Staying Healthy Through Cold and Flu Season: Tips for HHAs and CNAs

Fordham Institute Inc. • October 6, 2025

As the weather cools and the days get shorter, cold and flu season arrives. For Home Health Aides (HHAs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), staying healthy isn’t just about protecting yourself—it’s also about protecting the clients who rely on your care. At Fordham Institute Inc., we remind our students that prevention is the best medicine. Here are simple, effective ways to safeguard your health during this season.


1. Prioritize Hand Hygiene

Handwashing is your strongest defense. Wash with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, especially:

  • Before and after caring for a client
  • After coughing, sneezing, or touching your face
  • Before eating

If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.


2. Boost Your Immune System

Support your body with:

  • Nutrition: Eat fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains
  • Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day
  • Sleep: Aim for 7–8 hours of rest to help your body recover and fight illness


3. Disinfect Regularly

Cold and flu germs can live on surfaces for hours. Clean commonly touched items—like your phone, work bag, or steering wheel—daily with disinfecting wipes.


4. Dress for the Weather

Cooler fall and winter air can weaken your body if you’re not prepared. Wear layers, bring a jacket, and keep extra gloves or scarves on hand to stay warm during commutes.


5. Listen to Your Body

Don’t ignore early signs of illness such as sore throat, fatigue, or chills. Addressing symptoms early—by resting, hydrating, or seeking care—can prevent your condition from worsening and protect those you care for.


6. Practice Self-Care

Stress can weaken your immune system. Take time to relax, breathe deeply, and enjoy small activities that lift your mood. A healthy mind supports a healthy body.


Care Starts with You

By protecting your health during cold and flu season, you’re also protecting your clients, classmates, and loved ones. Staying strong and well is part of what makes you an effective, compassionate caregiver.



📞 Ready to start your training in caregiving? Call 718-480-1804
Because healthy caregivers create healthier communities. 🍂🩺

By Fordham Institute Inc. January 8, 2026
A new year brings a fresh beginning. The 1st day isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about setting intentions, opening your heart to growth, and stepping forward with purpose. For Home Health Aides (HHAs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and healthcare students, 2026 is an opportunity to continue building a meaningful career rooted in compassion, stability, and service. At Fordham Institute Inc. , we believe the start of a new year is the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and move forward with clarity. 1. Choose Intention Over Pressure Instead of overwhelming resolutions, focus on simple intentions: To keep learning To show up consistently To care for others while caring for yourself To grow at your own pace Intentions create direction without pressure—and that’s how lasting change happens. 2. Begin the Year with Purpose Healthcare is more than a job—it’s a calling. Each day, caregivers bring comfort, safety, and dignity into people’s lives. Starting this year with purpose means remembering why you chose this path and honoring the impact of your work. 3. Small Steps Create Big Change You don’t need to do everything at once. One class. One shift. One skill learned. One act of kindness. Small steps taken consistently will shape your success in 2026. 4. Be Patient With Your Journey Growth doesn’t follow a straight line. Some days will feel easier than others. Be patient with yourself as you learn, adjust, and improve. Every experience—good or challenging—is part of your development. 5. Believe in What’s Possible A new year is a reminder that opportunity is always ahead. Whether you’re starting training, continuing your education, or working toward a new goal, believe that your effort will lead to progress. You are capable. You are needed. You are becoming something meaningful. Welcome to 2026 As this new year begins, move forward with confidence, compassion, and intention. Your journey in healthcare matters—and the work you do makes a difference every single day. 📞 Ready to take the next step this year? Call 718-480-1804 New year. New purpose. New opportunities to care, grow, and succeed ✨💙
By Fordham Institute Inc. January 7, 2026
Many people feel pressure to measure success by big milestones or perfect outcomes. But for caregivers, students, and healthcare professionals, this year likely wasn’t about perfection—it was about effort, perseverance, and showing up. At Fordham Institute Inc. , we believe the end of the year is not about judging yourself. It’s about honoring the work you put in, even when things didn’t go exactly as planned. 1. 2025 Year Was About Effort You may not have completed every goal or checked every box—but you tried. You attended class when you were tired. You showed up to work in difficult weather. You balanced responsibilities that others may never see. That effort matters. 2. Progress Isn’t Always Visible Growth doesn’t always come with big announcements. Sometimes it looks like: Gaining confidence little by little Learning from mistakes Becoming more patient, resilient, or disciplined Continuing even when motivation was low If you kept going, you grew—whether you realized it or not. 3. Let Go of Perfection Perfection creates pressure. Effort creates progress. It’s okay if this year had setbacks, delays, or detours. Those moments didn’t stop your journey—they shaped it. Give yourself permission to release guilt, comparison, and self-criticism as the year ends. 4. Honor What You Carried This year may have required you to carry: Heavy schedules Emotional responsibilities Family obligations Financial stress Personal challenges And yet—you still moved forward. That strength deserves recognition. 5. Step Into the New Year with Grace As the clock turns toward a new year, take one deep breath and remind yourself: I did my best with what I had. I am still learning. I am still becoming. You don’t need to have everything figured out tonight. You just need to keep believing in yourself. Closing the Year with Pride End this year not by asking what you didn’t do—but by honoring what you did. Effort counts. Growth counts. You count. 📞 Ready to continue your healthcare journey in the new year? Call 718-480-1804 End the year with kindness toward yourself—and begin the next with confidence in who you’re becoming ✨❄️
By Fordham Institute Inc. January 5, 2026
As the year came to an end, it offers a quiet moment to pause, reflect, and acknowledge how far we’ve come. For Home Health Aides (HHAs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and healthcare students, 2025 may have been filled with long days, hard work, learning curves, and moments that tested both strength and patience. But it was also a year of growth, resilience, and purpose. At Fordham Institute Inc. , we believe that caregiving teaches lessons that go far beyond the classroom—and the end of the year is the perfect time to honor them. 1. Gratitude for Growth This year may not have been easy, but it was meaningful. Every class attended, skill learned, and shift completed helped build confidence and knowledge. Growth doesn’t always happen loudly—it happens quietly, through consistency and commitment. 2. Gratitude for Resilience Caregiving teaches you how strong you really are. Through busy schedules, personal responsibilities, and unexpected challenges, you showed up. Resilience isn’t about never feeling tired—it’s about continuing even when things feel hard. That strength deserves recognition. 3. Gratitude for Purpose Not every career allows you to make a difference every day. Caregiving does. Whether through a kind word, a helping hand, or steady support, your work brought comfort and dignity to others. That sense of purpose is something many people search for—and you are already living it. 4. Gratitude for the Lessons Caregiving teaches patience, empathy, humility, and compassion. It teaches you to slow down, listen, and care deeply. These lessons don’t just shape your career—they shape who you are as a person. 5. Gratitude for the Journey You may not be exactly where you want to be yet—and that’s okay. What matters is that you are moving forward. Every step you took this year brought you closer to your goals, even if progress sometimes felt slow. Looking Ahead with Appreciation As 2025 came to a close, take a moment to appreciate yourself. For your effort. For your growth. For your commitment to care. The year may be ending—but your journey continues, stronger than before. 📞 Ready to continue your healthcare journey? Call 718-480-1804 End this year with gratitude—for the lessons learned, the strength gained, and the purpose you carry forward ❄️💛