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Mountain View News Saturday, April 5, 2025

FREE ASSISTED LIVING PLACEMENT SERVICE

 

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Benefit from our extensive network and affordable 
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SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …APRIL BIRTHDAYS*

Howard Rubin, Anita Hardy, Hattie Harris, Marilyn Diaz, Virginia Elliott, 
Elma Flores, Betty Jo Gregg, Barbara Lampman, Betty Mackie, Elizabeth 
Rassmusen, Maria Reyes, Marian DeMars, Anne Schryver, Chrisine 
Bachwansky, Colleen McKernan, Sandy Swanson, Hank Landsberg, Ken 
Anhalt, Shannon Vandevelde, Barbara Rounkle, Wendy Senour 

 * To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 
626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 


SPRING ALLERGIES IN SENIORS: HOW TO STAY 

COMFORTABLE THIS SEASON

As the flowers bloom and the weather warms, spring allergies can make life miserable—especially for 
seniors. Aging can weaken the immune system, making allergic reactions more intense and harder 
to manage. Additionally, conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, or respiratory issues can 
complicate allergy symptoms. Here’s how seniors can combat seasonal allergies and enjoy spring more 
comfortably.

Reduce Allergen Exposure

Checking daily pollen counts can help determine the best times to go outside. Pollen levels tend to be 
highest in the morning and early evening, so staying indoors during these hours can minimize exposure. 
Keeping windows closed and using air conditioning with HEPA filters can also reduce allergens 
indoors. After spending time outside, changing clothes and showering helps remove pollen from the 
skin and hair.

Manage Symptoms with Medication

Over-the-counter antihistamines such as loratadine (Claritin) or fexofenadine (Allegra) can relieve 
sneezing and itching without causing drowsiness. Nasal sprays like Flonase help with congestion, but 
decongestants should be used with caution, as they may increase blood pressure. Seniors taking multiple 
medications should consult their doctor before starting any new allergy treatment.

Try Natural Remedies

A simple saline nasal rinse can clear out allergens and reduce inflammation. Some people find relief 
with local honey, believing it helps build pollen tolerance. Vitamin C and quercetin, found in citrus 
fruits and onions, act as natural antihistamines.

Consider Allergy Testing

If symptoms persist, an allergist can identify specific triggers and recommend treatment options like 
immunotherapy (allergy shots or tablets) to provide long-term relief.

By taking proactive steps, seniors can reduce allergy symptoms and embrace the joys of spring without 
discomfort.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

SIR PROCRASTINATE-A-LOT RULES MY DAY!

I must admit that I procrastinate a lot. The biggest example is when 
I get up in the morning. I wait until the very last minute to get 
up. My goal is to get up before lunch. This is the primary difference 
between me and The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She 
couldn't procrastinate even if I gave her a thousand dollars. Of 
course, I would procrastinate in giving over that thousand dollars because that's 
how I operate.

My "to-do list" is put together with this understanding; I put things on this list 
that I know will be affected by my procrastination. If I want to get three things 
done in one day, I have to make a list of 25 things to do.

That may not make sense to some people, but if you have that procrastination 
virus, it does. It is not how much I can do in a day but how much I actually do.

Unfortunately, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage has not learned this about 
me. As long as we have been together which is something like 54 years, she doesn't 
get the notion that I'm a procrastinator. I'm not even sure if she knows what that 
means, and I'm not going to be the one to tell her. At least, I won’t tell her today. 
Maybe tomorrow.

She believes that when she gives me a list of 45 things to do, I will jump up and 
finish them as soon as possible. But as a high-level procrastinator, that's not how 
it works.

When I get a list from her, it takes me all morning to read it. Usually, at lunchtime, 
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage will say, "Well, did you get the list 
done yet?" I will look at her with a blank look on my face and say, "What list?"

With a bit of growling in her voice, she responds, "You know, the list I gave you 
this morning of things I wanted you to do." "Oh, that list. I'm still working on it."

She doesn't understand that when I have a list of things she wants me to do, I have 
to meditate on that list and really get into its vibe. She doesn't realize that it takes 
me quite a while to get into a certain vibe when it comes to things I need to do. I 
must admit that I never get into some things' vibe.

The last time I did not procrastinate was August 14, 1971, when we stood before 
a minister who said, "Do you promise…" And with a nervous stutter, I responded 
immediately, "I do."

I think that was the first time I didn't procrastinate, and I believe it was the last 
time. I’ll think about that later.

It's hard for me to jump into a project and get it done. Sure, I like completing a 
project, but it takes me a long time to get to the end of it.

I learned years ago that procrastinating on certain things and actually not doing 
them is a blessing. If I had done what I was supposed to do, I probably would've 
been in trouble.

