5 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality for Seniors

By Andy Niska | June 15, 2017 |

Home Care in Liberty Lake WA: 5 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Did you know that the air inside your elderly loved one’s home could be making them sick? From stuffy noses and headaches to asthma and even cardiopulmonary complications, the pollutants in our residences can be off the charts, especially when compared to the outdoors. Even if your elderly loved one doesn’t smoke or have pets, there are usually enough pollutants indoors to seriously affect their health and wellness.

So what kind of pollutants accumulate indoors?

Things like mold, dust mites, dirt, smoke, chemical toxins, pollen, pet dander, dead skin cells, radon and more are swirling in the air and settling on furniture and people. Seniors breathe in these particles all the time, but when they accumulate and concentrate, that’s when an elderly person’s health is affected.

If you want to take steps to improve the indoor air quality at your elderly loved one’s residence, there are many free or low-cost steps you can take. For those who are more serious about indoor air quality, you can spend some money and boost good air even more.

Here are 5 ways to improve indoor air quality for aging loved ones:

1. Vacuum and Mop

Carpets and hard surface floors span the entire residence, so it makes sense that they would be the obvious places to clean. Make sure you have a good vacuum with a HEPA filter and bag to trap particles and prevent them from being blown back into the air. Vacuum twice per week to ensure the home has the cleanest air. Mopping a few times per week will take care of tile, hardwood, laminate and vinyl surfaces. If you have other family members, home care aides or housekeepers, make sure to inform them of the increased cleaning efforts.

2. Open the Windows

Proper ventilation is an excellent way to clear out the air indoors. Even if it’s done in the morning or in the evenings, a little fresh air will dilute the pollutants that are hanging out indoors. Of course, you’ll need to watch for outdoor air quality cautions on the news, and keep the windows closed on days with lots of smog or lots of pollen. If you are not at home, ask the home care aide or family member to open the windows for your aging loved one.

3. Bring in the Green

Plants are nature’s air filters and they do an excellent job of taking toxins out of the air and returning clean oxygen. Some species of plants are better at this task than others, such as the spider plant, ficus, peace lily, chrysanthemum, and Boston fern.

4. Toss the Aerosol and Chemicals

If you are cleaning or otherwise using aerosol products, stop right now and switch to something that doesn’t send chemicals into the air. Examples include furniture polish, hair spray and air fresheners. Stick to scent-free laundry detergent and household cleaners as well to reduce the chemical particles indoors.

5. Buy an Air Filter

There are many different kinds of air filters on the market that trap pollutants and circulate clean air throughout the room. Many of them are highly rated by allergy and immune system organizations so they will work well for a senior’s residence as well. While the cost may be more than some people want to spend, the alternative is more doctor and hospital visits due to poor air quality.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Liberty Lake, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

Source:

https://www.webmd.com/lung/features/12-ways-to-improve-indoor-air-quality#3

Author
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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.