De-clutter and organize home to
decrease fall risks, alleviate anxiety
W
By Julie Webb
Contributing columnist
ho has a difficult time getting
rid of the clutter? Me!!! I will be
the first one to raise my hand
and admit my struggle!
Accumulating clutter is sneaky and
creeps up over time. Before you know it,
you’re staring at a mess and don’t know
how to get rid of it all. Figuring out how to
clear up the clutter and get organized can
be difficult for anyone. But a cluttered home
for an older adult can be serious issue.
I am sentimental. Whether it’s a work of
art created by my child in third grade or a
special dish my Nanny always served her
banana pudding out of I hold those things
dear. They are keepsakes and represent
beautiful memories for me. There are many
reasons clutter begins to accumulate, and
those reasons can often help us to under-
stand the cause and hopefully help to begin
finding a solution. Fear, changes in health,
loneliness, fatigue, and even the need to
conserve can all lead to a cluttered home.
Living with clutter will cause anxiety,
stress, guilt and embarrassment. Those same
reasons will keep someone from asking for
the help they need to get it under control.
Speaking from firsthand experience the best
thing you can do is be honest. Be honest
with yourself and be honest with a trusted
relative or friend. Opening up about my
own struggle was so incredibly hard but
also freed me to get help.
Clutter can accumulate anywhere. In the
kitchen extra or unused pots and pans can
create a fall risk. Expired and old food can
lead to food poisoning and malnutrition.
Piles of mail could lead to economic prob-
lems if bills become lost. Bathroom cabinets
filled with unused or expired medications
are extremely hazardous and unused make-
up can lead to infections. Bedrooms can
with too many clothes and shoes lead to
confusion and disorganization. Papers piled
up are a fire hazard. Clutter on stairs could
cause a serious fall and basements if not
watched properly can attract mold, mildew
and rodents.
If you notice any of these characteristics,
then clutter could be creeping up on your
loved one.
1. Piles of papers, mail and unpaid bills.
2. Frustration trying to organize.
3. Compulsive shopping.
4. Difficulty deciding whether to discard
items.
5. Loneliness.
The first thing to
do is to make a plan.
And stick with it! The
problem wasn’t created
overnight, and it won’t
be solved overnight
either. I suggest a three-
step solution. You need
a bin for items to keep,
a bin for items you’ll
donate to charity and
one for trash.
If you are helping
a loved one through
this process, try to
stay positive and be
an encouragement. To
you it seems like “junk”
but to that loved one
Webb
the possession they are
letting go of could hold
strong feelings. Allow them to make choices.
If they have twelve mixing bowls let your
loved one choose the three, they want to
keep. If magazines are piled up maybe they
could be donated to an art class. If you are
boxing up items to keep, list items on the
outside of the box.
Also remember just because they aren’t
willing to let go today doesn’t mean they
won’t be in the future.
De-cluttering and organizing is a process
that will lead to a better life for everyone.
For seniors it’s a matter of health and safety.
For more information, visit www.
homeinstead.com
• Julie Webb is Home Care consultant for
Home Instead Senior Care.
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