Flu & RSV Season Is Here: What Families of Seniors Should Know

info6047804

Sep 7

3 min read

As the weather starts to shift, so does the risk landscape for older adults. Flu and RSV both hit seniors harder than younger adults, and where your loved one lives during respiratory illness season can make a real difference in how much exposure risk they face.

Why Seniors Are More Vulnerable

The CDC estimates RSV alone causes 60,000 to 160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000 to 10,000 deaths among older adults every year. Flu carries similar risk for this age group, especially for those with underlying heart or lung conditions.

Current Vaccine Guidance for Older Adults

RSV vaccine: The CDC recommends a single dose for everyone 75 and older, and for adults 50 to 74 who are at increased risk, which includes people with certain chronic conditions and, notably, people living in long-term care or congregate care settings. It is not an annual vaccine; if your loved one already received one, they typically don't need another right now.
Flu vaccine: Recommended annually for all adults, with a high-dose or adjuvanted version generally preferred for seniors 65 and older, since it produces a stronger immune response in that age group.

The best time to get both is late summer through early fall, before respiratory illness season ramps up, talk to your loved one's doctor or pharmacist about timing.

Why Where Someone Lives Matters

The CDC specifically flags residents of long-term care facilities as a higher-risk group for severe RSV illness, not because of age alone, but because congregate living increases exposure. A facility with 60, 100, or more residents sharing common spaces, dining halls, and activity rooms creates far more opportunities for a respiratory illness to spread quickly through a building.

A small residential home with 6 to 8 residents is a fundamentally different exposure environment. Fewer residents, fewer staff rotating through, and closer daily monitoring all mean an illness is both less likely to spread widely and more likely to be caught early if it does.

What We Do at Psalm 23

Encourage and help coordinate seasonal vaccination for residents
Monitor residents closely for early signs of illness, given our high staff-to-resident ratio
Maintain a small household size that naturally limits exposure compared to large facilities
Communicate promptly with families if a resident shows any signs of illness

"He restoreth my soul" (Psalm 23:3). Part of that restoration is simply staying well enough to enjoy the season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my parent need an RSV vaccine every year like the flu shot?No. RSV vaccination is currently a single dose, not an annual vaccine, unlike the flu shot which is recommended every year.

Is my loved one considered high-risk for RSV if they live in assisted living?Living in a long-term care or congregate setting is specifically named by the CDC as a risk factor for adults 50–74, in addition to age 75+ being recommended regardless of setting.

When should my loved one get vaccinated?Late summer through early fall is generally the recommended window, ahead of peak respiratory illness season. Talk to their doctor about specific timing.

Questions About Care Through Flu & RSV Season?

We're happy to talk through how we help keep our grandmas and grandpas healthy through respiratory illness season. Click the Schedule Tour button on our website to book a tour. From our family to yours.

Sources

CDC, "Vaccines for Adults: RSV," updated February 2026, cdc.gov/rsv/vaccines/adultsCDC, "CDC Recommends RSV Vaccine for Older Adults," media statement, cdc.govImmunize.org, "Ask the Experts About Vaccines: RSV, Vaccine Recommendations for Older Adults," 2025, immunize.org