flu season Archives - The Practical Caregiver Guides

As flu season looms before us, I am reminded of how very vulnerable people with compromised immune systems are. How can you make sure that you don’t become “Typhoid Mary” or “Typhoid Marty” to someone you love?

1. Be sure to get a flu shot.

It won’t necessarily prevent you from getting the flu — there are so many strains out there. But it protects you from having a severe case, one you might accidentally pass along to someone who is vulnerable. Some treatments, like chemotherapy and steroids can knock the immune system for a loop and prevent the body from fighting off infection.

Also consider getting the pneumonia shot if you are of the recommended age. If you are caring for someone who is seriously ill and can’t get the shot himself or herself, it will be another layer of protection for your loved one.

And also remember that vaccines are important. I have had more than one cancer specialist mention just how dangerous it can be for a patient too vulnerable to be vaccinated to have to fight off a disease because he or she was exposed to a disease by a healthy, but unvaccinated individual.

2. Take cover.

Passing germs and bacteria among family and friends can wreak havoc with a compromised immune system. There’s no need to panic. Be mindful when you sneeze or cough. Don’t wipe your nose with your hand or spray everyone with your sneeze. Tuck your face into the crook of your elbow or use tissues to catch the cough or sneeze. As the old advice goes, “Say it, don’t spray it!”

3. Wash your hands frequently.

This is especially important when handling medications and food for someone with a serious illness. Sing “Happy Birthday” from beginning to end while you scrub up. Plain soap (not anti-bacterial) and water is best for this. Rinse well.

I have a container of sanitizing hand wipes sitting on a table in the TV room, not just for my use, but also for visitors when they come. It’s easy to dab or swipe your hands when the product is available for all to use.

I have sanitizing cleaning wipes with bleach in the bathroom cabinets, so I can quickly disinfect. You can also spray surfaces with a disinfectant. Follow the instructions on the labels, to be sure you use the product effectively.

3. If you are sick, stay away.

That sounds cruel to many people, but it’s a reality for someone whose body is under tremendous stress because of serious illness. If you feel a cold coming on, you can inadvertently pass that virus to a loved one who doesn’t have the ability to fight it off.

Don’t think that it’s enough to “sit over there” and visit with a seriously ill person. You can’t control every molecule of oxygen in the room or every square inch of surface you touch. If you are in a contagious stage of a virus, or you have an infection that can be spread by contact, you can do great damage. Call, instead of visit. Skype, if you must. But don’t put someone else’s life in jeopardy to satisfy your own desire to visit a loved one.

4. If you’re not the caregiver, don’t drop in, expecting to be welcomed with open arms. Call first. Ask if it is convenient for the loved one to see you. Let her needs or his needs come before your own desires. Seriously ill patients need rest. They need to sleep. They need to conserve the energy they have and put it towards healing. You’ll often find that there are certain times of the day when they just can’t function. Their bodies are depleted of strength, or the rigorous treatments they are going through are so grueling, they struggle with everything from diarrhea to vomiting to headaches. If that is the case, send a card, a note, an email, or even a text, to let your loved one know you still care. You’re not going away or abandoning her or him. You’re merely waiting on the sidelines until such time as a seriously ill person has the stamina to engage in social activities.

And if you’re not sure what to do, ask. The patient and the caregiver often welcome company when there are good days. When you are thoughtful and considerate, you will likely shoot to the top of the “favorite guest” list, and you might even find yourself invited on a regular basis.

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Flu season….These two words can strike terror into the hearts of the sturdiest of cancer caregivers. For most people, it’s more of a nuisance than anything else. But for a loved one with a compromised immune system, it can be a matter of life or death. What can you do? Think “Sink!”

Decades ago, when my aunt was dying of cancer, we went for a visit at a time my allergies were in high gear. I spent the whole time worrying about her. What if I was wrong and I had a cold, not allergies? Did I have a temperature? Were my glands swollen? I constantly checked my symptoms in an effort to protect her delicate immune system. No one wants to be Typhoid Mary for someone so very vulnerable, so I made sure I didn’t put her at risk. I kept a physical distance, washed my hands often, and forced myself to be cognizant of the potential risks. Thankfully, we were able to have a wonderful visit, without complications or catastrophe. It was the last time I saw her and a memory that has stayed with me through the years.

