Helping seniors tidy up removes potential risks and gives them a sense of dignity and calm. But many seniors are uncomfortable sharing messy or dirty parts of their home.
Spring cleaning is an opportunity to see how your loved one is doing without making them uneasy. Here’s what we’ve learned to look out for while helping seniors tidy up, as well as some helpful things you can do for them while you’re there.
What to Check For While Helping With Spring Cleaning
Cleaning your loved one’s home is an opportunity to take stock of their situation. Here are a few common signs we’ve seen that seniors could use help from a professional caregiver.
Lots of Reminders
A home full of sticky notes or other reminders is a sign that your loved one may be having difficulty remembering things.
Expired Food or an Empty Fridge
Managing a kitchen gets harder as people age. If your loved one’s fridge is empty or has expired food, they may benefit from support at mealtime.
Expired or Disorganized Medications
If your loved one’s medications are expired or strewn around the house, they’re probably not taking them properly. A caregiver can help them remember to take prescribed treatments on schedule every time.
Stacks of Mail
When seniors can’t keep up with their mail, it piles up on the dining room table or kitchen counter, potentially causing missed bills or overpayment.
Carpet Stains
Carpet stains, especially between your loved one’s bedroom and the bathroom, may be a sign that your loved one needs help with mobility or other medical issues.
Signs of Disrepair
Are there signs of disrepair like drafts, stuffy air, flickering lights or unpleasant smells? Any of these could be a sign that your loved one could use assistance keeping up with their home.
Top Things to Help With During Spring Cleaning
During spring cleaning, start with pressing needs like health and safety risks. Here are our top priorities:
- Get Help Handling Fall Risks
Anything involving a ladder can be a fall risk for seniors and is a top priority to handle. So they don’t have to get up on one, make sure to handle anything that involves a ladder yourself or ask for assistance:
- Check and replace their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Change all dead or old lightbulbs.
- Change their air filters (especially those in ceiling vents).
- Clean their gutters.
- Trim low-hanging branches from their trees.
- Go Through Their Medications
It’s important to pare down any old or expired medications that your loved one no longer needs. Then, organize them in a way that makes them easier to take as directed. Ask what they need and build a system that helps them feel comfortable and in control.
Many medications are unsafe to flush or trash, so proper disposal is crucial. The Charlotte VA center and police department can both take expired pills, as can most pharmacies. For more information on how to dispose of drugs in Charlotte, check More Powerful NC.
- Get Rid of Expired Food
Check your loved one’s pantry, fridge and cabinets for expired food. Be on the lookout for bulging cans. If anything looks fishy, it’s best to toss it. Then wipe down fridge shelves.
- Improve Home Safety
Reduce the risk of accidents by removing hazards and maintaining any safety features.
- Tighten up any grab bars and handrails. Make sure they can safely bear weight.
- If the carpet is loose or wrinkled, re-stretch it to smooth it out.
- Remove or secure any area rugs.
- Install night lights near the floor in hallways to illuminate tripping hazards.
- Clear clutter from all walkways.
- Disinfect high-traffic surfaces, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Add an anti-slip finish to hardwood floors.
Some of these can be difficult to handle on your own, so consider looking into a handyman for help.
- Organize Their Paperwork
Good organization can make emergencies more manageable. Ask your loved one to show you where they keep their keys and how to navigate their files so you can find what you need in a hurry.
Since it’s tax time, spring cleaning is a great opportunity to organize your loved one’s paperwork. Start by paring down unnecessary documents. Then help them file their taxes and make sure they’re up-to-date on bills. Lastly, make sure they’re not overpaying for any subscriptions or services.
This is also a chance to discuss life-planning topics: Do they have a will? What are their wishes in case of death or severe illness? Where do they keep their most important documents? These are uncomfortable topics, so slip these questions in throughout the day to avoid overwhelming your loved one.
Need help with life planning? We have a network of local professionals like estate attorneys who can assist you. Contact us for a recommendation.
- Declutter
Go through clutter with your loved one and get rid of things they no longer use. Many seniors have trouble letting go of old objects, especially if they’ve lived through poverty, and it helps to know they’re going to a good cause.
If the clutter is overwhelming, there are resources available. Our friend and decluttering expert Matt Paxton wrote Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, which includes great advice on how to downsize without the stress.
For more direct help with decluttering, we can put you in touch with local downsizing professionals.
Caregivers Can Help Seniors With Spring Cleaning
Need help with spring cleaning? FirstLight Home Care of Charlotte can help. By taking care of your loved one’s immediate needs, our compassionate caregivers give you the time to focus on sprucing up. They can also handle light housekeeping so things don’t get too bad.
If you need help handling your loved one’s spring cleaning, or to be connected with resources in the Charlotte area, don’t hesitate to contact us.
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