In Home Care Can Help Seniors Keep Their Home Clean

Is your senior loved one struggling with essential indoor tasks and chores? As senior age, house cleaning and keeping things organized can become a real chore for seniors on their own. If maintaining a clean house becomes too difficult for them, their home may become cluttered, uncomfortable, and even unsafe.

Seniors sometimes need extra assistance with keeping their homes tidy. As older adults age, their muscles often become weaker, and joints become more painful. Physical limitations may also affect their stamina and strength while taking care of daily household duties.

Keeping a clean and clutter-free home can be difficult for senior citizens and adversely impact their overall health and quality of life. Frequently we find that the accumulation of piles near chairs, or storing things in hallways, can become tripping hazards for seniors. In addition, if they aren’t regularly cleaning, they will tend to have more germs in their home and can get sick if they aren’t keeping things sanitary.

Be sure you and your loved ones are checking in with your family members regularly to assess their needs. If you notice that piles are accumulating, or dishes are piling up, it may be time to address the situation or find additional help.

Below are some tips on how your senior can maintain a tidy and safe home, as well as some suggestions if more assistance is needed.

Tips to Help Seniors Maintain a Tidy Home

Here are some helpful cleaning tips that could make things a little easier if your senior loved one is having a hard time keeping up with basic housekeeping needs:

• Get help from family or friends: Initiate a meeting with family and friends to discuss sharing responsibilities for helping your senior tidy up their home regularly. Family members and close friends are usually happy to help and sometimes just need to be asked. A rotating schedule between kids or friends can help alleviate one person from feeling like they are always the one helping.
• Make a list of tasks that need to be done: Create a list of housekeeping chores, including timing and frequency, that is required to keep your senior’s home clean. Involve your loved one in the process to decrease their anxiety, trepidation, and fear of others getting rid of items that are important to them, or losing control of their independence. Do not just go in and start getting rid of items without their input. This can lead to mistrust or further hoarding.
• Keep hallways, stairs, walkways, and doorways free of clutter: Excess clutter can be dangerous and increase the risk of tripping and falling for seniors. We often see piles of magazines, newspapers, and books piling up near chairs, tables and hallways. These areas should be prioritized during clean-ups, even if the rest of the house isn’t perfect.
• Be respectful of their items: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. We recommend you do not just go in and declutter your senior’s home without their input. Doing so can cause them to lose trust in you and your opinions in the future. Set aside plenty of time to take things slow and get their help and input to declutter, clean, or reorganize. Even if it takes longer to clean their home initially, it will be worth it in the end because they will be willing to keep letting you help them or work to keep things cleaner themselves if they have had input rather than feeling like they were forced, or you treated them like a child in the process.

Living in a clean home is important for everyone, but it can be critical for seniors living with asthma, allergies, dementia, or other health concerns.

In Home Caregivers Can Help Keep Seniors Homes Tidy

If you want to help your elderly loved one stay in their home as long as possible, Home Care Assistance of Dayton can step in to provide essential in home care for your senior loved one. Our caregivers can provide care and companionship for your loved one and give them a helping hand with some of their light house-cleaning duties.

A caregiver can visit with your loved one on a daily, weekly, biweekly, or even monthly basis, providing care and light housekeeping including:

• Vacuuming
• Washing dishes
• Cleaning the bathroom
• Dusting and sanitizing surfaces
• Organizing clothes
• Changing bed linens
• Taking out trash

These things can make all the difference in keeping a senior’s home clean and clutter-free, while helping them to continue to live independently at home.

The Convenience of In-Home Care

In-home care combines several services that focus on providing nonmedical care and services older adults need and deserve. If your elderly loved one is still capable of living independently but requires a little assistance with housekeeping and perhaps a little company too, a professional caregiver will help them stay comfortable and safe in their home as long as possible.

Contact Home Care Assistance of Dayton today to discuss in home care options for your senior loved one.

Need In Home Care for Your Love One?

Home Care Assistance of Dayton can help you or a loved one today.

Contact us now for a complimentary in-home or virtual assessment.