As our parents age, it can be challenging for them to maintain a neat and organised home. Clutter can not only lead to safety hazards but can also make it difficult for them to navigate their space. Helping your elderly parents declutter their home can be a daunting task, but with some patience, understanding, and a few practical tips, you can help make the process smoother and less stressful for your elderly parents and everyone involved.

Why declutter?

Over the years, it is easy for belongings to pile up, and many seniors end up dealing with a significant amount of clutter. It might seem like a good idea to ignore it, but tidying up and clearing things out can help seniors. Those who reduce clutter might experience some excellent benefits:

1. Make life easier at home: Too much clutter can get in the way of simple tasks like cooking, cleaning, and maintaining personal hygiene. For seniors, clearing away clutter can make these tasks significantly easier by making essential items more accessible. A clutter-free environment can help seniors take better care of themselves and manage their daily routines more efficiently.
2. Enhance safety and prevent accidents: Keep in mind that the items scattered around the house can pose a risk, especially for seniors. Tripping over stacks of books or piles of shoes might lead to a fall and injury. Decluttering the house can help maintain their health and prevent injuries.
3. Reduce anxiety and stress: Reducing clutter at home can benefit seniors by sparing them the constant need to move and organise their belongings. Research proves that when seniors are not constantly sorting through their possessions, their stress hormone levels decrease, resulting in a more relaxed and calm state of mind. 
4. Better sleep and relaxation: A cluttered home can harm one's mental health, including depression and anxiety. When you're in a cluttered space, you are constantly trying to process and make sense of the chaos, leaving little mental energy for other tasks—like relaxation and sleep. Getting rid of unnecessary items helps seniors declutter their homes, turning them into places to relax and recharge their mental batteries. A tidy home also helps seniors achieve better sleep by reducing stress, one of the many factors that can keep them up at night.
5. More time to do what they enjoy: Many people spend a significant amount of time and energy on cleaning and organizing their living spaces. Yet, decluttering can bring a sense of relief and freedom by cutting down the time and energy spent on such tasks. This, in turn, gives seniors more time to focus on the things they love and enjoy doing.

Why do seniors find decluttering difficult?

Admit it, many of us deal with clutter, and getting rid of it can be quite therapeutic, whether we toss it or donate it. However, for an elderly individual, it's more distressing; it's like discarding part of their life.

1. Accumulated possessions: Seniors often accumulate a lifetime's worth of possessions, making it emotionally challenging to part with items that may hold sentimental value. This emotional attachment can make it difficult for seniors to let go of things, even if they're no longer useful or necessary.
2. Physical limitations: Seniors may face physical limitations that make decluttering more challenging. Mobility issues or health conditions can impede their ability to move around and handle items.
3. Change in lifestyle: Seniors may resist decluttering due to a fear of losing a sense of identity or a connection to the past. Letting go of possessions may symbolize a significant lifestyle change.
4. Decision fatigue: Deciding what to keep, donate, or discard can be mentally exhausting. Seniors may feel overwhelmed by the number of decisions involved in decluttering.
5. Lack of motivation: Some seniors may lack the motivation to declutter, especially if they live alone or do not frequently entertain guests. The perceived benefits of decluttering may not seem significant to them.
6. Time and energy constraints: Seniors may face limitations in time and energy, especially if they have other responsibilities or health issues. Decluttering may be seen as a time-consuming and tiring task.

Tips on how to declutter with your parents

Decluttering with your parents can be overwhelming, especially when you have different opinions on what items to keep or let go of. However, with a few tips and tricks, you can simplify the process and make it a fun and bonding experience.

1. Communication is key: Open a conversation with your parents about the benefits of decluttering and the positive impact it can have on their living space. Understand their concerns, sentimental attachments, and priorities before starting the decluttering process.
2. Set realistic goals: Setting a clear goal and keeping the reason why you are decluttering in mind will make it much easier for both of you to stay on track and make progress toward organizing your home.
3. Start small: It's important not to overwhelm your parents by jumping straight into decluttering everything at once. Instead, start with a small area like a closet or drawer and work your way up from there.
4. Sort and organise: Encourage your parents to categorize their belongings into items to keep, donate, or discard. Use clear containers or labeled boxes to help organize and streamline the decluttering process. This can make decisions about what to keep and what to let go of more straightforward.
5. Preserve sentimental items: Acknowledge the sentimental value of specific items and talk about how to save memories without unnecessary clutter. Consider creating digital albums or memory books to capture the essence of cherished belongings.
6. Make it a team effort: Approach decluttering as a team effort, involving everyone in the household. Provide support, encouragement, and a positive atmosphere to make the experience enjoyable and less stressful for your parents. 

Where to start with decluttering

When you decide to declutter your elderly parent’s living space, it is best to start by going through each room and removing any items they no longer need. Begin with the most frequently used rooms, such as the kitchen and living room, and gradually move on to the less frequently used ones. 

