Active Home Health’s Path to Pneumonia Recovery
Recovery from pneumonia doesn’t end when the antibiotic is finished. See how using home health to help with pneumonia recovery provides support during the entire process.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lung that damages lung tissue and causes the air sacs (or alveoli) to fill up with pus and fluid instead of air. The infection can be viral, fungal, or bacterial. When not treated, pneumonia leads to respiratory failure, sepsis and even death.
Did you know…
- Pneumonia is the most common cause for hospital admissions besides childbirth.
- Pneumonia, along with influenza, was the #1 cause of infectious death in the United States in 2019.
- Hospitalization for pneumonia has a greater risk of death compared to any other top 10 reasons for hospitalization for US seniors.
- Pneumonia accounts for approximately 2% of all deaths for those over the age of 65.
What Makes Me More at Risk for Pneumonia?
One of the biggest risk factors for pneumonia is a person’s age. As we age, our lungs lose strength, elasticity and have a harder time coughing. Most days, these losses don’t matter. However, when the demand for lung function increases, these changes decrease an elderly patient’s ability to cope. Because of this, pneumonia progresses more rapidly in the elderly and often has a worse prognosis
Anything that has damaged the lungs, like a history of smoking or previous lung disease, will lessen the lung’s reserve capacity. Other diseases, like heart, liver, and kidney disease, predisposes you to pneumonia. A recent infection with influenza also puts you at risk for developing pneumonia.
How do I Recover from Pneumonia?
How do I Recover from Pneumonia?The priority will always be to get rid of the infection. This is done by taking an antibiotic for anywhere between 5 to 14 days.
Recovery from pneumonia doesn’t end when your antibiotic is finished. Taking an antibiotic is only the beginning.
For a patient recovering from pneumonia, the biggest need is, simply put, TIME. A patient requires time to clear out all the pus and debris that the bacteria left behind. In severe cases, you need time to allow the lung muscles to heal from the damage done.
There is not a one shoe fits all approach to healing. Some people take weeks while others require months to fully recovery from pneumonia. Over 35% of adults have at least 1 lingering symptom 1 month after diagnosis
What Should You Expect During Your Pneumonia Recovery?
As stated above, the first thing to do is to finish your antibiotic. Even if you start to feel better, you need to finish it to ensure that the bacteria or virus is eradicated.
The next big milestone is having your cough and chest pain resolve, typically anywhere between 14-21 days after diagnosis. Rest is still the most important thing for you. About 3 out of 4 elderly patients report needing help with daily cares during this time. 
You should start to regain strength and have the shortness of breath resolve over the next week. As these symptoms improve, strengthening exercises should be incorporated to help recover the lost muscle mass that occurred during the initial part of the disease.
Pneumonia Recovery with Active Home Health
If you or a loved one are homebound during your recovery process, Active Home Health is here to help. Covered 100% by most insurances, our pneumonia recovery care plan will be tailored to your specific recovery path.
Our nurses will ensure that you have the right antibiotic and that your lung function is stable during the initial part of the disease. Active’s CNAs can assist with your activities of daily living, allowing you to regain the necessary strength and confidence. Our therapy team will develop a personalized exercise program and recommend some easy home modifications to prevent falls during the recovery process
Some of the benefits of using Active Home Health to recover from pneumonia include:
- Decreased rehospitalization
- Optimal recovery of activities of daily living
- Education of disease prognosis and treatment plan
- Manage the recovery from home
- Ensure the efficacy of the selected antibiotic
- Maintain and improve respiratory function
- Develop a personalized exercise program to restore muscle strength
- Reduced risk of falls
Why choose Active Home Health
Active Home Health’s path to pneumonia recovery will maintain and even improve respiratory function, prevent further complications, and help you avoid returning to the hospital. Our team of nurses and therapists will educate and empower you about the disease process, prognosis, and treatment. Most importantly, we will put you first, providing the individualized care that your specific needs require. Give us a call today to get started!
