Tips to Help Seniors Declutter Their Homes
June 23, 2025
One of the best ways to help seniors stay safe in their homes as they age in place is by reducing clutter. Now is the perfect time to declutter and clean, especially if seniors have a little help with the project. Home care providers can be there to offer support, especially afterward, when seniors need to maintain their decluttered environment.
Talk to Seniors About Why Decluttering Can Help
Sometimes, seniors don’t immediately realize why decluttering their homes is a great way to help them age in place more effectively. Explaining that reducing clutter helps to free up space so they can move safely in their homes can help them understand. Talking to seniors about what they want their homes to look and feel like, particularly as they get older, makes it easier to meet those goals.
Sort Items Into Categories
When people start decluttering, there are some major categories that items fall into. There are the items they want to keep, the things they want to give away or donate, and the items they know they want to throw away. There might also be sentimental items that they’re okay with storing somewhere. Getting a handle on these categories helps when seniors get to items they’re not sure how to sort.
Be Thoughtful with Decisions
One of the ways to make cluttering easier is for seniors to be thoughtful about each item they’re considering. Have they used the item recently? Or ever? Is it something they need every day, or is it something that is primarily sentimental? Reminding seniors that it’s okay to part with items if someone else could use it or they want someone specific to have the item can also help.
Make Decluttering a Smaller Habit
Decluttering doesn’t have to be something seniors do all in one sitting. In fact, it can be better if they make it a regular weekly or monthly habit, and elder care providers can help with this. If decluttering is something that seniors do over a period of a few weeks, they can take their time making decisions and not feel as if they’re making mistakes with the items they’re removing.
Support Independence While Offering Help
Ultimately, decluttering can help seniors to be more independent in their own homes. They clear the way to keep themselves safer and to make it easier to keep their homes tidy. This matters as they continue to age and to face challenges that may make issues like mobility even more challenging. Home care providers can be there to maintain the freshly-decluttered spaces, too, allowing seniors to enjoy their new environments.
Decluttering can make a lot of positive changes happen for seniors in a relatively short time. Taking things slowly and letting seniors know that they’re in charge of the process can be empowering for them. Home care providers can offer support along the way, reminding seniors when it’s time to try another round of decluttering to free up space and create the home seniors want to have.
If you or your loved one is looking for Home Care in Milpitas, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
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