4 Simple Tips for Protecting Seniors from Indoor Air Pollution

Health

Did you know that your efforts to keep cold or hot air out of your house are trapping air pollutants in? Houses these days are constructed so tightly that they lack the natural ventilation of yesteryear. The cleaning products, building products, pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, and other pollutants can have harsh effects on seniors with compromised immune systems. Fortunately, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself.

Protecting Seniors from Indoor Air Pollution

Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi on Unsplash

Protecting Seniors from Indoor Air Pollution

Monitor and Test

Install carbon monoxide detectors and test your home for radon. Radon is a byproduct of decaying uranium that is naturally found in some soil. It is invisible and odorless. However, it can lead to serious illness if it finds its way into your home. Test kits are fairly affordable so you can conduct the test yourself. Many of the tests involve you sampling the air in your house. You then send the sample to a laboratory to get the results. There are several ways to block the entry of radon into your home.

Similarly, carbon monoxide can also cause you harm, and you cannot see or smell it. CO is a combustion byproduct, and it comes from gas-fired water heaters, space-heating equipment, fireplaces, kerosene heaters, and several other in-home sources. Make sure the areas where this equipment operates are well-ventilated.

Choose Products that Don’t Pollute

Fumes that can be harmful to seniors are produced by building products, solvents, cleaning products, adhesives, and some plants. Therefore, you should choose low-VOC (volatile organic compound) or low emitting products.

The evaporation point for some chemical compounds is room temperature. This causes fumes. Most of the time, VOCs are harmless. Other times, they can produce headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the throat, nose, and eyes. Serious diseases may develop after long-term exposure.

Change Your Air Conditioner and Furnace Filters

The equipment inside forced-air HVAC systems is protected from household dust by filters. You must regularly change these filters to reduce air pollution in the home. Do it at the beginning of the heating seasons, and if a central air conditioner is part of the system, change the filter at the start of the cooling season as well.

Bacteria, mold spores, and some allergens are not removed by standard filters. You will require a high-efficiency filter to take these air pollutants out of the system. The rating of the filter will tell you how efficient it is. The minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) is rated on a scale of one to twenty by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Use Natural Ventilation

You can clear the air by opening doors and windows. Of course, if it is extremely cold or hot outside, you should avoid this alternative. But, at some pollution sources, you can spot ventilate. Make sure your dryer vent and bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans are working correctly. They remove moisture that could cause mold. Also, use and store solvents, adhesives, paints, and other building products in well-ventilated areas to dissipate the harmful fumes they leave behind.

By taking these simple steps, you can avoid the dangers that indoor air pollution poses for older adults.

 

This Article is a contribution to Leisure Freak from the talented freelance writer Jackie Edwards.

Now working as a full-time freelance writer, Jackie Edwards is also a busy mum of two small children. In any free time she has (which isn’t much) she likes to volunteer and do charity work and take the family greyhound Bertie for long walks.

52 thoughts on “4 Simple Tips for Protecting Seniors from Indoor Air Pollution”

  1. All good suggestions – Do you any recommendations on air filters? The air in Salt Lake City is so bad in the winter that there is no fresh air to let in the house. Also the furnace makes the air very dry.

    1. Thanks for the comment Ralph. I also live in a dry winter climate. Many of the folks here have humidifiers, I unfortunately do not. As to filters, I haven’t a favorite as I shop both price and filter features. Many are rated as fine enough to catch allergens while others are less so and more free flowing. Your furnace also comes into the equation as to which filter to use. Mine was replaced last year with a super efficient model that due to old duct return-airflow restrictions requires I run the the skimpiest (dust only) most free flowing filter I can find. Search online for your furnace filter recommendations,check https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/air-filters/buying-guide and your favorite retailer to see what might be best for your furnace and filtering out your local specific allergens/pollutants.
      Tommy

  2. Hi Jackie! Can I add another point to the list? Please do not smoke in front of seniors especially if they do not smoke. I am in and out of the homes of seniors every day as a custom wheelchair specialist. 50% of the time, there is someone in the home smoking (usually an adult child) as I am trying to discuss mobility options with the senior and their family. I have even seen this happen when the senior has to use supplemental oxygen. Step outside and have your cigarette. Sorry, just a brief rant 😉

    1. Thanks for the comment Scott. That is a very important point to spare seniors second hand smoke whether they have compromised breathing or not. Please “take it outside” should apply to protect everyone all the way down to children. My father was a smoker and growing up my mother made him smoke outdoors but I still had to suffer through smoke while in the car with him.
      Tommy

      1. You are right. It seemed everyone in my family smoked as a kid – except my grandmother. Now, she is the one having the COPD problems! I remember those same car rides – most of the times the windows were up all the way. I am not sure vaping is much better but that is another rant for another time! Thanks for making the internet a better place with quality articles like this.

  3. I personally work in a paint raw material chemical factory and think that it is almost impossible to avoid bringing chemical in homes. Most of the products are being manufactured in this industrial era un-naturally without keeping in mind that how is this gonna effect human beings out there or simply users. VOC continuously emitting from paint like products, pollens, cigarette smoke, allergens are gonna hit our elder citizens easily. On the other hand, the newly introduced air quality monitoring systems are really going to help us in futur to fight against unhealthy environment especially in our homes and bed rooms.

    1. Thanks for the comment. You are right, so much of what we bring into the home can emit VOC. It’s difficult to avoid so the only thing we can do is be aware and make choices that reduce the amount we voluntarily allow into our homes.
      Tommy

  4. Jackie, Good points. In my personal experience, I found that many elderly people suffer from chronic asthma and COPD. So apart from precautions, corrective measures like installing an indoor purification system might help as well. I personally prefer to have more indoor plants for better oxygen supply in rooms. Thanks a lot for sharing the insights and valuable information.

