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Because our immune systems weaken as we age, seniors are at higher risk for complications and death. A short-term stay at an assisted living community after a pneumonia hospitalization can be beneficial to seniors and their families, as caregivers are around at all times to help seniors recover and can better address any medical needs that may arise.

Learn the facts about this potentially severe respiratory infection and how to prevent pneumonia in elderly adults. If you suspect your elderly loved one has pneumonia, see a doctor right away.

Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli. The alveoli may fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult for oxygen to flow through the bloodstream. This may cause breathing problems along with fever, chills, and other symptoms.

Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs. When it affects both lungs, it’s called double pneumonia. The symptoms of double pneumonia aren’t different or more severe. The severity of the infection depends on age, overall health, and what caused the infection.

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include:

• Chills
• Productive cough with phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain when breathing or coughing
• Fatigue
• High fever 

Sometimes, symptoms of pneumonia may be different in seniors. Elderly adults with pneumonia may have a low-grade fever or even a normal temperature. They may also be less alert, show signs of confusion, or experience changes in mental awareness. If you suspect your aging loved one has pneumonia, see a doctor promptly.

Adults 65 and older are more susceptible to pneumonia than younger people are. Seniors with pneumonia are also at increased risk for hospitalization, complications, and death.

Pneumonia in elderly adults can often be serious and progress quickly. In fact, pneumonia is the second leading cause for hospitalization of Medicare beneficiaries, and most of the people who die from pneumonia each year are elderly adults, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). The death rate among elderly adults with severe pneumonia is as high as 20%.

Researchers and doctors don’t fully understand why pneumonia is more aggressive in seniors. They believe it has to do with the normal aging process, which weakens the immune system and decreases lung function. Older adults may also have other underlying health conditions that can make the infection more severe, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart disease.

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Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other organisms entering the lungs can cause pneumonia, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Institute also reports that, in the U.S., pneumonia in the elderly is usually caused by bacteria or a virus, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

The influenza virus is the most common cause of viral pneumonia in adults. Pneumonia caused by the influenza virus can be severe and even deadly, especially in people with other health conditions such as heart or lung disease.

Effects of COVID-19 on pneumonia                                                                                                                                

COVID-19 can cause a severe type of double pneumonia that can lead to long-lasting lung damage. It may take several months to recover. Pneumonia associated with COVID-19 can sometimes be fatal, especially in high-risk populations like elderly adults.

One way to prevent this double pneumonia is by getting the COVID-19 vaccine. As seniors are already more susceptible to pneumonia in general and have an increased risk of hospitalization, getting vaccinated can be one more step to preventing an infection. If your senior parents or relatives are hesitant, here are seven tips for talking about the vaccine.

Understanding bacterial pneumonia

Bacteria is another common cause of pneumonia, and certain groups are more at risk of catching bacterial pneumonia:

• Adults 65 and older
• People with a weakened immune system
• Patients recovering from surgery
• People with other respiratory conditions or viral infections

Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia, affecting more than 900,000 Americans each year, according to the ALA. This type of pneumonia is caused by a germ called Streptococcus pneumoniae. It can occur on its own or after someone has a cold or the flu.

Older adults are at risk for complications of pneumonia, including:

• Bacteremia, a potentially fatal infection that enters the bloodstream from the lungs and can spread to other organs
• Pleurisy, an inflammation of the membrane that covers the lungs (pleura), which may require surgery or drainage of the infected fluid in the lungs
• Lung abscess, a pus-filled cavity that can develop in the infected lung area
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which occurs when pneumonia severely injures the lungs, leading to respiratory failure, and may require the use of a mechanical ventilator to help with breathing

Treatment for pneumonia depends on what caused it. The goal is to eliminate the infection, prevent any complications, and treat symptoms to help your aging loved one feel better.

Viral pneumonia doesn’t respond to antibiotics. If your aging relative’s pneumonia is from a virus, the doctor may prescribe antiviral medication. However, in some cases, rest and treatment to help relieve symptoms is all that’s needed.

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Viral pneumonia usually heals in a few weeks, but if your loved one’s symptoms start to get worse, it’s important to see the doctor. Bacterial pneumonia is a possible complication of viral pneumonia.

Bacterial pneumonia is treated with antibiotics. The doctor may run tests to determine which antibiotic medicine will work best for the type of bacteria causing your loved one’s pneumonia.

It’s important to take all the medicine as prescribed by the doctor, even if your loved one starts to feel better after a few days. Not taking the full course of antibiotics as prescribed can cause the infection to come back and the bacteria to become resistant to the medicine. This will make it more difficult to treat your loved one’s pneumonia.

Can pneumonia be treated at home?

Your loved one may receive treatment for pneumonia at home or at a hospital, depending on their age, their overall health condition, and the severity of the disease.

Your senior relative may need to be hospitalized if they have other respiratory or heart conditions. They may also need to be treated at a hospital if they need help breathing or if they have severe symptoms, including:

• Confusion
• Rapid breathing
• Low blood pressure
• A very low or very fast heart rate

If your loved one is recovering from pneumonia after a hospital stay and needs help with daily activities, consider a short-term stay at an assisted living community. Respite care allows you and your loved one peace of mind that someone is available 24 hours a day for assistance and immediate response if there’s an emergency.

You can help your aging loved one prevent pneumonia by encouraging them to follow these steps:

• Get the pneumococcal vaccine. Talk to the doctor about what type of pneumococcal vaccine is right for your aging parent.
• Get the flu shot each year. Pneumonia can be a secondary infection after an initial bout of influenza. People who get the flu shot have a lower risk of developing pneumonia as a complication of the flu.
• Stay up to date on the COVID-19 vaccination. Coronavirus and pneumonia can be a deadly combination of infections. In addition to any of the three options for the initial vaccination shots, receiving your COVID-19 booster shot is a great way to further prevent the risk of a double infection.
• Wash hands thoroughly and often. Washing your hands before and after preparing food, before eating, and after using the restroom can help reduce the risks of illness.
• Practice good health habits. Stay physically active, and eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• Manage chronic conditions. Underlying health conditions like asthma, COPD, and diabetes can worsen pneumonia.
• Don’t smoke. If your loved one is a smoker, talk to them and their doctor about learning ways to quit smoking.

Sources:

• American Lung Association. “Pneumonia.”
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines.”
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Pneumonia: an infection of the lungs.”
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “Pneumonia.”
• Ramirez, J.A. “Overview of community-acquired pneumonia in adults.”