This year’s unusually warm winter, has awakened allergy season early this year.  Millions of Americans are experiencing stuffy noses and watery eyes; however, pollen and allergy symptoms can be especially difficult to deal with for seniors.  Here are a few ways that caregivers can help seniors survive allergy season.

Look for the Signs
Allergies don’t discriminate between the young and the old. The elderly are just as likely as anyone else to be affected when spring blooms begin to appear. Caregivers should be on the lookout for the traditional signs of allergies: sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes.

Keep Your Doctor Informed
It can be difficult for a doctor to diagnose allergies in an older person for several reasons.  They may be focused on a senior’s larger health issues, elderly people often have multiple chronic health problems, and it can be hard for a doctor to separate a potential allergy from an ongoing disease.  A caregiver who suspects that their elderly loved one may have allergies should bring their concerns to their loved one’s doctor.
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