Helping Seniors Navigate the Emotions of Decluttering
Home care can help seniors through the process of organizing and decluttering their homes.
Decluttering is not merely a physical but emotional process, particularly for seniors. However, decluttering is often part of the process as they prepare to make their homes a safe space for aging in place. Still, giving up possessions can be a very difficult decision because most things have sentimental significance or are part of their life’s narrative, which is why it’s essential for them to have support from a strong team that includes loved ones and home care services.
Decluttering Starts With Respecting Emotions
Acknowledging and validating seniors’ feelings is the first step toward helping them declutter. Seniors frequently experience overwhelming, nervous, or even guilty feelings when they have to let go of things. By acknowledging these feelings, home care providers and loved ones ensure they feel understood and supported.
Establish a Sorting Method
While a typical sorting method consists of piles for keeping or donating, when decluttering with seniors, there might also be a “share” pile where things they plan to give to family members go. This pile is the one that usually brings up the most emotions.
While working with seniors to make decisions, it’s important for home care and family caregivers to validate their feelings and be patient while listening to them recall memories about the items to help them process any emotions they might be feeling.
Work in Sections
Attempting to declutter everything at once is often too much to handle. Instead, home care providers and loved ones can divide the process into smaller, more doable steps, such as concentrating on a single area or type of object at a time. Establishing these goals can make the process seem less overwhelming and give seniors a sense of success when they check each area off the list.
Include Them in the Choice-Making Process
It can be easy to want to speed seniors along or for loved ones to make decisions for them. However, the best method is for seniors to be involved. As a result of their involvement, they may feel less like they are being forced to give up their possessions and more in control.
Talk About the Benefits of Decluttering
It may be important to remind seniors about the benefits of decluttering or the end goal, such as cleaning out a downstairs bedroom so they can sleep on the main floor. Along the way, loved ones and home care providers can remind them of these benefits while also offering gentle encouragement. However, it’s important to understand when they’ve had enough and need to take a break.
Be Creative with the Memories
There are a variety of ways to do this. For instance, if part of decluttering was removing clothing from the home that a significant other once wore, loved ones could work with someone to create a quilt from some of the clothes. Also, pictures from frames strewn about the house can be compiled into one digital frame for seniors to enjoy.
For seniors, decluttering brings with it highs and lows in terms of emotions. Still, the reward of a safe and more manageable home is worth it in the end. Loved ones and home care providers can help seniors reach that end goal by being patient and caring as they navigate their various emotions.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in Arlington, VA, please contact the caring staff at Butters Home Health Care today. (703) 371-2113
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