Spring Cleaning for Seniors

Cleaning and organizing a home that has been lived in for decades can be especially daunting and, too often, this leads seniors to wait longer than they should to make the move to a more manageable home or a senior living community. With spring just around the corner, now is a perfect time to do a little spring cleaning and get a better handle on your home.
Here are some tips to help seniors tackling spring cleaning:
1. Ask for help – you don’t have to do this alone! Friends, neighbors and family members are often eager to help. If you are feeling uncomfortable about taking their time, remember that it makes people feel good to help others (we all need a little help sometimes). You can always thank them for their support with a pizza party at the end of the day and snacks along the way.  There are also professional organizers who provide the service of helping to organize and declutter for a fee.
2. Tackle one room at a time – thinking about cleaning and organizing an entire house can feel overwhelming. Start with one room and don’t move on until that room is complete. If an entire room still feels impossible, start with just a portion of the room.
3. Make three piles: “Keep”, “Trash” and “Donate” – start thinking about what furniture pieces you cannot do without, which ones you are not as attached to and what items would be fun to replace. Whether you are downsizing soon or just thinking about the future, knowing what items you would want to bring with you to a new home can make moving so much easier.
4. Most importantly, take care of yourself – cleaning can be a stressful project. Make sure to take breaks to eat regularly and drink plenty of fluids. Don’t lift anything that is too heavy; save this part of the project to do with a friend or a strong helper. Spring cleaning does not need to all happen at one time. Take days off to rest and attend to other needs. Even a little bit of progress at a time will add up!
To learn more about how to prepare for a move to senior living, please contact Oakmont of Santa Clarita at 661-295-2025 or visit our website at www.oakmontofsantaclarita.com.