In an effort to improve our services, Compassionate Care has been rolling out diagnosis specific programs to better assist our clients. To date, we have released programs on CHF, heart attack, knee replacement, hip replacement, and COPD. The next one is on pneumonia.
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by many different bacteria, viruses and even fungi. Severe pneumonia is most commonly caused by pneumococcus (a certain bacterium).
Adults at an increased risk of getting pneumonia include smokers, those over the age of 65, those with chronic lung, heart, liver, and kidney disease, asthma, and others. Transmission of the pneumococcal bacteria is spread from person to person by direct contact with respiratory secretions (i.e. saliva, mucus). Potential complications can result in an infection in the space around the lungs, inflammation of the heart sac, an abscess in the lung, and even death.
Empowering You and Your Loved One
Compassionate Care believes every individual has the right to understand their plan of care, to make choices about supports and services they receive, to live with dignity, and to live as independently as possible.
Compassionate Care supports individuals at risk for or those with pneumonia by providing high quality, proactive, result oriented and compassionate care for each client in the comfort of home.
Client Goals:
- Recovery
- No relapse of pneumonia
- No serious complications
Call 911 IMMEDIATELY if you have:
- Severe shortness of breath or are unable to breathe
- Coughing up blood
- Lips or fingernails turn blue
- Any life-threatening emergency.
Plan:
- Assist or remind the client to take antibiotics exactly as ordered. Missing doses of the antibiotic may allow the bacteria to remain in the body and even grow. This can cause a relapse of the pneumonia.
- Encourage or remind the client to drink plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water will help to keep the body’s mucus membranes moist and healthy.
- Assist or remind the client to take nebulizer treatments if ordered.
- Assist the client in using a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer if ordered. Keeping the air in the home moist may make breathing easier and may help to relieve coughing.
- Encourage or remind the client to get plenty of rest.
- Getting plenty of rest will help the body’s healing process.
- Some clients may find it easier to breathe while resting in a recliner or with the head of the bed raised.
- The caregiver can support the client’s rest by providing light housekeeping services.
- Encourage or assist the client in eating a healthy diet.
- Good nutrition helps the body’s healing process and supports the body’s immune system.
- The caregiver can provide meal preparation and clean up services.
- Monitor the client for symptoms of relapse of pneumonia.
- Complaint of ‘racing’ heart rate
- Fever and chills
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Worsening cough
- Monitor the client for symptoms of invasive Pneumococcal Meningitis.
- Stiff neck
- Fever
- Headache
- Pain when looking into bright lights
- Confusion
- Monitor the client for symptoms of invasive Pneumococcal Bacteremia.
- Fever
- Chills
- Low alertness
Compassionate Care’s Goals
Compassionate Care is implementing these diagnosis specific programs for several reasons:
- Empower clients and their families to successfully manage care in the home setting
- Educate our office staff to better understand each of these diagnoses and the care needs
- Educate our caregivers to better understand each of these diagnoses and the care needs
- Promote successful transition back into the community for clients leaving hospital/skilled nursing facility
- Reduce the number of avoidable readmissions to the hospital for our clients
Our professional caregivers are available to provide services, ranging from personal care to skilled nursing, to help older adults live comfortably and safely at home. To learn more about our senior services in Saginaw, MI and the surrounding areas, contact us at 877.308.1212.