It’s officially flu season. Each year, millions get sick with influenza (flu). The flu can be extremely dangerous for seniors, as immune systems weaken with age. The virus increases seniors’ risk of heart attack by three to five times and stroke by two to three times, making seniors six times more likely to die from flu and related complications than younger adults.

The virus is pretty common, but there’s still a lot of misinformation surrounding the flu and flu shot. Due to the associated risks, it’s crucial to differentiate between what’s real and what’s a rumor. Let’s explore common flu myths vs. facts.

Myth: I can get the flu from a flu shot.

Fact: It is true that most vaccines contain the virus they’re protecting against – that’s how they work! However, flu vaccines are either recombinant (made synthetically and do not require a vaccine virus) or created using weakened or inactivated viruses. These provide enough of the virus so your immune system knows what to fight against but not enough to make you sick.

When you get a flu shot, it typically takes around two weeks for the vaccine to become effective. During those two weeks, it’s still possible to get the flu.

Myth: It doesn’t matter which flu shot I get.

Fact: That may be true for people younger than 65, but for seniors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends three flu vaccines over standard-dose flu vaccines:  Fluzone High-Dose flu vaccine, Flublok Recombinant flu vaccine, and Fluad Adjuvanted flu vaccine. These vaccines are generally more effective than standard-dose flu shots. Seniors should get another age-appropriate flu vaccine if none of the above are available. Talk to your doctor about which vaccine is right for you.

Myth: If I get a flu shot, I’m immune.

Fact: While getting your flu shot is the number one way to protect yourself from the virus and lessen symptoms, it’s not the only way. There are many preventive measures to reduce your risk of getting sick.

• Wash your hands frequently, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching shared surfaces.
• When you can’t wash your hands, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your face since the virus can enter your body through your eyes, mouth, or nose.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick. If you feel unwell, avoid contact with others.
• Disinfect high-touch surfaces like doorknobs.
• Wear a mask in crowded spaces.
• Avoid sharing food, drinks, or utensils with others.

Myth: I got my flu shot last year, so I won’t need another one this year.

Fact: A flu shot will only protect you for one season. The flu virus is constantly changing. Flu vaccinations are specially formulated to fight against the strains that are expected to circulate that year. If you skip your vaccination from one year to the next, you’ll likely be unprotected against the virus. It’s recommended to get your flu shot each year sometime in September or October.

Myth: If I get the flu, there’s nothing I can do.

Fact: Because the flu is a virus, this is a common misconception. However, antiviral medications are available to help alleviate symptoms and prevent serious complications. If you experience any of the symptoms below, contact your doctor to discuss treatment.

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Chills
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Myth: The flu is basically just a bad cold.

Fact: While the two share some symptoms, the flu is not the same as a common cold. It’s a very serious illness that shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially for seniors. The flu can lead to life-threatening complications like pneumonia, multi-organ failure, respiratory tract infection, and sepsis. Seniors account for about 70-85% of annual flu-related deaths in the U.S. Colds are minor infections that typically go away within a week.

Myth: If I feel too sick, I should visit urgent care.

Fact: If you have mild symptoms, such as a fever, persistent cough, sore throat, or body aches, urgent care is the place to go. However, you should immediately go to the emergency room if you experience any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Chest pain or pressure
• Severe weakness, confusion, or sudden dizziness
• Persistent vomiting that leads to dehydration
• High fever (above 103°F)
• Worsening symptoms

How Grand Oaks Helps

Each year, we hold a flu shot clinic for our residents and staff to help them stay safe throughout flu season and prevent the spread of illness to each other and their loved ones.

Stay informed and safeguard yourself and your loved ones this flu season. Help your family, friends, and neighbors stay healthy by sharing these common flu myths vs. facts!

When a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be a frightening experience for everyone involved. Providing crucial support is essential, especially since elderly individuals with breast cancer face a higher risk of experiencing side effects and treatment-related mortality. Taking care of a loved one with breast cancer requires offering emotional support, practical care, and coordinating medical treatment. Let’s explore tips for supporting your senior loved one with breast cancer.

Emotional Support

A cancer diagnosis, regardless of age, can be frightening. Letting your loved one know that you’re there for them can make a significant difference in their life during this challenging time.

It’s important to check in with them regularly and ask how they feel physically and mentally. Being there to listen and talk through their feelings is one of the most important ways you can support them emotionally. Try to resist the urge to tell them to be positive. Consider connecting them with breast cancer support groups or others who are going through similar experiences so that your loved one doesn’t feel alone.

