Older adults often experience infections differently than younger people — and the warning signs may surprise you. In this episode of Monday Health Minutes, Melanie Shafer talks with Dr. Cindy Pinson, Section Chief for the Valley Health Center for Senior Wellness, about how infections can appear in seniors and why subtle changes may be serious.
In this episode, we’ll discuss:
- Why infections present differently in older adults
- Why seniors may not develop a high fever
- How confusion, fatigue, appetite changes, and falls can signal infection
- Why knowing a senior’s “baseline” temperature matters
- How diabetes and heart disease affect infection risk
- Why UTIs can be difficult to recognize in older adults
- Simple steps to help prevent infections
Older adults may not always show classic signs of illness. Learning these subtle symptoms can help families seek care earlier and potentially prevent serious complications.