Over the years, I have earned the title, Sir Procrastinate-A-Lot. Occasionally, The 
Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage will ask, "Are you acting like a procrastinator?"

"No, my dear," I will say as calmly as possible, "I'm not acting."

Even as a procrastinator, I'm the real thing. I'm not lying; I'm just dragging my 
heels along the way.

I suppose that if I had cleaned up my procrastinating, I could have accomplished 
twice as much in my life as I have. But then, where would that have gotten me?

That is the difference between The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and her 
marvelous husband. It took me a few years to understand this difference. But 
once I did, I was able to use it to my advantage.

If I asked The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage to do two things, she would 
jump to it and begin doing it before I finished my sentence. Within a few moments, 
those two things are accomplished.

If I asked her to do five things again, she would jump up and do all five as fast as 
she could without even taking a break.

I think she is the most anti-procrastinator I have ever known. She can never procrastinate; 
she always must get everything done before the time. If she has 60 
minutes to do something, she will do it in 50 minutes or less.

In a marriage such as ours, we cannot both be procrastinators. That is why I 
stepped up to the plate and chose to be the procrastinator in our house. I've done 
a great job of it all these years.

Of course, there is a cost that comes with procrastination. Solomon hit it on the 
head when he said, “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to 
sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed 
man” (Proverbs 24:33-34).

As my father used to say, “You can’t kick a can down the road forever. At some 
point you need to stop and pick it up.”

My problem is I think I can do more than I can really do. Maybe I should be more 
realistic and concentrate on doing what I can do.

WHERE SOLO AGERS CAN FIND HELP

Dear Savvy Senior:

I’m a divorced 68-year-old childless cat lady and 
have been thinking a lot lately about who will look 
after me when I get older and my health falters. 
What resources are available to solo seniors like 
me, and where can I turn to find a reliable person 
to be my emergency contact, as well as lookout for 
my health, financial matters and living arrangements 
in my elder years? Solo Ager

Dear Solo,

This is a very common concern for the 22 million 
solo agers across the United States who don’t have 
adult children or other family they can depend on 
to watch out for their well-being. Here are some 
tips and resources that can help you plan ahead.

Choosing Helpers & Decision Makers

While older adults who have children or are married 
usually name offspring or spouses as proxies/
decision makers, solo agers most often choose 
a sibling, niece or nephew, or rely on a trusted 
friend or neighbor. Whomever you choose, talk 
to them first to make sure they’re up for the task.

If, however, you don’t have anyone you feel comfortable 
with, or who is willing to take on that responsibility, 
you can hire someone.

One of the best resources for this is an aging life 
care manager. These are trained professionals in 
the area of geriatric care who often have backgrounds 
in nursing or social work and can serve 
as your emergency contact, oversee your care and 
even act as your executor. They can also connect 
you with professional legal and financial services 
in your area that can help you manage your affairs.

Aging life care managers typically charge anywhere 
from $100 to $300 an hour, depending on 
their location and experience. To search for an 
expert near you, visit aginglifecare.org.

If you can’t afford this, there are other reliable 
sources you can turn to for specific help. For example, 
if you haven’t already done so, you need to 
prepare a basic estate plan (including a power of 
attorney, advance directive and a will) to ensure 
your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated 
and when you die.

To help you prepare these documents, your best 
option is to hire an experienced estate planning 
attorney, which can cost anywhere between 
$500 and $2,000. He or she may also be able to act 
as your power of attorney or executor, or help you 
locate a professional in your area that can.

To locate someone, the National Academy of Elder 
Law Attorneys (naela.org) and National Association 
of Estate Planners & Councils (naepc.
org) have online directories to help you search.

If you need help with bill-paying there are services 
like SilverBills (silverbills.com), or you can 
work with a daily money manager (aadmm.com) 
who, in addition to paying bills, can handle tasks 
like balancing your checkbook and organizing 
tax information. And to help you navigate care 
and senior housing options there are certified senior 
advisors (csa.us).

It’s also a good idea to meet with a financial adviser 
to help figure out what services and living 
arrangements you can afford and what steps you 
can take to ensure that your financial resources 
last your lifetime. If you don’t have an adviser, 
you can find a fee-only, fiduciary financial planner 
trough the National Association of Personal 
Financial Advisors at napfa.org.

Some other helpful resources you can turn to include 
Aging Alone Together (dorotusa.org/agingalonetogether), 
a program offered by DOROT, 
which is a nonprofit social services organization 
that provides practical ways to help solo agers 
prepare for the future. They are offering a free, 
six-session virtual workshop (offered weekly) via 
Zoom starting April 24th.

Also see Navigating Solo (navigatingsolo.com), a 
national clearinghouse of resources for solo agers 
and information about solo-ager groups in the 
U.S.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. 
Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.
org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC 
Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” 
book.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com