Let’s talk prevention for a moment. No matter your age or current health status, there are steps you can take to assist you in the prevention of certain diseases and illnesses. How you eat makes a difference. Your activity level certainly lends itself to the prevention of certain ailments. Your mindset and emotional well-being are also important factors when it comes to longevity and healthy living. If there were steps that you know you could take right now to prevent the onset of disease, would you take them? Champion Home Health Care has the best interests of seniors in Brevard County, FL at the heart of everything we do. We provide professional, courteous assistance to seniors throughout Brevard, from Melbourne to Palm Bay and beyond, who desire to stay at home as long as possible. From light housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, and diet monitoring to more extensive assistance such as 24/7 care, we are here to help you and the senior in your life every step of the way.

One thing we can all do to improve our health is to stay on track with vaccinations. This is especially true for more sensitive populations like children and the elderly. Because August is  National Immunization Awareness Month, we thought this is the perfect time to discuss adult vaccinations and those that are especially significant for persons over the age of 50.

Vaccines serve as a way for our bodies to create antibodies giving our bodies immunity against certain diseases and illnesses. The CDC suggests that all adults have the seasonal flu shot so, hopefully, they are protected against the development of the flu. While the vaccine is not a 100% safeguard, it does offer protection and a small reduction in cases has a large overall impact. All adults should make sure they have had a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccination if they did not get one as an adolescent. It is also important to have a Td (tetanus and diphtheria) booster once every 10 years.

As we age, our immune systems weaken and it is for this reason that the CDC recommends that adults over the age of 50 should also consider a shingles vaccination. 1 in 3 of us will develop shingles. It is a painful condition that usually shows up on one side of the body. Anyone who has had chickenpox is at an elevated risk for developing shingles and it is preventable with a vaccination. If you are over the age of 65, please consider the pneumococcal vaccines. There are two types of pneumococcal vaccinations: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, also known as Prevnar 13 or PCV 13, wand Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, PPSV23 or Pneumovax23. Prevnar 13 protects against 13 stands of pneumococcal bacteria while Pneumovax 23 protects against 23 strains. Your doctor will let you know if you need one or both of these vaccinations.

There are things in this life that we cannot anticipate, cannot control. However, staying on top of age-appropriate vaccinations is something we can all do. Take the steps today to keep your tomorrow healthy.