Home Remedies for Cold and Flu

Cold and flu season has arrived in the Pacific Northwest, which is particularly risky for seniors with weakened immune systems. While professional care is critical for severe illness, home remedies can help keep you or your aging loved one comfortable and aid in recovery when you’re sick.

Tips for Tacoma Seniors to Treat Sickness at Home

Since we don’t provide medical services at Visiting Angels, we looked to Mayo Clinic and the National Council on Aging for advice on how to navigate colds and the flu at home. Here are several of their safe and effective treatment tips.

Healing from the Kitchen

• Honey is a natural cough suppressant and can soothe sore throats. Add a spoonful to a hot cup of tea or take it directly. The Tacoma area offers many local honey farms, including Robbin’s, Queenie Bee, and Sumner’s Mountainview Honey.
• There’s a reason chicken soup is a classic staple for sickness- it’s actually been shown to reduce inflammation and slow infection.
• Make sure you are getting enough protein since it can affect immune system function. If you’re able, incorporate foods like lean meat and eggs into your diet.
• Stay well hydrated by drinking water, tea, and broth. Gargling salt water can help ease symptoms.
• There is debate as to whether vitamins such as zinc and vitamin C are effective at treating colds. Always consult your doctor before taking a new supplement.

Steam Therapy

• A cool mist humidifier or vaporizer can be helpful for adding moisture to your home and clearing a stuffy nose. Be sure to change the water and clean the device often to avoid mold.
• Add a vapor rub to your chest to enhance the effects of the steam.

Pain Relief

• A stuffy nose can be uncomfortable. Saline nasal drops can be purchased without a prescription to help bring relief.
• Apply petroleum jelly to your nose and mouth if they’re irritated.
• Many decongestants can raise blood pressure. Chat with your doctor before taking cold medication.
• If you’re experiencing a headache, body ache, or fever, take a pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Get Plenty of Rest

• Perhaps the most important step you can take to combat an illness is getting rest. Your body needs to heal, and it can’t do so without plenty of high-quality sleep.
• Sleep with your head at a 45-degree angle, which can keep mucus from pooling in your sinus cavities while you’re sleeping.
• Keep the room temperature comfortable, and add extra blankets if you’re experiencing chills.

Visiting Angels Helps Support Senior Health

Older adults can rely on home care services from Visiting Angels Tacoma while they’re sick. Our compassionate home care providers can drive you or your loved one to doctor’s appointments, pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy, monitor your symptoms, and provide comfort measures throughout the duration of the illness. Caregivers can also help seniors maintain healthy habits year-round, like eating nutritious foods and getting plenty of physical activity.

To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, contact us today!