As a caregiver, I went through a similar time when my mother was dying of cancer, carefully taking precautions to fend off contagions that could wreak havoc with her. I bought a lot of hand sanitizer, making sure there was always a bottle of it on the dining room table for visitors and one in the car, for those trips to the hospital or physician’s office.

I also bought a lot of hand soap and frequently reminded myself to think “Sink!” as soon as I came home. For those who don’t know, common medical wisdom actually suggests that antibacterial products are less healthy than just plain old soap and water when it comes to cleanliness. Washing your hands properly can be a Broadway moment — most people just do a cursory job of scrubbing up. It’s recommended you sing a complete version of “Happy Birthday” in order to be properly disinfected your hands. Me? I like to get creative. At this time of the year, I might hum “Jingle Bells” all the way through. My other favorite is “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things”, from The Sound of Music: “Raindrops on roses and warm woolen mittens….”

Many cancer caregivers take great precautions to keep visitors from spreading viruses, bacterium, and germs during visits to the home, but what happens when they themselves wander out into the wilderness? Every time we head out to the store, we’re intermingling with the public. Every time we grab a shopping cart, we’re touching surfaces that other people have touched. Every time we work out on the equipment at the gym, we’re exposed (I carried my own packets of wipes and cleaned the machines before AND after I used them). For normal people, this usually isn’t that big a deal. We can fend off the occasional cold virus. But as caregivers, we’re supposed to remain healthy. How else can we care for our loved ones?

Right now, the current flu vaccine apparently isn’t working as well as hoped. The Center for Disease Control recently announced that this year’s outbreak has reached the epidemic stage and it’s rapidly spreading across the United States. What does that mean for you? Every time you go out in public, you’re at risk for catching the virus. If you bring it home with you, your loved one may catch it.

Should you stay locked up at home? Not necessarily. What you should do is exercise some caution. Make sure you are careful to use sanitizing wipes or hand sanitizers whenever you are touching surfaces used by the public. Avoid people with obvious sniffles, coughing and flu/cold symptoms. Make sure that when you come home, you wash your hands properly. Think “Sink!”

Feel a cough or a sneeze coming on? Don’t put your hand to your mouth or nose! Go “hands free” and use the crook of your elbow to shield folks from that spray of secretions. And if you keep a box of tissues for those unexpected winter sneezes caused by allergies, dust, dry air, or holiday decorations that have been sitting all year in the attic, think “Sink!” after that nose gets wiped. It’s just one more layer of protection for your loved one.

But there’s more that you can do. Regularly disinfect kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Pay attention to those items most likely touched by human hands — the refrigerator door handle, the microwave handle, the toilet handle, door knobs. It’s not a matter of hosing down the place every day. Get a good general purpose cleaner and keep it handy, for a quick wipe down, with roll of paper towels (don’t reuse a cloth or sponge — these are incubation factories unless they are sterilized after each use). Don’t forget the TV remote, especially if your loved one shares it with other people!

Believe it or not, even computer, tablet, and cell phone surfaces are prone to harboring harmful germs. Stanford University students examined cell phones and determined they were 18 times dirtier than toilet handles. Never use regular cleaning products on electronics! There are special wipes and microfiber cloths you can buy that are made specifically for electronics — they won’t damage your equipment while they safely remove contaminants. (Follow manufacturer recommendations for safe cleaning of electronics!)

Just one last thought — so many people like to share photos and videos on their phones, passing them around from person to person. You might want to cheerfully intercept it as it heads toward your loved one and be the holder of that germ factory. Your loved one still gets to enjoy the show, but without being directly exposed.

Get yourself a rubber ducky and put it on the sink as a friendly reminder. Train yourself to think “Sink!” and you’ll have a better shot at keeping you AND your loved one healthier this winter!

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