caregiverexchange.ca - More to clutter than meets the eye

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Jackie Tot with her sons James (on left) and Mark. Both boys have a rare genetic disorder known as hereditary cerebellar ataxia.

HEROES IN THE HOME: PORTRAIT OF CARE

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More to clutter than meets the eye


July 5, 2010 (12:50 PM)
After an episode of a reality TV show about hoarding I find myself super motivated to get rid of those little piles of receipts, bills and junk mail that collect here and there throughout the house. In fact, I’ve moved the shredder into the kitchen so that I can feed it on a daily basis instead of overstuffing it on the weekends. Managing clutter can be a real chore even on the best of days. But when unattended to it can pose real health and safety risks. A recent edition of Seniorcare Connections, a publication of Home Instead Senior Care, focused on why seniors are more vulnerable to what Catherine Roster, MD, refers to as “clutter creep”. She says today’s seniors have had more time to accumulate stuff, they’re affluent, educated and active consumers, and their objects often represent their own legacies and memories. So when does clutter become a problem? Home Instead Senior Care says caregivers should be on the lookout for: Piles of mail and unpaid bills Difficulty walking safely through a home Expired food in the refrigerator Compulsive shopping Jammed closets and drawers Raising the clutter issue with your aging relative or friend may be difficult but necessary. Try to remember that there’s more to clutter than meets the eye. Tread lightly. And if you’re not making progress, consider consulting a professional. There are people and organizations out there that help people de-clutter and get organized. Good luck.

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