Senior Care in Palm Beach, FL

An important part of your senior care efforts with your aging loved ones is making sure that their home is clean, healthy, and organized. If your elderly parents are like many people, particularly aging adults, their homes harbor a wide variety of items that they picked up over the years and just have not gotten around to throwing away, or that they are clinging to because they are convinced that they might use them or need them at some point.

While many of these items are relatively harmless other than making clutter and increasing issues such as fall risks and respiratory problems due to dust and other allergens, there are others that could pose a more serious danger to your loved ones. Making cleaning up the clutter and getting rid of potentially hazardous items part of your regular senior care journey helps to keep their homes cleaner and healthier, and their mental and emotional health higher.

Some of the things that are likely in your elderly parents’ home that you should throw away as soon as possible include:

• Old makeup. Cosmetics are an important part of most women feeling good about themselves and maintaining high self-esteem and self-confidence, but if the makeup sitting in your mother’s bathroom or vanity table are more than a few months old, it is time to trash them. Makeup in colors that are not flattering or formulations that your mother does not like are just clutter, and those that she does use but are three months old or more may harbor bacteria that could cause serious problems for her skin. Go through and toss anything that is questionable, and then have fun going on a makeup shopping trip with her to replace them

• Outdated medications. Whether it is that course of antibiotics that your mother did not finish during last year’s flu or the bottle of vitamins that has been sitting in the cabinet for months, if there are medications in your parents’ home that are outdated, expired, or you do not know what they are or what they are for, get rid of them. Having these around could be dangerous and you do not want them to fall in the wrong hands. If they are anything but over the counter vitamins, make sure that you destroy and dispose of them correctly

• Useless kitchen gadgets. The kitchen is a fantastic place to spend time with your parents, making favorite dishes and stimulating their minds through reading recipes and following instructions. It can also be a dangerous place filled with the potential for burns, cuts, and other accidents. This is especially true if they have a lot of gadgets that are supposed to be helpful but could actually end up harmful, such as sharp cutters and large appliance. If they no longer use a gadget, or they have limitations and challenges that would make it dangerous to use, get rid of them to save space and limit the chances of potential injury

• Worn out shoes. Your parents might love those shoes that they have had for years, but if they have worn them out, they could pose a serious falling hazard. Be sure to check the bottoms of their shoes regularly to make sure they are still in good condition and that they are not showing any signs of scuffing, wearing, or stretching that could make it more difficult for your seniors to walk in them safely.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional in-home senior care in Palm Beach, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands. Call today