At some point in your life, you will need to do some serious cleaning around your home to clear away the mess you have accumulated over the years. This may not sound fun to you now but believe me, it will save you a lot of trips down to the emergency room of your friendly neighborhood hospital in the near future! Why? It is because the clutter you have in your home right now is not only hazardous to your health but also a threat to your life.
On the other hand, if you are one of those frustrated offspring of a senior who just won’t let go of their so-called “memories” which to your eyes are only trinkets and whatnots, then you have to be very careful and selective of the words to use when convincing a senior to do a spring cleaning. It will not be easy, that I guarantee you, but it can be done and it needs to be done especially if your senior is living independently. Again, it may not be the most fun thing to do this spring but if you are concerned of how your senior is faring whenever you are miles away from them and would like to have a little peace of mind during those times then spring cleaning must be the best bonding activity for you and your senior to do.
I personally am thrown off with the tedious task of sorting during spring house cleaning. This is the part I most abhor so let’s assume for a moment that it, too, is the problem for your senior. It is important that you absolutely guarantee your senior that there would be less work for them and that you are there to help sort things out. If there is no one to help sort stuff, then get professional help. There are organizations which specialize in downsizing of home and can offer professional, valuable advice to seniors who are hesitant on pushing through with spring cleaning.
When convincing a senior to do a spring cleaning, never imply that their stuff is junk. It is not, for them. Try to look at it through their eyes, won’t you find it offensive if someone called your stuff junk? Surely you are to raise hell with that person. Try to sound practical but at the same time be very cautious of the words you are using.
Give them control. It is their stuff afterall, not yours. Be grateful that you even got to the point of having them clean their homes. The actual cleaning of home is an altogether different issue. To avoid emotional discomforts and conveniences, have a third party whom your senior listens to but at the same time, can express what you have in mind. Never “toss things out” unless you really would like to offend your senior instead give them the option to “donate” their things to Goodwill or perhaps sell them to raise a couple of dollars. Whatever makes them comfortable should be fine.