Choosing the easiest room to start with decluttering is excellent for a few different reasons. If you finish one room, you will feel more confident about decluttering the whole house and less likely to give up. 

Bathrooms and kitchens are good places to start, but do not overlook the mess that can accumulate in closets, cupboards, and drawers too. Check the whole area before deciding which one is easiest for everyone. 

Kitchens are often full of old (possibly expired) items, and most people find it easy to throw them away. That's why starting your decluttering journey in the kitchen is a great idea.

What to do with unwanted items from decluttering

Decluttering the home is one thing, but what to do with the unwanted items you want to get rid of? Here are some responsible and eco-friendly options to help you get rid of those decluttered stuff:

1. Donate: Consider donating usable items to local charities, thrift stores, or community centers. Many organizations welcome gently used items and can distribute them to those in need.
2. Sell: If the items are in good condition, you can sell them through online platforms, garage sales, or consignment shops. This can be a way to recoup some of the value of those unwanted items.
3. Recycle or repurpose: Some items just aren’t in good enough shape to sell or even donate. Recycling is a great option for many of these. Your elderly parents may also have some items that they can’t use as-is but would still like to keep for sentimental reasons. Look for creative ways to repurpose these items and continue enjoying them. 
4. Gift to friends or family: Offer items to friends, family, or neighbors who may have a use for them. It's a way to pass along items that are still in good condition.
5. Throw them away: There are some things you just need to throw away as garbage. If items are no longer usable, dispose of them responsibly. Check with local waste management services for proper disposal methods. 

How professional decluttering assistance could help

If all else fails and you've reached a point where you no longer can meet your goals, hiring professional decluttering assistance could be a good option. Here’s how it could help:

1. Getting the job done: Getting professional decluttering assistance ensures your home gets organised quickly and efficiently. It’s easy to get distracted or feel overwhelmed when trying to declutter and it can be difficult to set aside the time to do so. A professional declutterer can help guide you through the process, ensuring a great result with minimal stress or hassle on your part.
2. Fresh set of eyes: A professional declutter is not just an extra set of hands. Sorting through items, especially those with sentimental value, can be challenging, and deciding what to keep or let go of may be tough. A fresh set of eyes can do wonders, and a second opinion can often help your elderly parents assess what is truly important and valuable.
3. Organisation techniques: A professional organiser not only declutters and organises spaces but also develops effective strategies to sustain a clutter-free environment. This is crucial because no one wants to be constantly reorganising and decluttering their home. Whether it's using space more efficiently or incorporating clever storage solutions, a professional decluttering assistant can help you organize your home once and for all.
4. Improving the home aesthetics: Alongside helping you with decluttering, hiring a professional decluttering service can also help enhance the overall look of your elderly parent’s home.They can evaluate the space and offer suggestions to enhance its overall aesthetics. This can go a long way in making your parent's home look more beautiful and appealing.
5. They are professionals: While you or someone you know may be highly organised, professional declutterers and organisers bring a wealth of education, experience, and resources to the table. They hold certifications, have accumulated years of field expertise, and possess a network of contacts, including contractors. As a result, they can not only help you declutter but also facilitate tasks like junk removal and donations.

How to maintain your home after decluttering to prevent ‘re-cluttering’

Your home now is looking good. How do you keep it that way? Maintaining a clutter-free home after decluttering is crucial to prevent the re-accumulation of unnecessary items. Here are some practical tips to help you sustain an organized living space and keep clutter away for good: 

1. Follow daily routines: Develop simple daily habits that contribute to maintaining order. This does not have to be complicated. Spend a few minutes each day tidying up, putting things back in their designated places, and ensuring items are not left out of order. Taking some time each day to keep your home clean and clutter-free will make a big difference.
2. Find a home for everything: Assign a specific place for each item in your household. When items have designated spaces, it becomes easier to put them back, and you're less likely to accumulate clutter.
3. Regular decluttering sessions: Plan regular sessions for decluttering, even if it’s for a short time. This prevents small accumulations from turning into overwhelming clutter. Addressing items as they come in helps maintain an organised home.
4. Think before you buy: Avoid making impulse purchases that you'll regret later. Before buying something, consider whether it adds value to your life and if you have space for it. Avoid bringing in items that might contribute to clutter.
5. Keep a declutter box: Even if you’re not making new purchases, others might give you items, or a family member might bring something unnecessary into your home. Instead of allowing these things to clutter your space, keep a declutter box—a container where you place everything that makes its way into your home that you don’t plan to keep.

Conclusion

Helping your elderly parents declutter their home is no easy task. By taking it one step at a time, maintaining open communication, and being patient, you can create a safer and more comfortable living space for them. Remember, the process is not just about decluttering; it's a chance to make memories and share some laughs. Let yourself go through this process with your loved ones.

For other guides on caring for your elderly parents check out:

• Caring for Parents with Incontinence
• Sourcing an adjustable bed for Elderly
• The best toilet aids for Seniors
• Funding for elderly people in Victoria