Helpful Home Organization for Seniors

As we age, sometimes we find that our minds work a bit slower and we tend to neglect our organizational habits that we have developed over the years. What once seemed like second nature, tends to become more challenging on a day to day basis.

Keeping organized however, tends to be of great importance as we age. Finding the ability to control and organize our daily occurrences in our lives is important to aging peacefully. We need our medications as well as food and personal grooming supplies easily accessible. If we find we become limited physically due to health issues and/or hearing/vision impairments, we need to work with loved ones or caregivers to devise a daily plan.

Starting with a list of what a typical day entails is a great blueprint to start with. Going through the day-to-day needs and evaluating the ease and ability to achieve those needs is paramount.

• Cooking utensils need to be easy to reach
• Medication needs to be accessible and in a familiar place
• Utilizing technology to allow family to communicate remotely is helpful

A good idea is to also involve family members and friends for feedback and input. Getting organized may take purging or parting some personal/sentimental items which could stir up emotions. Make this time positive and reminisce together when going over what to keep and what not to keep. If photos or sentimental items are on the purge or give-away list, consider taking digital photos to preserve the memories.

The ultimate goal is to make life and daily living easier, and once achieved, it will feel right.