Meet Biyu, 72. Grandmother, secret card shark, family caregiver
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Biyu, 72

Biyu lives in St. John’s with her daughter and two grandchildren. Since her daughter works full-time, Biyu regularly looks after the children, including dropping them off at school and picking them up. When she’s not helping take care of the family, Biyu socializes with other seniors or walks around the neighbourhood.

Will Biyu get a flu shot?

 

 

OCT 20

 

 

 
 
 

Place of vaccination

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Biyu gets a flu shot every year. As a grandmother, she knows it’s the best way to protect herself and her grandchildren from getting the flu.

Biyu figures that by now, she’s probably already had the flu a time or two and so she must be immune to it by now.

Biyu’s grandchildren are her whole world! She packs their lunches, drops them off at school and picks them up every day. Biyu also likes to put notes in their lunches with riddles or trivia questions to help them practise their reading.

Biyu doesn’t feel well. Her symptoms include a fever, a sore throat, a cough and chills. She feels uncharacteristically achy. Biyu got the flu shot, but based on her symptoms, it’s likely she has caught influenza A.Biyu didn’t get the flu shot, and her influenza symptoms last for two weeks. It takes her a few months to feel truly well again.

Flu Fighters@HealthECanada
Did You Know: Adults 65+ are at higher risk of complications from the flu due to existing health conditions or changes to their immune system. The flu shot can help lower the risk of getting very sick.
#InfluenzainSeniors #SeniorInfluenza

NOV 7

 
 
 
 
 
 

The national target is 80%.
69% of adults 65 and older get the flu vaccine.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Biyu knows her daughter has a busy schedule, so she likes to help with the shopping whenever she can. She always checks the flyers for the best deals she can find and she almost always runs into a friendly face when she’s out!

Biyu doesn’t feel well. Her symptoms include a fever, a sore throat, a cough and chills. She feels uncharacteristically achy. Biyu got the flu shot, but based on her symptoms, it’s likely she has caught influenza A.Biyu didn’t get the flu shot, and her influenza symptoms last for two weeks. It takes her a few months to feel truly well again.

Flu Fighters@HealthECanada
Mask up! The 2020-21 flu season essentially never happened after COVID-91 led people to mask up, social distance and get the flu shot in increased numbers.
#InfluenzaDeaths #FightingInfluenza

NOV 25

 
 
 
 

90%
of flu-related deaths
occur in adults
65 years and older.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

There’s a community centre nearby where Biyu heads every Tuesday afternoon for a bring-your-own-lunch and cards with other seniors. Sometimes they play euchre, sometimes simple games like crazy eights.

Biyu doesn’t feel well. Her symptoms include a fever, a sore throat, a cough and chills. She feels uncharacteristically achy. Biyu got the flu shot, but based on her symptoms, it’s likely she has caught influenza A.Biyu didn’t get the flu shot, and her influenza symptoms last for two weeks. It takes her a few months to feel truly well again.

Flu Fighters@HealthECanada
Know your flu facts. In Canada, an average of 3,500 deaths are related to the flu each year.
#getvaccinated #fighttheflu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEC 13

Studies have shown that 1/3 seniors who are hospitalized due to influenza leave the hospital unable to go about simple daily activities like bathing, dressing or eating without assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biyu likes to visit one of her friends who lives in a local long-term care home a couple times a month. They drink tea, listen to music and share stories about their grandchildren. Biyu likes knowing her visits help keep her friend’s spirits up.

Biyu doesn’t feel well. Her symptoms include a fever, a sore throat, a cough and chills. She feels uncharacteristically achy. Biyu got the flu shot, but based on her symptoms, it’s likely she has caught influenza A.Biyu didn’t get the flu shot, and her influenza symptoms last for two weeks. It takes her a few months to feel truly well again.

Flu Fighters@HealthECanada
Getting the flu can put older adults at higher risk of flu-related complications like worsened kidney disease and diabetes, and worsened asthma, COPD, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
#SeniorInfluenza #InfluenzainSeniors

 

 

 

 

 

DEC 29
…including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and stroke.
Influenza has been linked to four major causes of hospitalization in adults over 65…

 

 

 

 

On Sunday morning, there’s a church service Biyu likes to attend. She used to go to church as a young girl, so sometimes she brings her grandchildren, who attend Sunday school. There’s always coffee and cookies after the service, too.

Biyu doesn’t feel well. Her symptoms include a fever, a sore throat, a cough and chills. She feels uncharacteristically achy. Biyu got the flu shot, but based on her symptoms, it’s likely she has caught influenza A.Biyu didn’t get the flu shot, and her influenza symptoms last for two weeks. It takes her a few months to feel truly well again.

Flu Fighters@HealthECanada
Are you over 65? Ask your healthcare provider if the high-dose vaccine is right for you.
#flufacts #staysafe

 

 

JAN 17

 

 

 

Adults 65+ represent 15% of the Canadian population. They account for
70%
of flu-related hospitalizations and up to
90%
of flu-related deaths

 

 

 

A walk around the block is good for the soul, Biyu believes, so she heads out for a stroll every morning. She always follows the same route, and usually at least one neighbour will come out to say hello!

Biyu doesn’t feel well. Her symptoms include a fever, a sore throat, a cough and chills. She feels uncharacteristically achy. Biyu got the flu shot, but based on her symptoms, it’s likely she has caught influenza A.Biyu didn’t get the flu shot, and her influenza symptoms last for two weeks. It takes her a few months to feel truly well again.

Flu Fighters@HealthECanada
Adults 65+ account for up to 70% of flu-related hospitalizations.
#vaccinate #maskup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEB 5

 

 

 

 

10 to 20% of Canada’s population get influenza each year.


 
 
 
 

The local recreation centre has a pool and offers water aerobics classes for seniors on Thursday mornings. Biyu sometimes goes to these classes after dropping the kids off at school. She feels it’s important to stay active.

Biyu doesn’t feel well. Her symptoms include a fever, a sore throat, a cough and chills. She feels uncharacteristically achy. Biyu got the flu shot, but based on her symptoms, it’s likely she has caught influenza A.Biyu didn’t get the flu shot, and her influenza symptoms last for two weeks. It takes her a few months to feel truly well again.

Flu Fighters@HealthECanada
Influenza in seniors over 65 can trigger even more serious health issues like heart attacks and strokes. Seniors hospitalized with influenza are often later unable to carry out daily activities like bathing, dressing or eating without assistance.
#HerdImmunity #FluFacts #TheMoreYouKnow

MAR 17

 

 

 

How often did Biyu get the flu?
35%
with the flu shot
70%
without the flu shot

The results are updated based on interactions with this choose-your-own-adventure activity and do not reflect medically-accurate statistics. Statistics shown throughout the adventure are based on fact. See more on our sources page.