CLEANING THE HOMES OF OLDER ADULTS

Home Skills Enhancement Project

Older Adults May Need Help

• Shopping

• Transportation

• Meal preparation

• Cleaning

• Laundry

• Bathing

• Home Chore

Obstacles in Cleaning

• Older adult may never have had help

• Embarrassed about condition of home

• Sensory loss-vision, hearing

• Unrealistic expectations

• Not understanding scope of work

• Loss of independence

• Family dynamics

Old Fashioned Households

• Rigid schedule of cleaning

• Monday-washing

• Tuesday-ironing

• Wednesday-sewing

• Thursday-shopping

• Friday-cleaning

• Saturday-baking

Professional Behavior

• Strong work ethic of older adults

• Dress neat, casual, modest

• No smoking in homes

• Be courteous, call if late

• Know boundaries-report to supervisor if person is having money problems

More Boundary Issues

• Keep personal problems private

• Talk about neutral, social topics

• Focus conversation on older adult and their interests

• Confidentiality very important-don’t share information about other older adults

• Never ask for or take money or gifts

Setting the Mood and Tone

• Notify supervisor if person is very lonely

• Spend first few minutes visiting

• