Clutter happens everywhere, but when it starts getting out of hand that affects your senior’s overall safety. But how can you tell that it might be time to talk about your senior’s clutter at home?
It’s Tough for Her to Keep Track of What She Has
When your senior is looking for something, does she remember she has whatever she’s looking for and can she locate it easily? If not, she might be running into a problem of too much stuff, which is easy to do. But the flip side of that could be that your senior doesn’t see easily that she already has whatever she’s looking for and then goes out and buys another, which gets added into the clutter.
Storage Has Become a Problem
A few too many of those scenarios and suddenly your elderly family member is swimming in stuff. If her home is fairly small or doesn’t have a lot of storage space anyway, it’s likely already at a premium. One way for you to be able to get some more information is to peek into drawers, cupboards, and closets. If they’re all packed to the brim, that’s a sign that your senior is running out of storage space and that her existing spaces are not really usable.
Your Senior Keeps Mentioning New Items
When you talk to your senior, does she frequently mention new items? This isn’t about policing your senior’s spending habits, but it is important for you to know what items might be starting to take up more and more space for her. If it does start to sound like your senior is collecting items, you might want to open up a dialogue.
She’s Defensive about Her Stuff
When you do talk to your senior about her stuff, pay close attention to her reactions. If she’s defensive or reacts negatively to even tentative questioning, that might be a sign that this is a deeper issue. When you talk to her about removing some items that she doesn’t need anymore, she may also be defensive. This may be something that she associates with bigger emotions.
In the meantime, you might need some extra help making sure your senior is safe in her own home. Senior care providers can help with daily cleanup and with helping your senior to move some items to a better location if pathways are blocked. Delving deeper into any emotional issues you’ve uncovered may take more time.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING SENIOR CARE IN WILSON, NC, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS TODAY. CALL (919) 761-5346.