Keeping you and your loved ones safe from the flu!

The cooler weather is poking its head out for a happy hello, but that also means flu season is right around the corner. Flu preparedness is not as difficult as one might think, and here at The Gardens at Brook Ridge Transitional Assisted Living and Memory Care community, we love helping our residents and loved ones with some simple tips for keeping the flu at bay. Read on for four easily doable steps for flu preparedness this fall and winter.

Get Your Flu Shot

While the vaccine isn’t 100% effective at preventing the flu, it can significantly lessen your chances of getting the flu or developing severe symptoms and reactions. In fact, the vaccine’s efficacy is typically between 40% and 60% when it comes to preventing the flu, depending on that year’s variant. Not only that, but it is also effective in reducing the risk of transmission to those vulnerable populations around you.

For those who are not members of our community looking to schedule a flu shot, local pharmacies or your general practitioner are always your best bet! For those hesitant to receive the flu vaccine, we encourage you to read more about the benefits of the vaccine!

Wash Your Hands

A perennial nugget of wisdom, washing your hands is one of best lines of defense for fending off the flu. Sneezing, coughing, and touching hard and soft surfaces are all common ways the flu spreads. While it can be tempting to write this off as an old wives’ tale, washing your hands after those activities can eliminate most germs and keep you and your loved ones safe – especially when touching your face or holding a loved one’s hand. When you’re in close quarters, clean hands are imperative.

Did you know that hand-washing has its own best practices? The CDC offers a handy guide to washing that can be very helpful. Brush up on your skills!

Wipe Down Hard Surfaces

Coupled with washing your hands, wiping down frequently touched hard surfaces in your home or work environment is a great way to get rid of germs that spread the flu. While water and vinegar or dish soap can work well as a basic cleaner for messes or simple clean-ups throughout the day, try using disinfecting or sanitizing products for a better clean. Stronger EPA-registered cleaning products are recommended and can be found at most local stores. The NY Times offers this helpful guide for the best disinfecting household cleaners.

Stay Home When You Feel Ill

The best prevention of spreading the flu is simply to stay home when you are ill. If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that staying home when you’re sick is imperative to help stop spreading germs. For the flu in particular, the CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of fever reduction aids). Cozy up inside, grab a book, start your favorite TV show, enjoy the downtime, and relish in the fact that you are doing your part in keeping your loved ones safe from the flu!

We at The Gardens at Brook Ridge love to give our whole community the best care possible, and we cannot do that without you. These tips not only are beneficial for outside communities, but also for our fantastic community members here.

For more information or to schedule a tour of our amazing Texas memory care and assisted living community, contact us today!

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