How to keep seniors organize and declutter their homes

04/07/21 • 11 min

Hello, Chealsea here With Solutions for senior’s podcast.

Before I get started today, I would like to thank Home Helpers of Bourbonnais for sponsoring solutions for seniors podcast. If you or your loved one are in the Kankakee or will county area call home helpers at 815-01-5527 for all your home care needs. You can also visit their website at www.homehelpershomecare.com/kankakee

Spring is here and what better thing to do then to spring clean and declutter! Aging loved ones in our lives might not nowhere to start when it comes to decluttering or they may not have the energy too tackle such a project alone. Now this might feel just as overwhelming for you, going into a house that is not yours and cleaning and decluttering. I’m here to help! After today’s episode you’ll feel motivated and confident in helping your loved clean and declutter.
Falls are a leading cause of injury-related deaths among Americans who are over the age of 65, and a disorganized home that is filled to the brim with excess stuff can increase the risk of such accidents.

If the aging loved one in your life who needs help with organizing and decluttering, you may be unsure of where to start. After all, asking someone to simply throw away a lifetime worth of treasured memories and prized possessions is both unfair and impossible. Good news, though, is that there are plenty of less drastic measures that can be taken to help our aging loved one organize and declutter their homes.

Tackle the Living Room First

Consider What to Do with Excess Furniture

Install Storage Solutions

Take Care of Cables

Create a System for Dealing with Mail

Clean Out Medicine Cabinets Regularly

All and all

When it comes to helping your aging loved one organize and declutter, their safety should always be the primary concern. Clutter poses a serious tripping hazard, and it can make it difficult for people with mobility issues to navigate their homes. Decluttering can be difficult, but, by starting with items that don’t hold a lot of sentimental value, you can help them downsize and clear out the excess.

Helping them organize is important, too, as it ensures that they know where everything is when they need it. From keeping daily medications close at hand to coming up with a system for dealing with the mail, taking small steps to improve organization can make a big impact in our aging loved one life.

With patience and understanding, you can make it easier for your aging loved one to remain in their own home as they age. Follow the tips talked about today. Listen to what the person you are helping has to say. They may have some good ideas to help and going down memory lane will mean a lot to them.

Thank you so much for joining me this week. I hope this episode has helped you feel confident and ready to help your aging loved one clean and declutter their home!

Again, I would like to thank home helpers of Bourbonnais for sponsoring solutions for senior’s podcast. If you are your loved one are in the Kankakee or will county area call home helpers at 815-401-5527 for all your home care needs. You can also visit their website at www.homehelpershomecare.com/kankakee

Join me next week for another episode on a common challenge we face while helping our aging loved ones. Stay safe and well.

Article By Halle Summers

Hello, Chealsea here With Solutions for senior’s podcast.

Tackle the Living Room First

Consider What to Do with Excess Furniture

Install Storage Solutions

Take Care of Cables

Create a System for Dealing with Mail

Clean Out Medicine Cabinets Regularly

All and all

Thank you so much for joining me this week. I hope this episode has helped you feel confident and ready to help your aging loved one clean and declutter their home!

Join me next week for another episode on a common challenge we face while helping our aging loved ones. Stay safe and well.

Article By Halle Summers

Previous Episode

Gardening Tips for Seniors

Hello, Chealsea here With Solutions for senior’s podcast.

Before I get started today, I would like to thank Home Helpers of Bourbonnais for sponsoring solutions for seniors podcast. If you or your loved one are in the Kankakee or will county area call home helpers at 815-401-5527 for all your home care needs. You can also visit their website at www.homehelpershomecare.com/kankakee

This week we get to talk about warmer weather coming. Spring is officially here and we can start getting out of the house for a refresher after this long winter. Early spring calls for gardening. Gardening is great for all ages. Being outside on a sunny spring day brings physical, mental and spiritual benefits for gardeners of all ages. Gardening can be great for our aging loved ones. It gives them purpose each day, gets them outside and in the fresh air. But just like any other activity, we can help our aging loved ones to adjust actions to stay safe and healthy. So how do we help our aging gardeners make the most of their outdoor time? Here are a few tips.

Bring Their Gardening Higher

Pace our aging loved ones

Dress the Part

Use Sun Protection

Use the Right Tools

Involve Others

Choose the Right Plants

These are the top tips for helping our aging loved one’s garden throughout the spring and summer safely. Gardening can greatly benefit our aging loved ones. It also gives us something meaningful to do with our aging loved ones. Gardening can be part of all of our aging loved one’s life no matter what skill level they are currently at. We can get the entire family involved gardening can be good at all ages. I hope these tips help you and your aging loved one be able to enjoy gardening this spring,

Again, I would like to thank Home Helpers of Bourbonnais for sponsoring solutions for seniors podcast. If you or your loved one are in the Kankakee or will county area call home helpers at 815-401-5527 for all your home care needs. You can also visit their website at www.homehelpershomecare.com/kankakee

Join me next week for another episode of a common challenge we all face while helping our aging loved ones. Stay safe and well.

Next Episode

Caregiving tips to help aging loved ones managing their life

Hello, Chealsea here With Solutions for senior’s podcast.

Before I get started today, I would like to thank Home Helpers of Bourbonnais for sponsoring solutions for seniors podcast. If you or your loved one are in the Kankakee or will county area call home helpers at 815-401-5527 for all your home care needs. You can also visit their website at www.homehelpershomecare.com/kankakee

If you are a caregiver to your aging loved one, you know that you need to be organized to juggle everything on your plate. I’m sure it didn’t happen overnight, but you figured everything out how to manage your work life, home life, personal life and caregiving life for an aging loved one. Did you know that it will be beneficial to everyone involved if your aging loved one is just as organized as you?

Unfortunately, many people think that once they retire, they don’t need to be organized anymore. But I’m sure you are noticing while helping your aging loved one that makes everything more difficult. The thing is, if they have appointments and rely on people to assist them, the more organized they are, the better off everyone is. Your aging loved one doesn’t have to have an elaborate organized plan, They just need to figure out an organization system that helps them manage appointments, personal needs, medical needs, all transportation needs and anything else that they rely on you or anyone else to get done.

If your aging loved one isn’t used to having a system, they may be resistant. I get it. Some of us are very organized but some of us are not organized at all. Always running late to appointments and forgetting groceries on the first trip to the store. While it may be easier just to do everything for our aging loved one, we should try to get them involved in their own organization.

Some organization tips that can help your aging loved one manage their care and life.

1. Keep a calendar.

2. Don’t rely on memory.

3. Create a daily system.

4. Make lists and plans.

5. Make information easily accessible.

6. Organize the import things

7. Create a medication system.

If your aging loved one is resistant to the help of getting organized just remind them that you are just trying to help them live independently as possible and doing these small changes can really help contribute to them living alone and safely for as long as possible. It’s will also help you manage all on your plate and give you piece of mind that all of your aging loved ones needs are meant.

The process of getting your aging loved one organized may seem like a huge undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be. Finding what works for you and your aging loved one is key. Then you’ll be able to help them get in the habit for staying organized. Remember that they will not be perfect at staying organized at first and may need your help through the begin process.

Thank you so much for joining me this week. I hope this episode has helped you feel ready to tackle organization with your aging loved one.

Join me next week for another episode on a common challenge we face while helping our aging loved ones. Stay safe and well.