Another bad flu season is upon us. “An estimated 6.2 million to 7.3 million people in the United States have been sick with the flu.” Some of our most vulnerable are hit the hardest: elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses. The seasonal flu can be deadly, especially for the elderly.

“It has been recognized for many years that people 65 years and older are at greater risk of serious complications from the flu compared with young, healthy adults because human immune defenses become weaker with age. While flu seasons can vary in severity, during most seasons, people 65 years and older bear the greatest burden of severe flu disease. In recent years, for example, it’s estimated that between about 70 percent and 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older and between 50 percent and 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among people in that age group. So influenza is often quite serious for people 65 and older.”

Baby Boomers—now a generational majority of elderly—consist of about 75 millions Americans. "According to the American Medical Student Association, the population of individuals over the age of 65 will increase by 73 percent between 2010 and 2030, meaning one in five Americans will be a senior citizen." Older citizens need specialized care, especially during flu seasons. Are health care facilities equipped with the necessary tools to care for the number of elderly and vulnerable patients and their needs during the busy flu seasons? A Wireless Nurse Call System can be a 'must have' for any health care facility during an active flu season.

A Wireless Nurse Call System aids patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia in addition to suffering flu symptoms. Patients can be safely monitored with neck, wrist or fall pendants in emergent care cases. A Wireless Nurse Call System can be combined with patient wandering technology specifically designed for the elderly who, in addition to suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, are suffering from flu symptoms.

The Wireless Nurse Call System prioritizes patient response and safety and is crucial in monitoring wandering patients closely, especially when suffering symptoms of the flu.

A Wireless Nurse Call System allows for patient supervision without the requisite of hovering staff who recognize that granting patients their independence and dignity is an essential part of patient care. Patient wandering pendants can transmit patient information including name, room number, designated area, and more allowing staff to effortlessly track their location for safety purposes. This is a must have for any vulnerable patient from the very young to the very old.

A Wireless Nurse Call System assists patients who tend to fall connecting them safely to staff throughout the day. Summoned when no staff is normally expected, this is an essential feature. Prioritized by importance and high-risk patients in direct contact with the nurses’ station, these calls are beneficial and a must for patient care. A Wireless Nurse Call System offers these features and can be specifically designed for your facility’s needs.

Communities will need to examine health care facilities emergency communication structure and should note whether or not a Wireless Nurse Call System has been equipped, and if it indeed has been integrated effortlessly and successfully into the facility, they should consider this when making the ultimate health care decisions.

Patients suffering from the flu are the most vulnerable and healthcare facilities should be prepared for this and future flu season.

Contact BEC Integrated Solutions to get a free quote on a Wireless Nurse Call System today.