Grandparents are the best at holding onto things that range from old toys that their children had when young to receipts for those toys, and everything in between. When these seniors are aging in place, sometimes these artifacts are just clutter that is in the way. There is old mail and newspapers that have piled up, and too much unnecessary furniture sitting in the way makes getting from one room to the next almost impossible. Your senior loved one is in need of some assistance because some of the household duties have gotten difficult for them to manage. It is at this time that you finally realize that the home is in need of decluttering. Arlington Home Care has some tips for you;
To declutter the home takes a lot of effort, and is often done with opposition from the older adult. This makes it hard to decide what should be thrown away, and what should be kept. The important thing is to remember that there are some things that need to go. Whether they are given to a charity organization, recycled, or just given to someone, the task is to declutter the home. It may take more than one day to complete the job. Your senior loved one may have objections to removing everything from their home, but you have to be the strong one, and let them know that it is for their protection and safety that the house needs this overall.
It will be difficult to get started, but the best way to do this and not be overwhelmed is to set small goals that will bring fast results, and help maintain motivation while building momentum. Now, determine where you will start. Whether it will be one room or a single area, you will see gradual progress by doing one small area at a time. Just imagine that the family is moving to a smaller house, and you can't take everything with you. Allow the older adult to make some choices as to what they want to keep.
While getting rid of things to be thrown in the garbage, be sure to fill the garbage can before taking it to the curb. The more you put in the can at a time, the less you will have to come back to. Be sure that recyclables are in the proper container, and take them to the nearest bin. Things that are to be given away should be clean if they are clothes, and in working condition, if they are appliances or other household goods.
Conclusion
The caregivers at Home Care Arlington advise you to allow your senior loved one to decide where the usable item will go. This will help them feel better about losing some of the things that only cluttered the home. Once the clutter has been removed, you can now take care of any extension cords that may be running across the floor, and maybe hazardous. Check the flooring to ensure that there is nothing that may cause a fall, and make sure that all walking paths from one room to the next are safe.
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