Aging in Place Means Good Health: Get Your Flu Shot

We're taking a bit of detour from our usual aging in place blog post to talk about a medical imperative, one that's particularly important for those of us over the age of 65. A few days ago, we saw in the news that last year's flu season was the most dangerous in years. And the spike in infections was primarily due to a significant drop in people getting flu shots. The sobering truth is that over 80,000 people died from the flu last year, and 9 out of 10 fatalities involved seniors. That's simply unacceptable. We care about our clients and want to do our part to make sure that there's no repeat of last year's unfortunate statistics.

Here's what you need to know. People over the age of 65 are at far higher risk of severe complications from the flu than younger adults, so it's critically important that they receive the flu vaccine each year.

There are three types of flu shots for seniors. The regular is the vaccine given out generally. If you're under 65, this vaccine is administered through a nasal spray or the traditional injection. If you're over 65, only the injection will do.

A "high dose" vaccine is also available that's specially prepared for those of us over 65. It contains four times the punch of a regular shot and does a much better job of protecting against flu infection than the standard dose. Older adults who received this vaccine showed a 24% drop in flu cases over those receiving the regular vaccine. High dose vaccines are a recent development, and you should be sure to speak to your doctor about its benefits.

An even newer vaccine, called the adjuvanted flu vaccine, is also available. It's more effective than the "high dose," with a 63% reduction in flu infections. Again, this is something to discuss with your physician.

What's the cost of the vaccine? If you're a Medicare beneficiary, the flu shot is covered by Part B. The price is also an included benefit if you've got coverage under the Affordable Care Act; there are no copays or coinsurance.

The flu can strike at any time, but the "flu season," when activity begins to increase, starts in October and can stretch into May. So the time for action is now. Get yourself vaccinated and also take some common-sense preventative measures like covering coughs, washing your hands frequently, and, of course, staying away from people with the flu.