Important Information for the Elderly: Allergies or a Cold?

With spring just beginning, it’s important for caregivers to learn how to discern between spring allergies and a cold. Why? This is important for a couple of reasons. The first reason is to be able to provide the most appropriate treatment. Additionally, colds can have different and more serious side effects for the elderly. As your elderly loved one makes their way through that box of tissues, take a minute to make sure it’s not a cold.

Here are some ways to determine if they are suffering from allergies or a cold:

1. Does your loved one have a fever?
Yes – Cold
No – Allergies

2. Are they achy?
Yes – Cold
No – Allergies

3. How long have they felt sick?
3-15 Days – Cold
Weeks – Allergies

4. Do they have a bad cough?
No – Allergies
Yes – Cold

5. Are their eyes watery and/or itchy?
Yes – Allergies
No -- Cold

If you believe that your elderly loved one has a cold, some rest, over the counter medication as recommended by their doctor, and time are the best treatment options. If you believe your elderly loved one is suffering from spring time allergies, over the counter allergy medication can help alleviate some of these symptoms, but be sure to always consult with your loved one’s physician before giving them any medications.

Here are some more web resources to help you determine whether or not your loved one is suffering from a cold or seasonal allergies:

WebMD: Is It a Common Cold or Allergies? 

Mayo Clinic: Cold or Allergy: Which Is It? 

ABC: Cold or Allergies: How To Tell

Some Spring Ideas for the Elderly

With the first day of spring less than a week away, it’s a good time to start thinking about some fun outside activities. Being outdoors is great for your health. According to the Harvard Health Letter, being outside will increase your vitamin D levels, elevate your mood, increase concentration, and, most importantly for the elderly, speed up healing. The Health Letter indicated that in one study, individuals who were exposed to natural light felt less pain and stress following surgery.  Additionally, the benefits of being active are very important to elder health.

For the elderly, some of these activities may have to be modified. However, the health benefits of being outside and the health benefits of being active make these activities a ‘must do’ for seniors.

Here are some ideas:

Take a walk: Take a walk around the neighborhood. If you don’t have any safe sidewalks around your home, you could try walking around a high school track.

Garden: Gardening is a great way to enjoy the nice weather and fit some exercise into your day. It can be very tiring work, but it’s extremely rewarding!

Hike: Find some easy trails around your home, and go for a hike. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear to prevent injuries!

Have a picnic: Pack a light lunch and head to the park!

Yard games: You can pick some easy games with the elderly. Think of low impact games such as shuffle board, horse shoes, or badminton.

Have coffee outside: Find a local café or restaurant, get a cup of coffee or tea, and sit outside in the sun.

Explore your own town: Get outside and pretend to be a tourist in your own town.

Do you have any other ideas? Leave some in the comments section!