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How to Cope with Seasonal Allergies

Donna Nichols • May 24, 2023

If you are anything like me, allergy season will kill you; I’m not looking forward to it. I’ve had the worst allergy problems since January and it’s not even allergy season. How about this one . . . I live in Florida, and I am allergic to tree and grass! HA! It is great for me during allergy season. I thought this blog may help some of you (and myself) deal with these terrible allergies we all seem to have.


My allergies come with sneezing, congestion, coughing, runny nose, itchy throat and eyes, and whatever other symptoms Mother Nature wants to throw at me. Short of a self-induced coma until after allergy season is over, here are some things we can try.


•        It’s recommended to stay indoors on dry, windy days and to go outside after a good rain. That’s pretty much impossible in Florida as most days are dry here and I love to be outside.

•        Do not hang your laundry outside. As pollen can cling to your clothes.

•        Do not mow your lawn or pull weeds. This can stir up the allergens in the air. Have a lawn service or ask a friend to mow for you during this time.

•        If you must work outside, try to wear a mask so you don’t breathe the pollen.

•        If you were outside, take off your clothes and shower immediately to rinse off any pollen that may be on your body.


Make sure you know what’s blooming and when. You can check the local news or if you have an Alexa or Google device, just ask what the pollen report is for the day. This is also a good way to narrow down what you are allergic to instead of spending money on testing and being poked with needles.


If pollen counts are expected to be high, take any medication before symptoms start and make sure your windows are closed. Also, stay inside during the early morning hours as that is when the pollen count is at its highest.


Keep the air inside your home clean. Use air conditioning in your house and make sure your filter is clean. Also, use air conditioning in your car, which is hard for me because I drive a convertible. The drier the air in your home the better, so you can get a dehumidifier to help dry it out. Use an air filter in your bedroom and clean your floors with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.


There are so many over-the-counter remedies out there and you don’t need a prescription for them, but they all work differently.


Antihistamines help with the sneezing, itching, stuffy or runny nose, and watery eyes. These are your regular allergy pills like Zyrtec, Allegra, and Claritin and many of these have a generic equivalent that works just as good.


Nasal sprays help with your nasal symptoms. These include Flonase and Nasacort and a few others.


Oral decongestants such as Sudafed helps with nasal stuffiness. You may need to use an antihistamine with a decongestant but talk to your doctor first.


Rinse your sinuses with a saline nasal spray. This will flush out any mucus and allergens from your nose. You can purchase these kits and they are pretty inexpensive or you can make your own. If you make your own solution, use 1 qt. water (bottled), 1.5 tsp. canning salt, and 1 tsp. baking soda. Make sure you rinse your device after each use.


If you don’t want to take medications for your allergies, there are many natural remedies out there. Check with a health food store, but know that these are not proven to work. You may want to try acupuncture as well.



If none of the above works, you may need to get shots for your allergies (I hope I don’t have to go this route). Whatever you need to do, do it and take care of yourself. Word is this will be the worst allergy season yet.

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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