Spring Cleaning for Seniors - Rejuvenate!

We all need a fresh start. Spring sunshine and open windows welcome a good clean-out and re-visioning of our living spaces. This can be particularly true for older adults who may be dealing with reduced strength or mobility. Coming out of winter, they may need some help tossing irrelevant mail, refreshing cushions hiding pet dander and discarding expired food from the back of the pantry. Family members and friends can be proactive in offering collaborative support to create an environment of wellbeing, rejuvenation, and increased health. Seniors can also instigate spring cleaning action by inviting a lead family member or friend to join them. This process starts with making an agreed-upon plan, decluttering, sorting and donating, followed by deep cleaning, hazard review and then maintenance. Living in clutter can cause emotional stress for all of us, frustration of hard-to-find items, increased allergens and dust caused by a build up of dust, dander, and unused items, and potentially a sense of shame or embarrassment about the state of our living space.

HOW TO GET ORGANIZED

Like most successful projects, you will want to begin with a good conversation about what you both feel ready to commit to and what you both feel is most important. If either party hesitates, you can frame the effort as a positive step for health and wellbeing. You can also frame it as a meaningful way to spend time together and to share stories as you work your way through the household. If possible, draw in family, siblings, grandchildren, active friends, and make it clear that the senior stands at the control center of the spring cleaning process.

With limited energy and time, you will be more successful if you can break the spring cleaning into smaller steps. Create a Master List with priorities and that can be completed over days or weeks or months. This list needs to lead out with a sorting and donation process followed by deep and thorough cleaning, and a review of safety hazards.

SORTING

One popular approach follows Japanese tidying guru Marie Kondo approach—gather and group all the items of a single category into a single pile and then work through each item deciding whether to keep, donate or trash. Marie’s advice is to hold every item to see if it “sparks joy,” but other de-cluttering experts recommend having a friend hold each item instead, because passing along items can be very difficult for many people.

In a February 19, 2019 article in the Chicago Tribune, Joseph Ferrari, a professor of general psychology and community psychology at DePaul University explained the importance of not being too hasty. Because we build relationships with items, getting rid of them too quickly, can result in negative or depressive feelings like regret: “Don’t jump in and get rid of it right away,” he stresses. “Sort, strategize and then purge.” An effective strategy is to “Get a friend to come and hold the items, to say, ‘Do you want this?” It is also good to consider whether the item is easily replaced like a pot or pair of pants. If not, most de-cluttering experts are open to keeping personal items. “If it is sentimental, then hold on to it,” he counsels.

One area often overlooked is the medicine cabinet. There can often be a jumble of medications that may or may not be part of the current medical regime. Help determine present needs and ensure that medicines are stored in a cool, dark and dry place—probably not the bathroom cabinet. Remove expired and discarded medications and bring them to one of the drug drop-off sites offered by the local police department, pharmacy or hospital.

Throughout this process, make sure to honor the owner’s wishes - there should be no tossing what someone wants to keep.

DONATIONS

Letting go of items gets easier when we see it as an opportunity to help others. Meaningful donations might include gently-used clothes and shoes, household items, books, vehicles, extra food, sporting goods, and unusual items. Local non-profits working with low-income clients, community food pantries, book collections for senior centers or needy children, area thrift stores and community centers—with a little research you can find many organizations happy to receive your donations.

Be sure to clear out the clutter and complete the donation process before you move on to cleaning what is left behind.

DEEP CLEANING

You may want to invest in some long-handled tools for dusting, fans and hard to reach places that increase reaching capabilities for older adults. A lighter weight and cordless vacuum might also be worth consideration. There are countless online deep cleaning checklists on the internet with all kinds of tips and ideas for easier cleaning. What you will want to be sure of is that potentially neglected areas of the house, including baseboards, electronics, and vents, are given a thorough cleaning. Bring in strong helpers for a day of moving larger furniture away from walls and dusting under and behind. This is also a key opportunity to wash all linens, including pillows, throw blankets, pet bedding and drapes. The refrigerator and pantry should be completely emptied and wiped down to ensure there are no expired food items. A hot water/vinegar rinse of the washing machine and dishwasher are not a bad idea. You may also want to take a little time to consider using non-toxic cleaners, many of which can be cost savers and do-it-yourself.

SAFETY & MAINTENANCE

Finally, this process lends itself to a review of general safety including checking smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and ensuring that there is a hand held fire extinguisher near the kitchen. You can also consider tripping hazards caused by unnecessary furniture and cluttered walkways. Any throw rugs should be slip-resistant and if loose rug edges curl up, they should be removed. Make sure that electrical cords lie flush against the wall. You can add a grab bar in the bathroom and a slip mat in the tub.

At the end of the process, if continuing maintenance will be an issue, this might be a wise time to schedule out some ongoing support or to enlist the help of housekeeping professionals to come in on a regular basis.

Of course one other potential area of organization and safety lies in managing all the personal paperwork that life accumulates. In an earlier blogpost you can find a checklist of essential documents for seniors. These are documents that will need to be on hand for upcoming financial and health decisions. If these papers and documents are well-labeled and stored in an easily accessible place, it will bring an added sense of security and an ability to move forward on important life and death decisions. These proactive efforts to tend to home and hearth will make an enormous difference for your loved ones.

Remember, as you navigate all of life’s turns in the road, you can trust our legal team at Hillsborough Wills & Trusts to support you and your family as you Build Your Circle of Security.

Call us for a free consultation at 919-245-8440 or contact us today.