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With fall underway, it's a good time to focus on two of the simplest, most effective ways to protect yourself and your neighbors here at PSL: good hand hygiene and staying current on your vaccinations.
While viruses can make their presence known anytime of year, colder weather tends to see a spike. That’s why it’s important to take a few minutes to learn more ways to be on guard against germs.
Why Hand Hygiene Matters So Much
From door handles to elevator buttons, dining hall trays, and handrails, our hands come into contact with many surfaces throughout the day. If you are like most people, you unconsciously touch your face quite often. In fact, research shows that the average person touches their face twenty times every hour!
In a community setting like ours, where we share common spaces, dining rooms, and activities, germs can travel quickly from person to person if we're not careful. The good news is that hand hygiene is one of the easiest and most powerful tools we have.
A few simple habits go a long way:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important before meals, after using the restroom, and after being in common areas.
- If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
These small actions protect not just you, but everyone around you—especially those who may have weaker immune systems.
Fall Vaccinations: Your Seasonal Shield
Fall is vaccination season for good reason. As we spend more time indoors and gather for holidays and activities, respiratory illnesses spread more easily.
Here are the two annual vaccines to discuss with your primary care physician:
Flu (Influenza) Vaccine
The flu virus changes slightly every year, which is why last year's shot won't protect you this year. Getting a fresh flu vaccine each fall helps your immune system recognize and fight off the specific strains circulating this season. For adults 65 and older, there are higher-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccines specifically designed to give your immune system an extra boost, since our immune response can weaken with age.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Like the flu virus, COVID-19 continues to change over time, and updated vaccines are released to match circulating variants. An annual (or as-recommended) COVID vaccine can help maintain your protection against serious illness, hospitalization, and complications.
Why Get Vaccinated Every Year?
You might wonder why you can't just get one shot and be done with it. The answer is twofold. First, viruses like flu and COVID-19 mutate frequently, so vaccines are updated to match new strains.
Second, immunity from vaccines can fade over time, particularly as we age. An annual vaccine "refreshes" your protection right when you need it most—heading into the colder months when respiratory illnesses spread more easily.
Other Vaccinations Worth Discussing With Your Doctor
Beyond the seasonal shots, there are other vaccines commonly recommended for older adults:
- RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine: RSV isn't just a childhood illness—it can cause serious respiratory infections in older adults, sometimes leading to hospitalization.
- Shingles (Zoster) Vaccine: Recommended for adults 50 and older to prevent shingles and its painful complications.
- Pneumococcal Vaccine: Protects against pneumonia and other serious infections; recommended for adults 65 and older.
- Tdap/Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis): A booster is recommended every 10 years to maintain protection.
A Community Effort
Protecting yourself protects the people around you—friends, neighbors, and staff. If you have questions about which vaccines are right for you, our care team and your personal physician are happy to help you decide what fits your health needs.
Together, with clean hands and up-to-date vaccinations, we can help keep our community healthy and strong all season long.