Medical Care

Staying up to date on your loved one’s treatment plan and health status is critical for supporting your senior loved one with breast cancer. If possible, join them on their doctor’s visits to be their advocate, ensure they understand their care options, and ask questions.

When a care plan is decided, help your loved one manage their medications and ensure that they are taken on schedule. Look out for symptoms like fatigue, nausea, or changes in appetite and report them to their doctor.

Day-to-Day/Home Care

You may not know how to provide practical support to your loved one fighting breast cancer. However, there are countless simple things you can do that can help take some pressure off of them so they can focus on healing. Examples include:

• Grocery shopping.
• Cleaning up around the house.
• Cooking for them.
• Preparing meals that can be frozen.
• Doing their laundry.
• Assisting with their personal hygiene, such as bathing and dressing.
• Caring for/walking their pets.
• Making their living area as comfortable as possible.

It may be easier for your loved one to accept your support if you are clear about the help you can provide. Instead of asking, “How can I help?” it might be better to offer a specific example, such as, “Can I do the dishes for you?”

Self-Care

Remember to take care of yourself as well. It’s important to support your senior loved one with breast cancer, but it’s equally important to look after your own well-being. A cancer diagnosis doesn’t just impact the person with the disease; it also affects their loved ones, especially if you are their primary caregiver. Practicing self-care can help you avoid caregiver burnout.

• Eat nutritious meals.
• Don’t skip mealtimes.
• Exercise at least 15-30 minutes per day.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Practice mindfulness and meditation.
• Make time for your favorite hobbies.
• Talk to a therapist or loved one about the challenges of caregiving.
• Stay connected to friends and social situations.
• Join a caregiver support group.
• Ask for help. Reach out to close loved ones and ask them to take on a few of your responsibilities. 

Many caregivers feel like they can’t make time for themselves. However, it’s essential. A well-rested, healthy, and emotionally supported caregiver can provide better care for others.

How Grand Oaks Can Help

Grand Oaks is situated on the grounds of Sibley Memorial Hospital and is supported by the expertise of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Residents have direct access to the Sullivan Breast Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital, as well as Sibley’s emergency, rehabilitative, aquatic, and restorative care services. Additionally, residents benefit from medical director oversight, on-site physician services, therapy services, and more.

See our comprehensive care in action by scheduling a tour today.

Mealtimes can be challenging for individuals in the middle or late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Distractions, memory loss, confusion, an overwhelming number of options, and changes in perception, taste, and smell can all impact how someone with Alzheimer’s disease eats. For the 1 in 9 Americans aged 65 and older living with the disease, this can negatively affect their health and overall well-being. Let’s discuss some tips to make eating with Alzheimer’s disease easier.

Why is Eating More Difficult?

Due to changes in the brain and nervous system, Alzheimer’s disease can create several difficulties related to eating, such as:

• Forgetting how to chew and swallow.
• Trouble recognizing food or drinks.
• Difficulty judging the temperature of food.
• Loss of taste and smell.
• Forgetting to eat or thinking they’ve already eaten.
• Difficulty picking up utensils/food due to problems with coordination.
• Painful or missing teeth.
• Medications that change appetite or cause dry mouth.

Nutrition

A well-balanced diet is essential for any senior, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease. Poor diet and nutrition can cause unintended weight loss and increase behavioral symptoms such as agitation and trouble sleeping. Here are some tips for caregivers:

• Avoid foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
• Limit refined sugars (often found in processed foods).
• Reduce sodium intake.
• Provide healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• Encourage adequate water intake throughout the day.

Tips for Making Mealtimes Comfortable & Successful

For those in the middle and late stages, it’s essential to do everything you can to make eating with Alzheimer’s disease easier.

1. Stick to a schedule.

Consistent routines can help those with Alzheimer’s feel more comfortable and less anxious. Serving meals at the same time each day can help remove some uncertainty and reinforce their schedule.

2. Simplify the environment.

A calm and quiet place for meals is essential. Avoid distractions by turning off the TV or radio and using a clutter-free table that only includes necessary items.

3. Make the food stand out.

Using contrasting colors (i.e., brightly colored plates and utensils with beige foods or white plates with brightly colored fruits and vegetables) can help your loved one more easily recognize what is being served.

