6 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Housekeeping Tasks

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6 Ways to Help Aging Adults with Housekeeping in Victoria, BC

For seniors who live at home, keeping the living environment clean, tidy, and hygienic is important. Cluttered floors often lead to slips, falls, and serious injuries, while unhygienic kitchens and bathrooms can leave seniors more susceptible to illness. If you notice your senior loved one is avoiding housekeeping duties, there are plenty of ways you can help. 

1. Assess the Situation

Before cleaning commences, inspect your loved one’s home. Make a list of everything that needs to be done, and sort the tasks by importance and how long they’ll take to complete. The home may simply need to be vacuumed, or it may need a more thorough cleaning. 

If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elder care. Victoria Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.

2. Make a Cleaning Schedule

If your loved one just needs a nudge in the right direction, create a weekly cleaning schedule. Try not to burden your loved one with too many tasks at once, as seniors are more likely to stick to manageable and realistic schedules. Ask about your loved one’s weekly commitments, and help him or her come up with a cleaning schedule that accommodates things such as Wednesday book club meetings and Sunday church attendance. Some chores should be done every day, like making the bed and washing the dishes, while labor-intensive tasks like vacuuming or disinfecting the bathroom should be saved for the days your loved one has free time. When the daily duties are decided, use Excel or Word to make a weekly cleaning checklist for your loved one.

3. Get Rid of Clutter

For many seniors, housekeeping tasks are hindered by clutter. If your loved one owns too much stuff, help him or her choose what to keep and what to throw away. After ridding the house of clutter, cleaning will be less of a challenge. 

Whether your elderly loved one needs part-time assistance with basic household chores or you need a break from your caregiving duties, the Victoria respite care experts at Home Care Assistance are here to help. All of our respite care services are backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts.

4. Invite the Family for a Marathon Cleaning Session

Sometimes, all seniors need is a regimented cleaning schedule. If the house needs extensive cleaning, it’s best to host a marathon weekend cleaning session. Invite friends and family members and spend the weekend throwing out unwanted possessions, organizing must-have items, scrubbing the floors and appliances, and taking care of other housekeeping tasks. Once the house is scrubbed and organized, your loved one may find it easier to stick to a weekly schedule, and he or she will have more incentive to keep the home clean in the future. 

5. Reorganize

While assisting with housekeeping tasks, make sure the home is organized to optimize safety and usability. If there are cords or furniture obstructing walkways, rearrange things to ensure your loved one doesn’t trip. If your loved one’s favorite breakfast cereal is currently placed on the highest shelf, reorganize the cabinets to ensure he or she can easily access the most frequently used items. 

6. Hire Cleaning Assistance

Due to health or mobility issues, seniors may have difficulty performing labor-intensive housekeeping tasks. In these instances, caregivers may want to consider professional housekeeping services. Many housekeepers are trained to assist seniors, and they can help with tasks ranging from dusting to organizing closets.

Hiring a professional caregiver is one of the best ways to ensure your loved one receives help with daily tasks. If your aging loved one needs help managing the tasks of daily living and you’re searching for a reliable, expertly trained caregiver, Home Care Assistance Victoria is your top choice. At Home Care Assistance, our caregivers strive to make aging in place a safer and more comfortable experience for seniors so they can enjoy their golden years in better health. To schedule a free in-home consultation, give us a call at (250) 592-4881 today.

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