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As time goes on, we tend to collect things we don’t use regularly and become oblivious to the state of our homes until it’s too late to do something about it. It’s simple to hold onto something we think we’ll need in the future, but clutter can start to pose health risks (especially for the elderly).
Taking care of elderly parents and helping them organize their belongings might be challenging. Whether they are downsizing after retirement or simply wish to age in place, your loved one can feel less worried, safer, and happier by clearing out the clutter in their environment.
Elderly people’s houses can be decluttered for a variety of reasons. Naturally, avoiding unintentional accidents at home is also necessary. After all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), household dangers like clutter are one of the main causes of falls among the elderly.
Decluttering, however, can often be more difficult for elders than it is for younger people. They could encounter a variety of difficulties, such as:
- Their reluctance to part with their possessions
- They have an enormous amount of goods but lack sufficient energy
- Not knowing exactly where or how to start the task.
Evaluate the home of your elderly parents
A wise first step to improving the environment for your senior family member is to make a note of any potential issues you foresee as having an impact on the environment. Look closely at the areas where they spend the most time.
We regularly notice the following issues in senior’s homes:
- Cabinets in the kitchen are cluttered.
- The upper shelves hold items that are out of reach.
- Put out food or toys for the pets.
- Storage in laundry rooms that is out of reach.
- Too many jackets are stuffed into the front closet, and the winter clothing is piled too high.
- Jam-packed bathroom vanity or medicine cabinet.
- Unsteady bookcase stacking.
- Fall risks in hallways or on stairs.
- Magazines and mail are piled high in the living room.
Have a discussion with your elderly parents
Any attempt to reorganize the home of your elderly parents must be preceded by a discussion.
For instance, it is better to start asking your elderly father about any issues he may be having rather than telling him to start replacing the furniture or throwing out outmoded magazines. The conversation that follows is likely to bring up problems resulting from disorder or clutter.
If you were looking for his favourite snack in the pantry, for instance, you can claim that there were so many spoiled canned goods in the way that you were unable to find it. You could also inquire as to the location of any significant medical documents or medication containers.
If you want to know what your elderly parents really want, ask them. It’s important to comply with their requests.
Identify and resolve the most serious issues
When a problem arises—for instance, “I haven’t arranged that medicine cabinet in years!”—ask this critical follow-up question: “What would make it easier for you?”
At this point, try putting out some proposals. Focus on how they will make your elderly parent’s regular activities easier. Instead of saying, “you really need to get rid of all this old stuff,” try focusing on a desired outcome by saying, “I think we could find a way to make this less of an issue for you.”
Place the least sentimental items first
Like everything else, perfecting something requires practice. My clients assert that as they gain experience, choosing what to keep, toss, sell, or donate gets simpler. Making difficult decisions may be made easier for you if you start with the least sentimental objects first, such linens and clothing, and work your way up to the most sentimental ones, like photos and letters.
Donate, give away, or throw away unnecessary “stuff”
You should frequently involve other family members in this process so that you may all share memories. Be mindful of your larger family’s preferences. Everybody has a different method to sort through the mess. If you want to preserve space and still have the photos to look at when you want to feel nostalgic, think about taking digital shots of precious items and uploading them.
Areas with high traffic can be energized by moving furniture
Is your mother’s favourite rocking chair making it difficult to walk around the living room? Is the side table’s sole function to act as a gathering place for dust?
It may be upsetting to move furniture that has been in the same place for a while, yet frequently the tiniest adjustments can have the biggest effects.
Want to learn more?
ConsidraCare’s live-in caregivers are trained to offer professional support and companionship to seniors. reach out to us at wecare@considracare.com or call us at 1-855-410-7971 to arrange care for a loved one.
Maryam is a leading writer at ConsidraCare, specializing in senior care. Her well-researched articles are widely recognized for guiding families through the complexities of caring for loved ones, establishing her as a trusted and authoritative voice in the field.
