Spring brings lovely weather and the opportunity to go outdoors more often. However, many people suffer from allergies, which get worse in the spring thanks to the pollen and ragweed season. Pollen and pollutants can cause anyone to have difficulty breathing, but they can be particularly problematic for those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Breathing problems are common among the elderly, and allergies can aggravate preexisting issues.

Take a few steps to help you or your loved on get some relief from spring allergies. Find your triggers. Do certain budding trees or flowers make your allergies worse? Maybe hot, windy days are more problematic than cooler, breezy days. Pay attention to what aggravates your allergies and avoid triggers. Also, try to stay inside during the mornings. Between 5 and 10 a.m., pollen counts are higher than during any other time of day.

Allergies aren’t just an outdoor problem, however. Studies show that the levels of indoor pollution in U.S. homes exceed the levels of outdoor pollution by 2 to 100 times. Make sure your air conditioning systems have the proper air filters. Regularly dusting and cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture can help rid your living environment of pollutants. Leaving windows open allows pollen to drift in on the breeze. If you go outside and come back in, you’re bringing in allergens with you. If you’re sensitive to pollen, changing clothes or taking a shower after being outside can help cut allergies short.

Remember, there’s no reason to suffer from allergies. Check with your doctor to see if over-the-counter remedies like nasal sprays or antihistamines are safe for you to use. If your allergies are more severe, your primary care doctor should be able to administer a simple allergy test to see what’s causing the problem.

Don’t let allergies keep you or your loved ones from enjoying the spring weather. Get outside and take advantage of the sunshine!

Thanks to the advent of spring, we’re enjoying warmer days with more hours of daylight. Few things are more pleasant than heading outside for a few hours of relaxing in the sunshine.

While you enjoy the sunny afternoons, don’t let the sun catch you or the special senior in your life with your guard down. Protecting yourself from the sun is incredibly important. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, and overexposure to sunlight can increase your risk of developing cataracts. Even milder sun ailments like sunburn and dehydration can be unpleasant. Remember these tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from the sun and heat.

- Wear sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB rays. As we age, our skin’s ability to repair sun damage declines, so this is incredibly important. Try to apply sunscreen about an hour before going out, and reapply every two hours.
- Cover your skin with hats and long sleeves. A hat with a broad brim and clothing that is closely-woven provides you with your own portable bit of shade.
- Wear sunglasses that have at least 99 percent UV absorption. This will protect your eyes from bright light and wind, in addition to protecting you from increased risk of developing cataracts. Sunglasses that wrap around protect your eyes from all angles.
- Protect yourself from the sun even on cloudy days. The sun doesn’t feel as hot when its cloudy, but the UVA and UVB rays still shine down and get absorbed by your skin.
- If you’re particularly sensitive to heat, avoid going outside during the hottest hours of the day, and seek out air-conditioned environments.
- Remember to drink plenty of water. Feeling thirsty isn’t actually a reliable indicator of dehydration—by the time your brain signals thirst, your body may already be dangerously dehydrated. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables can help you keep hydrated.

As long as you take protective measures, spending time in the sun can be a blast. Enjoy the warm weather!

In hopes of introducing more Americans to the pleasures of reading poetry, every April, the Academy of American Poets presents a month-long national celebration of poetry.

Celebrating National Poetry Month might be a way to enjoy a lifelong pleasure, or a way to discover something new. Here are just a few ways to celebrate National Poetry Month. The Academy of American Poets has listed more ideas here.

- Select a poem you love and carry it with you. Share it with the people you encounter.
- Play a game with a group of friends, where each player adds another line or word, until you’ve made a poem.
- Put a poem in a letter. April is also National Card and Letter Writing Month! Receiving and sending mail is always lovely, and the experience is made even more special by including a poem.
- Visit your local library and select a book of poetry to read. It can be by a poet you already know and love, or a poet you’ve never even heard of before.
- Write a poem yourself!

Poetry is a companion for every occasion, from joy to grief and everywhere between. America has a rich and complex history of poetry, but literally every country and culture in the world has poetry to offer.

Seniors, in particular, have much to offer to the realm of poetry. Poetry is an excellent way to share experience and memory. Many famous poets didn’t begin writing until late in life. Wallace Stevens, a famous American poet who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1955, for instance, didn’t publish his canonical works until he was well into his 50s. Many poets continue writing through their 80s and beyond, and several states name Senior Poet Laureates.

Enjoy this year’s National Poetry Month, try writing your own poems, and read some good poetry, whether it’s an old favorite or brand new to you.

How can you be sure your loved ones will receive the kind of medical care they want, if they become too ill or hurt to express their wishes? How can you rest assured you are making the right decisions regarding their care, if they’re unable to tell you?

Advance directives are legal documents that enable anyone over the age of 18 to establish their decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They can give you and your loved ones peace of mind by eliminating confusion and ensuring their wishes are communicated. Advance directives are also sometimes known as living wills, although California calls them “Advance Health Care Directives.”

One form that California uses is called a POLST, or a Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment. It’s a bright pink form that both the patient and the physician sign, and it makes clear statements about what kind of medical treatment patients want toward the end of their lives. The POLST can be used to either allow or refuse treatment such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the administration of antibiotics and IV fluids, using a ventilator for breathing, or providing artificial nutrition by tube. The POLST form complements an Advance Directive and is not intended to replace that document.

Advance directives give seniors the opportunity to address how they feel about care intended to sustain life. In an advance directive, they can accept or refuse medical care and address issues such as dialysis and organ and tissue donation. A health care proxy, or a specific person trusted to make health decisions, can also be named.

Completing an advance directive is important for anyone over the age of 18, but seniors and their loved ones might find it especially helpful to establish clear communication about end-of-life health care. Take the time to discuss advance health care directives with your loved ones. It can make a world of difference when it comes to peace of mind and dignity for both you and the special senior in your life.

For more information, visit the California Office of the Attorney General’s website for Advance Directives, at http://www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general/adv_hc_dir.htm.