sure you do, too. If you ever need our services, we will work with you to give you our very best. For more information about Santé, please contact us or visit one of our conveniently located facilities.