Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Research Summary We tend to think of the flu as an illness that people recover from within a relatively short time. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case for older adults, who are more likely to experience difficulties getting around and living independently following a serious illness. Adding to the problem is the potential for additional health problems that can occur during a stay in the hospital. Hospitalized older adults potentially face delirium, an abrupt change in mental function which causes sudden confusion. They are also susceptibl ..read more

Daniel B. Jernigan, MD, MPH Director of the Influenza Division National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention For millions of people, the flu can mean a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue for a week or more. But did you know that if you are 65 years or older, you are at increased risk of serious flu-related complications, like pneumonia? “People’s immune systems can become weaker with age, which places older adults at high risk of serious flu-related complications,” says Dr. Lisa Grohskopf, a medical officer with C ..read more

Krupa Shah, MD, MPH Assistant Professor University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry Like it or not, the flu season is back. Everybody should take notice, especially older adults. This blog post will give you some tips on how to prevent getting the flu.     Why is it especially important for older adults to be extra careful about the flu? In general, older adults have weaker immune systems compared to younger adults. This is a result of the aging process. In fact, people 65 years or older are at the greatest risk of complications from the flu. Older adults become sick ..read more