Allergies can be a pain to deal with, and sometimes, if your senior doesn’t communicate well or talk very often, it can be hard to spot. You may not know the difference between a cold and an allergy attack, and that’s okay. The most important thing you can do is encourage your elderly loved one to visit the doctor and report what they have been feeling and dealing with. Your senior’s doctor will help determine if it’s seasonal allergies. If your senior needs help with basic cleaning, changing their clothes to prevent allergies, or regular bathing to get the pollen washed off, these are all things that home care professionals can help with.
Here are some ways your loved one can spot and manage allergies effectively.
Runny Nose- Your loved one may have a runny nose or a stuffed-up nose. This doesn’t seem like a huge issue, but it can annoy a senior to deal with daily. Home care should ensure a senior is drinking enough water to help reduce nasal decongestion.
Itchy Eyes- If your senior has itchy or watery eyes, it can be a sign of allergies. Ensure your seniors can wash their faces or even take a bath. If home care is not there to help them place a cold washcloth over your loved one’s eyes.
Sneezing- This is probably one of the biggest ways to tell if a senior has allergies. Many people sneeze due to itchiness in their noses, or sometimes it even feels ticklish.
Sore Throat- Although not everyone with allergies will experience a sore throat, it can be a sign of allergies. It may become irritated, making it hard to swallow food or drinks.
If your loved one is having more symptoms than these, it’s time to take them to their primary care doctor. Home care can help provide non-emergency transportation, making this much easier.
Here are some of the best ways a senior can manage allergies at home without a doctor.
Look At Symptoms
A senior may start noticing that they are sneezing a lot, or their throat and nose feels funny. If that happens, encourage them to take allergy medicine or any medicine prescribed by the doctor. If they tend to forget they have this medication, a friendly reminder may be all they need to stop the allergies before they get worse throughout the day.
Notice Triggers
Sometimes even with allergy medicine, a senior will still have allergies. If your loved one has been around something, notice the triggers. Their allergies may be worse after gardening. Help them change their clothes and wash their faces right after their time outside. Noticing triggers will also help you develop some kind of routine to keep the allergies at bay.
Keep Their House Clean
Dust, pollen, and other things can get tracked through the house, so keeping the house clean is important. If your senior needs help with basic cleaning, ask their home care provider if they are willing to help. You may have to help your senior mom or dad go through their house and do a deep clean once a month to help keep their allergies down.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Edgewood TN please contact the caring staff at Senior Solutions Home Care. (865) 539-5224
Senior Solutions Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Knoxville, Old City, Fort Sanders, Old Sevier, Edgewood, North Knoxville, Forest Heights, Sequoyah Hills, Knox County, and surrounding areas.
Over the years, we have expanded, providing service in all 95 counties throughout Tennessee, and we now have a growing presence in Georgia.
Senior Solutions is recognized as a top 5% independent agency and a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These types of awards matter to us because they show growth in our goal of eventually touching a million lives. We’re excited to continue that growth and to touch even more families with our commitment to quality care!
- Setting Healthy Boundaries for Your Elderly Loved One - November 11, 2024
- Helping Seniors Age in Place - October 23, 2024
- Ways To Help Your Senior Parent Age In Place - October 7, 2024
