Tips for Making Allergy Season a Little Easier for Your Mom
Lawns are getting mowed. Flowers are blooming. Trees are budding and going into summer mode. With all of this comes a lot of pollen, and that can be tough for someone with seasonal allergies. If your mom is finding it hard to function due to the congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, and runny nose, it’s time to help her.
Your mom’s not alone. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 20 million adults suffer from hay fever each year. Generally, the symptoms are simply uncomfortable, but some people find the symptoms can be disrupting to their daily routines. Your mom needs support while the symptoms have her feeling down.
Make Sure She Talks to Her Doctor
Your mom’s doctor is the best place to start. If over-the-counter medications aren’t working for your mom, her doctor may know of a better prescription option. Her doctor may also have tips to help her through the high-pollen days.
Close the Windows on Certain Days
On days the pollen is heavy, close your mom’s house up and put on an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Once it’s rained and knocked the pollen down, she can open her windows back up for fresh air. These air cleaners need to be in rooms she’s in the most. Her bedroom is one. The other would likely be a den, living room, or family room.
Keep the House Clean
It’s also important to keep pollen counts to a minimum inside. Dusting her tables and other hard surfaces with a damp cloth or dust cloth designed to trap dust and pollen helps. Keep her carpets vacuumed daily and run a dust mop over hardwood, tile, vinyl, and laminate floors.
While it’s recommended that you change your sheets once a week, she may want to increase that. While pollen is high, she may want to change her pillowcases and sheets a couple of times a week instead.
Caregivers Ensure Your Mom Has Time to Focus on Herself
When allergy season hits, your mom needs to slow down and take care of herself. If she wants help with meals, elderly care aides can do that. If she’s taking medications that make her drowsy, caregivers can drive her to appointments and stores. Her main goal needs to be to eat the right foods and drink plenty of fluids.
Elderly care services can help your mom keep her house dust-free. Caregivers can do the housework for her. They can do her laundry and make her bed. She’ll be able to rest and make sure she’s drinking enough liquid to keep mucus flowing, which is key to reducing congestion.
Sources:
https://www.aafa.org/allergy-facts/
If you are considering elderly care in Kettering, OH, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts At Home of Dayton today at 937-558-9394.
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