Spring is a good time to clean up the house. Open the windows, get rid of the clutter, and shake off the dust from winter. Spring cleaning is important for older adults as well, since keeping their home clean and staying active are both good for their physical and mental health. However, some tasks can be dangerous for seniors.
At the same time, realizing they can’t do things they once did can be frustrating. This is where in-home care comes in, encouraging seniors to perform the tasks they can do safely and helping them understand why some tasks are better left to others.
What Seniors Can Safely Do
Many spring cleaning tasks are safe and enjoyable for seniors. Light decluttering, such as going through closets, giving away clothes they don’t wear, or organizing kitchen cabinets, is something they can do without lifting heavy things or moving in awkward ways. Cleaning countertops, washing windows at eye level, and dusting easy-to-reach surfaces are also low-risk tasks that keep seniors busy and feeling good about their role in keeping the home clean.
Seniors can also be in charge of making decisions, including what to keep or give away during the decluttering process and where to place items. This gives them a meaningful job without putting their safety at risk.
What Seniors Should Avoid
There are other tasks, however, that seniors should avoid, which can be hard if they’ve done them all their lives. For instance, going up ladders or step stools to reach high shelves or ceiling fans greatly increases the risk of a serious fall, which is one of the most common ways seniors get hurt. Additionally, moving heavy furniture, lifting large boxes, or carrying heavy items can hurt their back, strain their muscles and joints, or both.
Seniors should also avoid using harsh chemical cleaners without good ventilation, as the fumes can worsen breathing problems, which are more common in older people. Not only that, but when getting back up after kneeling or bending for a long time, such as when cleaning low cabinets or scrubbing floors, seniors may feel dizzy or experience joint pain, which is a clear sign that someone else should handle that task.
How In-Home Care Providers Help
Professional in-home care providers are the ideal fit for completing the spring-cleaning tasks seniors should avoid. Moving furniture, vacuuming, mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, and wiping down high surfaces are all tasks caregivers can safely handle. In addition, they can also help with laundry, changing the sheets on the bed, and organizing storage areas that are difficult to reach.
Equally as important, in-home care providers also offer companionship, which is key at any time of the year, but particularly after the colder months when many seniors may have stayed indoors rather than deal with the cold, snow, and ice.
Spring cleaning marks the beginning of a new season, but for many seniors aging in place, some of the tasks required simply aren’t safe for them anymore. The good news is that with in-home care by their side, seniors can focus on what they can do safely and get help with the rest of the tasks.
As a result, they can enjoy a clean and organized home, which is better for their health, lowers the risk of falls, and makes them feel better overall.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring In-Home Care in Sacramento, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
Sources:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389ttps://www.doylestownhealth.org/blog/five-health-benefits-of-having-a-clean-home
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-and-physical-activity/health-benefits-exercise-and-physical-activity
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