Final answer:
Nursing Assistants are crucial in preventing infections among the elderly by maintaining rigorous hygiene and infection control protocols and helping senior residents navigate health-related technologies.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, Nursing Assistants (NAs) play a pivotal role in protecting elderly residents from infections in various care settings. They are often the front-line caregivers who have direct contact with residents, and good practices by NAs can significantly reduce the risk of infection spread. Proper hand hygiene, adherence to infection control protocols, and appropriately using antibiograms as part of antibiotic stewardship, as indicated in the study by J.P. Furuno et al., are all crucial measures in preventing infections among the vulnerable elderly population.
Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability of seniors to access and efficiently utilize technology was challenged, highlighting the essential role social service providers, including NAs, play in keeping the elderly connected to critical services for their wellbeing. The technology barriers faced by individuals like Betty underscore the wide-ranging responsibilities NAs often undertake, which includes providing assistance with technologies that are key for health communication and services.
Additionally, the example of older volunteers caring for spouses with Alzheimer's disease illustrates how chronic stress can impair the immune response to vaccinations. Providing support to these caregivers can improve their health outcomes by potentially enhancing their vaccine responses, another dimension of NA care provision which directly influences infection prevention for elderly residents.