It is inevitable that as one ages, the risk of developing health concerns is higher. Worsening of a health condition is also more likely to occur as one’s bodily functions decline. One of the most common health issues of the elderly is the development or aggravation of respiratory disease. With this, it is best if you can find a senior living that provides the best care for you loved one with specific health needs. Of course, it will make you at ease to know that they can breathe with ease as they live in a place away from home.
Outdoor Living Environment
Respiratory diseases may be triggered by different things. It may be from pollution, dust, unclean air, allergens from pollen, smoke and other stuff that can irritate the airways and lungs. Therefore, the retirement community must be located away from highly urbanized areas. It must have a wide space and must be uncrowded, so it should have a rural setting.
A country feel in a retirement community may have lots of plants and trees that may bring seasonal respiratory allergies. So you should take time to observe or ask the team whether that plants and trees have pollens that may irritate the airways and make it hard for your loved one to breathe. Make sure the place you find for your loved one has clear air.
Indoor Living Space
A clean outdoor space does not always equate to a clean indoor space. Even when the retirement community is located in a less urbanized or a rural area and doesn’t have trees or plants with pollens, indoor spaces may still have dust build-up, molds, unclean HVAC system or other respiratory irritants that may also come from cleaning materials. It is your responsibility to check and ask how often the indoors spaces are cleaned and whether they have an air purifying system at hand.
Food Nutrition
The food we eat affects our respiratory health. Make sure that the food the retirement community serves are high in healthy fat. This aids in making breathing easier. Also, check the meal plans and see to it that it is approved by dieticians and pulmonologists.
Workout Programs
One way to care for the respiratory health is to have a workout plan that strengthens the function of the lungs to promote well-paced breathing. It is also best to check on the pulmonary rehabilitation plan of the retirement community. Check whether they provide time and assistance for your loved one to do a self-paced pulmonary exercise. In addition to that, they should also provide scheduled visits to a pulmonologist. See to it too that the workout programs will not be tiresome or make your loved one strain themselves.
Specialized Care
It is certain that team members of the retirement community have undergone rigorous training to provide proper assistance to all residents, but managing respiratory concerns require specialized training and care. The senior living team must also take note of the checkups and schedule of administration of medicine. In cases of emergency, team members should have been properly trained to use medical oxygen to assist your family member.
