1. Find mutual goals with family members- Before touching any of your parents or grandparents stuff discuss with them the goals and what they hope to accomplish with this spring cleaning season. You should recognize that starting a discussion about senior care can cause apprehension for many seniors and their families, but it's important to help aging love ones feel in control by discussing the goals behind this process, and ensuring them that getting their stuff in order will help them continue to maintain a good quality of life.
2. Organize- Organization is one of the key elements to having a successful spring cleaning. You should organize all important documents and any special items that they've accumulated over the years. I can assure you that taking the time to do this before an emergency occurs will help save time, money and anxiety. For example, being able to quickly provide paperwork such as a durable power-of-attorney or an advanced-health-care-directive when you unexpectedly visit the hospital with an older parent can help reduce stress and streamline the process in most scenarios.
3. Evaluate living conditions- Is their any lose rugs, any falling hazards,and good lighting? While visiting and helping your parents clean their homes, take the time to evaluate the safety of their living environments. Making sure theyre safe is probably the main benefit to conducting a spring cleaning session, as it allows you to eliminate all risk posed by your loved ones living enviornment.
4. Clear the clutter- Whether you're helping parents move from a large family home to a smaller apartment or simply trying to clear up space in their home, downsizing can be a particularly wrenching process for aging relatives who may find it overwhelming to think about letting go of items they've gathered over a lifetime. A good rule of thumb to follow is to help aging loved ones choose the items they need and use most often, while starting to think about which friends and relatives may want items or family heirlooms with sentimental value. Consider taking pictures of sentimental items and creating a photo album. This can help ease the emotions of letting go.
2. Organize- Organization is one of the key elements to having a successful spring cleaning. You should organize all important documents and any special items that they've accumulated over the years. I can assure you that taking the time to do this before an emergency occurs will help save time, money and anxiety. For example, being able to quickly provide paperwork such as a durable power-of-attorney or an advanced-health-care-directive when you unexpectedly visit the hospital with an older parent can help reduce stress and streamline the process in most scenarios.
3. Evaluate living conditions- Is their any lose rugs, any falling hazards,and good lighting? While visiting and helping your parents clean their homes, take the time to evaluate the safety of their living environments. Making sure theyre safe is probably the main benefit to conducting a spring cleaning session, as it allows you to eliminate all risk posed by your loved ones living enviornment.
4. Clear the clutter- Whether you're helping parents move from a large family home to a smaller apartment or simply trying to clear up space in their home, downsizing can be a particularly wrenching process for aging relatives who may find it overwhelming to think about letting go of items they've gathered over a lifetime. A good rule of thumb to follow is to help aging loved ones choose the items they need and use most often, while starting to think about which friends and relatives may want items or family heirlooms with sentimental value. Consider taking pictures of sentimental items and creating a photo album. This can help ease the emotions of letting go.