How To Help Your Senior Loved One Cut Down On Clutter

The gift-giving season can be a challenge to those who are adamant about keeping their home organized and clutter free. In 2022, the average U.S. consumer was expected to spend about $870 for holiday gifts! it’s inevitable that homes across the country will have more stuff to deal with around the New Year. Apart from children, seniors also have to deal with the influx of generosity this season and it’s possible that their homes can get even more cluttered than before. As chronic disorganization or hoarding is more common among adults aged 55 to 94 years, it’s important to help our elderly loved ones to deal with a messy home for their health and safety. Here’s how to help your senior loved one cut down on clutter.

Encourage discarding of gift bags and wrinkled wrapping paper

There’s a reason why your elderly loved ones can’t part with gift bags—they can be reused, some of them look attractive or luxurious, and they’re not cheap. But if they’re keeping 67 gift bags in a drawer (and perhaps 78 more in another), then it may be high time to get rid of some of them. This may be a challenge especially if your family member demonstrates a tendency to hoard and is neglecting him or herself. To help your relative who is chronically disorganized, make sure to be gentle when bringing up the subject of decluttering and be mindful to help your loved one stay comfortable and secure during the process.

Create places for new items

Assist your relative in finding a new place for new items. This will help him see if he has any room for his new possessions. If your elderly loved one has received a lot of gift cards, teach him a few tricks to remember that he has them. Give him a gift card holder or teach him how to store gift cards in a mobile wallet.

Donate or sell extra holiday decorations

Piles of seasonal decorations are a growing problem for older adults. Have your elderly relative examine each item to see if anything is defective, such as holiday string lights, and encourage them to recycle or trash the old ones. Next, have them sort through what’s left and make three piles—one to keep, one to donate, and one to sell. For the keepers, help them store holiday decorations properly to keep their shape and prevent dust or water from damaging them.

Don’t forget to clear the fridge

The fridge can be one of the most cluttered areas in a home as it will likely be filled with leftovers, food gifts, and ingredients from making holiday meals. Assist your senior family member in cleaning the fridge by getting rid of old or rotten produce, food that is past its expiration date, and leftovers that they won’t eat. Clean the fridge thoroughly and use a mixture of warm water and dishwashing soap to wipe down the interior. Stubborn stains can be scrubbed away with a bit of baking soda. Just mix two spoonfuls of baking soda with a bit of water to make a paste, apply on stains, let the mixture sit for a few minutes, then wipe away.

Another way to help your senior loved one cut down on clutter is to emphasize experiences and family bonding time during the festive months. Spending time with your elderly loved ones may be the best gift that you can give them apart from any other present that they may need. Follow these tips to help your elderly relative cut down on clutter and stay organized as the New Year begins.

Discover more ways to mindfully DECLUTTER your home or office here! >>

This is a guest post from Cassandra June ~ Cassandra s a freelance writer and editor who specializes in health and social care topics. Utilizing both her personal and work experiences Cassandra loves researching new topics. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking in the country and swimming.

Image by Christopher Flynn