For anyone entering their twilight years, the prospect of having to spend time and energy cleaning their home isn’t one they relish, and for relatives and loved ones of elderly relatives, the worry of them struggling to maintain cleanliness in their home, is never far from their minds.
However, for seniors who wish to remain independent, or for whom hiring a cleaning service isn’t an option, there are some ways to get the home clean safely, and thoroughly:
- Discuss the cleaning schedule and requirements
Talking to your elderly relative about cleaning and how much they can realistically manage, is the quickest way to determine whether they need outside help, or can cope themselves. Every elderly person’s abilities will be different, and some may not even want to clean their home themselves, in which case hiring a cleaning service might be the best option.
- Prepare a checklist
With a cleaning checklist of all the chores that will need to be completed on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, you can help your senior relative be more organized, and understand better on what days they might need a helping hand. Some chores may be beyond their capabilities completely, while others who are in better physical shape, may be able to clean their home better than you!
- Organize the cleaning supplies
Create a safe but accessible space for cleaning supplies to be stored, and if they live in a multi-floor home, have a cleaning kit on each floor.
- Keep clutter and obstacles to a minimum
The key to a cleaner home is one that’s free of too much clutter, and while your loved ones may have cherished items that they want to continue displaying, suggest that they be placed inside a cabinet so that they can still be seen and appreciated, but won’t gather dust or run the risk of being damaged. Too much clutter and bits and bobs lying about the place also present a tripping hazard for seniors, so where possible, try to keep all floors and surfaces as free from clutter as possible.
- A place for everything, and everything in its place
Keeping items that are used everyday in convenient, memorable locations will help seniors keep their homes clean and tidy, and easily find what they want, when they want it. Make sure that you also know where important things such as house and car keys, medication and mobile phones are going to be kept, in case you should need to locate them yourself at any stage.
For independent seniors in relatively good health, regular, light activities such as cleaning are doubtless good for the mind, body and soul. But for elderly relatives who aren’t able to clean their homes as well as they used to, a house cleaning company can get the job done without breaking the bank.