4. Serve one food at a time.

Too many choices can overwhelm individuals with Alzheimer’s. If this is an issue, consider serving one type of food at a time and using multiple courses. Before serving each food, inform your loved one of what it is.

5. Offer finger foods.

Those with Alzheimer’s often have trouble using utensils, which can cause agitation and, thus, derail mealtime. Serving easy-to-eat foods like sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, or cheese sticks can help your loved one feel more independent.

6. Don’t rush.

Seniors living with Alzheimer’s often take longer at mealtimes. Don’t let this frustrate you, and don’t rush them. Trying to hurry them along can agitate your loved one, and they may not eat at all because of it.

7. Stick to foods they know and love.

Serving foods your loved one recognizes reduces the potential for confusion, especially if they struggle with recognizing new or unfamiliar dishes. Familiar foods can also trigger positive memories and create a sense of comfort. However, keep in mind it is possible for your loved one to suddenly develop different food preferences and reject foods they’ve liked in the past.

8. Eat with them.

Social interaction is vital for those living with Alzheimer’s disease. Making mealtimes social by talking about things you both enjoy or telling stories about family memories can help your loved one feel more comfortable.

How Grand Oaks Can Help

If your loved one is living with Alzheimer’s disease, they deserve a home that focuses on specialized memory care. At the Oasis Neighborhood at Grand Oaks, our experienced team provides compassionate, personalized support tailored to each individual. Our peaceful, nurturing environment promotes comfort and tranquility while giving families peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are safe and receiving the expert memory care they need. Learn more.

Although prostate cancer is common – 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime – many men avoid talking about it or hear myths or misconceptions about the disease. With all this confusion, many men avoid screenings, misread symptoms, ignore diagnoses, and do not get the care they need. So, let’s clear things up by dispelling some common prostate cancer myths.

Myth: If you have no symptoms, you don’t have prostate cancer.

Fact: Prostate cancer is often asymptomatic in its early stages, so it’s easy to miss. More advanced prostate cancer can cause symptoms such as trouble urinating, loss of bladder or bowel control, bone pain, and erectile dysfunction, which are commonly attributed to other health conditions or general signs of aging. This is why open and honest communication with your doctor and regular screenings are vital!

Myth: If you have no family history of the disease, you probably won’t develop prostate cancer.

Fact: While your odds of developing prostate cancer increase with a family history of the disease, not all cases are hereditary. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men after skin cancer. Beyond family history, risk factors include race, age, diet, and lifestyle choices.

Myth: A PSA test looks for cancer.

Fact: A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test measures protein levels produced by the prostate gland. While elevated PSA levels are common in men with prostate cancer, heightened levels could also indicate non-cancerous conditions like an inflamed, infected, or enlarged prostate. A PSA test is a common first step to prostate cancer diagnosis, but a biopsy is required to confirm the disease.

Myth: A prostate cancer diagnosis is a death sentence.

Fact: While prostate cancer is a serious disease, it’s highly treatable, especially when identified and treated early. Around 80–85% of all prostate cancers are detected in the local or regional stages (stages I, II, and III). Many men diagnosed and treated at these stages will be disease-free after five years. The 10-year survival rate is 98%, and the 15-year survival rate is 95%. Screenings are vital for this reason – the earlier the disease is caught, the better your chances of survival are.

Myth: Prostate cancer treatment causes impotence or incontinence.

Fact: Prostate cancer treatments, like any other disease or treatment, can have side effects such as erectile dysfunction, urinary problems, or bowel issues. However, not all men will experience these side effects. In fact, some men with prostate cancer will not experience any disruptions to their daily lives post-treatment.

Myth: If you had a vasectomy, you’re more likely to get prostate cancer.

Fact: Vasectomies were once believed to increase a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer. However, this issue has been carefully researched by epidemiologists who have determined that vasectomies have not been linked to an increased risk of getting prostate cancer. Men who have had a vasectomy do visit urologists more often, which leads to the earlier detection of prostate cancer. Therefore, having a vasectomy does not increase your chances of developing the disease; it simply makes it more likely that you’ll catch it early – during one of those visits – if you do have it.

How Grand Oaks Supports Residents’ Health

At Grand Oaks, you’ll always have easy access to top-notch medical care. Situated on the grounds of Sibley Memorial Hospital and affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine, Grand Oaks residents have direct access to award-winning medical care, as well as emergency, aquatic, and restorative care services. Our staff is available 24/7 to provide nursing support whenever you need it and answer any questions you have.