Decluttering for Senior Safety
Organizing and decluttering is an important process no matter what stage of life you’re in. For seniors, however, staying organized not only improves mental health, but is a matter of safety as well. When our space is crowded, it can make it more difficult to get around and to access the necessities of daily life. It can also prove more difficult to downsize later in life. If you’re looking to help a senior in your life organize and declutter, read on for some tips on how to go about the process.
Decluttering to Downsize
Picture how much you own at the moment. Now, imagine that doubled in ten or twenty years. For seniors, it can be more difficult to declutter after a long life of accumulation. When looking to declutter the home of a senior, take it slow and steady. Start with one room and look for things they no longer use or that they own multiple of. As you go around, sort out things that can be donated or given away. Doing so will help make room for things that are consistently used. If your senior has homemade or other family items, this can be a great opportunity to feature those more prominently. Throughout this process, make sure you’re involving your senior and letting them have a say in what is kept and discarded. It’s still their space, and it’s important that they have agency over what it looks like.
Organizing for Safety and Accessibility
When organizing and decluttering the home of a senior, it’s important to focus on safety and accessibility. Independence is a key factor when determining how you organize. Downsizing is an important first step; too much stuff can prove dangerous if it begins to impede movement or the ability to reach important items. Once this is done, you can organize in a way that allows for independence and accessibility. Avoid placing things in high locations, and keep similar objects near each other for easy access. Depending on your senior’s needs, this is a good time to invest in accessibility tools for the kitchen and bathroom. Talk with your senior about the importance of safety within the home, especially if they have health or mobility concerns. A clean space is another tool in creating an accessible home.
Helping Seniors Maintain an Organized Living Space
Once you’ve initially downsized, decluttered, and organized a senior’s home, it’s important to maintain this and prevent any excess disorganization. Providing accessible tools for your senior to organize and maintain their space is a good start: you can use bins, baskets, and other tools so everything has a place and can be stored together. If possible, keep everything on one floor and in a location that can be accessed easily. You might invest in accessible cleaning tools to help your senior maintain independence while keeping their home clean. If and when you’re able, you can also help them with cleaning when you visit and keep an eye on anything that they seem to struggle with.
Talk to Your Senior
Throughout this whole process, keep your senior in the loop and get their input on what they’re hoping to see in their home. Share with them any concerns you have and listen to any of their concerns. If there is something in particular that they’re struggling with, you can work together to find a solution that supports their health and wellness. Seniors deserve to have autonomy over their space, and that can still be maintained while creating a home that is organized, accessible, and comfortable for them.
A senior is at a time in their life where they deserve a safe, clean space in which to enjoy their time. Whether your senior is a minimalist or an accumulator, focusing on decluttering and organizing with their specific, current needs in mind can help create a space that is designed for them right now. You play an important role in helping create that space. Although it can be a lot of work, the happiness and safety of your senior is worth every minute.