Spring is here, which means it is the perfect time to organize and refresh your living space. Keeping a clean home is important, especially in homes where seniors may no longer be able to keep up with regular housekeeping chores themselves. Spring cleaning is a great excuse for seniors to eliminate any clutter and improve the condition of their home to benefit their physical and mental health.
A comprehensive cleaning will help reduce indoor allergens and toxins, and improve home health and safety for better senior living. If your senior loved one’s home could use a good cleaning this spring, follow these tips to get the job done:
Make a List
One of the hardest parts of spring cleaning for seniors is deciding where to start. Therefore, before you begin cleaning, make a checklist of what needs to be cleaned. Then, use your list as a guide to help you stay on track and make the spring cleaning process less stressful. Also, your list can help ensure that you have the correct cleaning tools and products for the various surfaces in the home.
Do a Safety Check
Use the opportunity during the cleaning process to check the senior’s home for any safety risks. Add the following tasks to your list to reduce senior safety hazards:
- Clean out the medicine cabinet and throw away expired medications
- Clean out the pantry and refrigerator, and throw away expired food
- Remove infrequently used appliances from the counter
- Hard-to-reach items that are used frequently should be moved to lower, more accessible areas
- Check safety devices to make sure they’re working correctly (replace batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors)
- Replace rugs with non-slip mats by all exterior doors
- Place non-slip mats in the bathroom and tub
Recruit Family & Friends
A thorough cleaning can be a daunting task for anyone, but especially seniors. Consider inviting family and friends to come by to help. The extra sets of hands will be especially helpful with chores that require heavy lifting or require the use of ladders or stepstools.
Clear the Clutter
One of the most time-consuming parts of spring cleaning is clearing out the clutter. Clutter can create safety hazards for seniors. Remove clutter from walkways, doorways and high-traffic areas, including any piles of magazines and newspapers, to help reduce the risk of your senior loved one falling.
Also, clothing that is no longer in good shape should be given away or disposed of. Sometimes it takes a little convincing to discard a favorite garment because of its memories or perceived comfort. However, a closet with room to spare and a smaller selection from which to choose can make your senior loved one feel less stressed.
When you’ve completed your spring cleaning, walk around with your loved one and admire the work that you’ve accomplished. Their home will feel more inviting and comfortable when it looks and feels fresh. And you can feel confident that it will be a safer place for them to live!
