Nothing says spring like a good clear-out of unwanted items around the house. We can all benefit from dusting off the cobwebs and sprucing up our homes, especially now that we are home more often and have some free time. Seniors can significantly benefit from a deep clean and declutter as well. The stress that a dirty and cluttered house creates can be alleviated when you gather your family on Zoom, FaceTime, or WhatsApp when in-person gatherings might not be possible and help the senior in your life tidy up their home. 

Whether your loved one lives alone or in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), such as Wesley Enhanced Living, we encourage everyone to help their elderly family member maintain a clean and organized living space. Ease their stress and enjoy more time together.

4 Effective Ways to Freshen Up Your Senior’s Home

Help your mom or dad live in a clean, beautiful home when you adopt these four simple strategies for decluttering:

  • Focus on the end goal: Spring cleaning is a fantastic time to dig in, clear out, and refresh your senior’s home. It is vital that you and your family keep the end goal in mind when cleaning up your loved one’s house. For example, ask questions like:
    1. Are there any hazards that we need to eliminate to keep Dad safe?
    2. How can we reorganize or replace items to keep things easy for Mom?
    3. Is there any cluttered space that is lowering Aunt Esther’s quality of life?
    4. Does Uncle John need more assistance to find everything at hand?
  • Develop a plan: When you have an end goal in mind, developing a plan can ensure that all areas are covered. Work with your senior to determine the parts of their home they would like help with. You can even do a “brain dump” to get all the tasks out. This can lead you to not only do the regular spring cleaning but to also clear out those items that may not immediately come to mind, such as:
    1. Reorganizing the medicine cabinet and clearing out expired medications.
    2. Throwing out expired food items from the pantry and fridge.
    3. Replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
    4. Installing grab bars in the bathroom and arranging toiletries neatly in a shower caddy.
  • Start with a deep declutter: When you concentrate on the end goals, one of the first items you will want to tackle is decluttering the home. Removing items that are no longer needed will not only make the home safer but also have a positive effect on your senior’s physical and mental health. 
  • Reorganize the remaining items: Once all the clutter is removed, take time to organize all the remaining items. Gather together essential documents and stack them neatly in one place. Put decorations away in separate bags, marked according to the holiday. 

Improve your loved one’s current living conditions by taking charge of spring cleaning before they ask for help. It may be possible that their conditions are not quite as safe as they need to be and correcting the problem is not an option but a necessity. At such times, it might be a good idea to consider moving them to a senior living community. At Wesley Enhanced Living, we can help get your loved one into a safe, clean environment where our staff is always available to assist your senior in anything they might need. 

Wesley Enhanced Living provides high-quality senior retirement communities for you or your loved ones.  Contact one of our Philadelphia area locations and find out why our seniors love where they live. Our staff is happy to discuss your elder’s needs or your own, give you a tour and inform you of our range of services.