Older adults can develop many conditions as they age. But how do they deal with new allergies? According to Barbara Sadick’s 2022 article for AARP, “5 Types of Allergies That Can become More Common With Age: Reactions to foods, medications, pollen and insects can develop later in life,” “while most allergic reactions develop in childhood or young adulthood, an estimated 5 to 10 percent of Americans over the age of 65 are either living with chronic allergic reactions or experiencing allergic reactions for the first time.” Sadick covers hay fever, food, drug, skin, and insect allergies. I’m going to touch on food and medication allergies since they are pertinent to homecare, but these are my own personal thoughts on the matter. I highly recommend reading Sadick’s article for more information, as she does a great job.
Food Allergies
Developing food allergies is not pleasant. And sometimes, we’ve always had a more mild allergy that we never realized was an actual issue. If you notice anything like an upset stomach, mouth or tongue irritation, or any other common food allergy symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about allergy testing. A comprehensive test should cover all kinds of common allergens. Once you have the culprit, be sure to let your caregiver know so we can make sure you don’t have a reaction.
Medication Allergies
Let your doctor know right away if you’re experiencing any adverse reactions to medications. It could be normal, it could be a sign of an allergy. I myself found out that I have bad reactions to certain migraine medications. I never would have known that what I was experiencing was not among the expected side effects if I hadn’t asked my doctor.
Our Care
We can help work with you to mitigate any allergies that you may have developed or already have, just let us know. We will make sure that caregivers know about it. They may also notify the office if they see any signs of skin irritation or any possible allergic reactions. That’s just as they would do if they notice anything that concerns them.
Written by Brigid Stakelum
