We never like to think that our parents are getting older, but when they do we should do everything to keep them safe, healthy, and comfortable as possible.
If they are really old, you have got to pay attention to the smallest of detail, and that means adapting your care approach to the current weather and humidity conditions.
If your loved seniors have trouble breathing, respiratory problems, or suffer from COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) investing in a humidifier is almost compulsory.
If you require a humidifier and do not want to read the entire article, below are the recommended items from the article. (Low, Medium and High Price)
When dealing with The Elderly, the best humidifier is the AIRCARE EA1208 Digital Whole-House Console
However, this will depend on several things, like if you want it to do several tasks – like Dorm Room, or Cold and Flu symptoms.
There will also be costs for the humidifier - like Mist Type, Water Tank Capacity, Coverage Area and Noise Level. So as you can see, there is a lot in picking the right humidifier!
Humidifiers increase humidity in the air, by adding moisture to fight with the dry indoor air.
They also offer a dozen health and wellness benefits, including lowering your risk of infection, helping battle dry and cracked lips, easing your breathing, and soothing the skin. They also prevent wood furniture, floors, and musical instruments from cracking.
Humidifiers are not usually senior-friendly. Many models require carrying a full tank of water from the sink to the humidifier and are often demanding to clean.
A humidifier is not a one size fits all solution. There are several various types of humidifiers, and it is crucial to use the right one in order to guarantee the most welfare for your parents. Central humidifiers are actually inserted into the central climate control system of the home to provide humidification for the entire area.
These are costly and need to be used throughout the entire home instead of in just the spaces where your parents need additional moisture.
Humidifiers carry water in reservoirs to transform into steam, or mist to increase moisture in the air. If they are not being cleaned regularly, they could turn into a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria that are simply processed into the air where it becomes part of the air you breathe.
These particles also stick onto all the surfaces of the home, giving the optimal environment for germs to flourish, which is troublesome during the cold and flu season of fall and winter.
Get a hygrometer to measure the level of moisture in your seniors’ air. This will help you figure out how much humidification they require in pursuance to getting the air comfortable and healthy without creating a moist, damp, and potentially dangerous environment within the home.
Again, a central humidifier would be extremely beneficial in this case, as it does not require your constant intervention by automatically measuring and keeping the humidity level suitable.
Top-fill humidifiers are specifically modeled humidifiers that are easy to fill from the top.
The water tank can be filled directly by just pouring water into it from a jug. Elders do not need to hassle themselves by carrying the humidifier to the sink, they can just keep it by their bedside and fill it whenever they like.
With the adjustable humidistat, there’s no need for estimations. It measures the humidity level in the room and regulates its output or power function accordingly. This is perfect for anyone who ever turns a humidifier on only to turn it off when the humidity levels are matching those in a rainforest.
Like a regular thermostat, it has its up and down buttons and its easy to adjust. You should read your owner’s manual and try out the recommended settings. If those don’t work try a higher or lower humidity percentage until you figure out your ideal number. Mind that most homes’ humidity levels stay between 35 percent and 40 percent.
Humidifiers produce a lot of internal condensation and they are known to be the harbors for bacteria. The bacteria can be disseminated when you turn the unit on, negating all the desired health benefits. Whether your parents have a good immune system, you shouldn’t bring home something that can affect their health.
Humidifiers that do not possess this system require constant cleaning and maintenance. Save your parents’ energy ( or yours if you are providing them care) and get a humidifier with this system.
Most evaporative humidifiers need to have their filters changed every two months. This can be hard for an elderly person, especially if they suffer from hand/finger problems or arthritis.
Remove this unnecessary chore by getting a permanent filter. A permanent filter never needs to be replaced, but it will need cleaning at the end of the cold season and perhaps some dusting at the start of the season if it has not been used for a long time.
Your seniors’ humidifier should definitely be operated by a remote. Especially if they are not that mobile. Getting a humidifier with a remote control could mean the difference between frequent use of the humidifier and it not being used at all. The remote should be easy to use, with large buttons and text.
If your loved ones are used to forgetfulness, getting them a humidifier with water level indicator lights and automatic shutoff option could significantly benefit them. The lights will remind you to refill the tank and the automatic shutoff option turns the power off if the water level gets too low, preventing any damage.
There are three things in correlation when we talk about fan speed.
I think we can all assume that if the tank gets emptier faster, we are going to reach a certain level of humidity quicker, and also the unit is going to be louder.
Having multiple fan speeds is a great characteristic if the elderly are having some visitors and want to raise the humidity faster, or to set it to the lowest speed during the night so that it makes the least noise.
Humidifiers can be very helpful to seniors, especially if they suffer from respiratory diseases or other health problems. They are easy to maintain, so you shouldn’t worry about your elders struggling with handling them.
Please Note: Just because a humidifier is marked, for example “Baby Room”, it will still work for other things, for example “Living Room” or “Plant Humidifier”
Again, the humidifiers below are probably the ones that you will need to buy!
The prices of these are low, medium and high. This will give you the best range. The lower prices will not have all the bells-and-whistles, and the higher price one's will.
Elders can enjoy humidifiers. This is because aging causes the skin to form wrinkles, and it could feel drier. Humidifiers aid in ventilation by producing a vapor that can moisturize the skin.
A nourished, healthy skin minimizes itchiness and discomfort. Thus, moisturizing can prevent the development of some chronic conditions in the elderly. Seniors diagnosed with respiratory infections might find humidifiers beneficial.
Because they circulate air in the room. And decongest the nasal and respiratory system. You keep the elderly in perfect healthy by installing a humidifier.
Seniors can complain of feeling cold even when it is warm. You can keep the thermostat at 66-70̊ F. The elderly need warmth because they are vulnerable to age-related diseases. Especially if they are under medication.
When exposed to freezing temperatures, the elderly could develop hypothermia. This condition leads to shivering, mood swings, loss of energy, and mobility challenges. Ensure that you don't expose them to hotter temperatures.
Because they are still harmful. Hot air promotes bacterial growth and could cause infections and other complications. Ensure that the temperature levels are at least 65̊F. Make it a routine to ask the elderly how they are feeling.
Aging and feeling cold are relatable. The blood vessels lose elasticity as you age. This implies that blood flow would be slower, increasing cold. The elderly feel cold because the skin's thinning fat layer conserve heat.
So, the body becomes sensitive to cold temperatures. Aging also means that you have little chance of sweating.
Other factors that cause the elderly to feel cold include low metabolism. Pressure, exposure to freezing temperatures and thinning of the skin's heat conservative layer. Reducing heat conservation, and blood vessels losing elasticity.
If you require more information, please check these references
Effect of electrically heated humidifier on intraoperative core body temperature decrease in elderly patients , article, "www.anesth-pain-med.org", retrieved on, Fri 03-July-2020
Effects of setting up of humidifiers on thermal conditions and subjective responses of patients and staff in a hospital during winter , article, "www.sciencedirect.com", retrieved on, Fri 03-July-2020
Maintenance of body temperature in elderly patients who have joint replacement surgery , article, "onlinelibrary.wiley.com", retrieved on, Fri 03-July-2020
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