    1. Thanks for the comment Kate. Jackie hit on some great points in this post. We also have many plants in our house. Aside form the calming affect they bring I hope they also provide additional air quality assistance as you mention.
      Tommy

  6. Wow! I find it awesome that you suggested to regularly change air conditioner filters to help get rid of irritants such as cleaning products, pet dander, and dust mites. If I were to have this done for my older relatives, my first step would be to find an air conditioning service. With their help, they can help provide a safe, clean home to live in.

  7. Thanks for sharing this post with us.Medical alarms are designed to work in and across the dwelling. Seniors are essentially the most susceptible when alone within the dwelling, even when they’ve a partner or member of the family within the dwelling that may’t all the time hear their cry for assist.

  8. Hi, this is really a good article about polluted air and it’s effects, Indoor air is typically 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. We also should be careful about that too.
    Like your work.
    Please check my blog and give your feedback.

  9. Till now a lot of brands has been available in the market who launched a number of air purifier with different specifications. But Honeywell True Hepa Allergen Air purifier has no match in terms of amazing & appealing features. From the start of this article to the last word, today we are going to review different aspects of these products.

  10. Thanks for sharing your advice! we tend to forget the importance of improving indoor air quality and assume that only outdoor air is unsafe

  14. All of them have mentioned great tips about saving yourself from indoor air pollution. But I have invented some innovative methods especially to save myself from indoor cigarette pollution.

  16. Excellent tips! Elders must be protected from harmful chemicals and bacteria, as they are susceptible to catching diseases if their immunity levels are lower since lots of elderly people become a little careless about working out, eating nutritious food that could hamper their immunity levels.

  17. Great Article! Your article is really helpful. I got too much information about AC and Heating system from this great article. So, I am glad to read this awesome article. Thanks for sharing such a helpful article. Keep Posting!!

  18. Good, Considering the current scenario we should install for our seniors. But what for them who can not purchase it or not spend their money for test kit? We should raise our voice to stop pollution. Thanks

  21. Thanks for warning me that there can be indoor pollutants that can cause some serious illnesses if I let them stay in my home. My senior parents will be staying in my house for a while and I want to ensure that they will live comfortably and safely in this environment. Maybe I should hire testing services to make sure that the indoor air quality is safe for their frail health.

    1. Hey Zoe, you are welcome. We recently had our home tested for Radon gas and had to instal a mitigation system. Being in house more than usual during the pandemic means making sure there isn’t anything harmful inside.
      Tommy

  22. This is some really good information about how to protect seniors when they are sensitive to air pollution. My grandmother has asthma and I want to make sure that the air she breaths is clean. It is nice to know that it would be smart to get a good air conditioner that has a filter.

  23. Thanks for sharing this information. I really like your blog post very much. You have really shared an informative and interesting blog post with people.

  24. Hi, thanks for sharing such wonderful information. I was facing a VOC problem when I shifted to my new house. So as advised by a friend, I install an air purifier with a TRUE HEPA filter and activated carbon filter. After few days I noticed that the air cleaner start removing volatile organic compounds and bad smells in my house. although it was not removed completely the results were really great.

  29. I think this is one of the most significant information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. Thank for sharing!

  31. It’s good to know that the filters of our HVAC systems protect the equipment inside. However, I’m worried about my grandparents’ home because theirs had been installed decades ago. I wonder if I should look for contractors that offer HVAC replacement services for residential properties.

  32. Greetings,
    I read your article and found it informative and very helpful. Keep writing informative and useful content.
    Thanks again for providing us a great information.
    Regards

  35. Carbon monoxide can cause you harm, and you cannot see or smell it. CO is a combustion byproduct, and it comes from gas-fired water heaters, space-heating equipment, fireplaces, kerosene heaters, and several other in-home sources. Make sure the areas where this equipment operates are well-ventilated.

  36. Ways to eliminate pollution are as follows:

    Avoid smoking indoors (but quitting smoking is the best answer for overall health).
    Use craft supplies in well-ventilated areas.
    Make sure your gas stove is well-ventilated.
    Minimize clutter.
    Remove carpeting if possible.
    Use a dehumidifier and/or air conditioner to reduce moisture.

  37. Forced-air heating and cooling systems have filters that protect the equipment from household dust. The filters should be changed regularly, at least at the start of the heating season and the cooling season if a central air-conditioner is part of the system.

  38. Great blog! My husband and I are in the Indoor Air Quality field and provide a an air duct cleaning service. There are so many factors when it comes to indoor air quality. An HVAC system is designed to recycle indoor air where it filters 70-90 percent of contaminants and that if we change the filter frequently. Over time, a system accumulates enough for a good air duct cleaning. Be sure to ask questions if you’re looking to have an air duct cleaning done as there are many scams out there. You need strong negative air suction and powerful positive air pressure.

    1. Thanks for the comment Amber. Great advice. Always research, verify, and validate who you use for HVAC service so that you get what you pay for and no harm is done to an expensive needed home system. You are 100% right,there are a lot of scam operations.
      Tommy

  39. I see you’re suggesting changing the air conditioner filters regularly – that’s great! Pros recommend doing this at least once every three months. But during peak hot seasons, this may need to be done more often. Anyway, follow the instructions on the packaging of your filter.

  40. Great Post! Keep it up the great work. I love to see more stuff from you. Keep up the great work.
    Your way of communication is very good and it’s very easy to understand.

  41. Valid statements. I would say, I found that numerous older individuals experience the ill effects of persistent asthma and COPD. So aside from safeguards, restorative estimates like introducing an indoor cleansing framework could help too. I for one really like to have more indoor plants for better oxygen supply in rooms. You rock for sharing the bits of knowledge and important data.

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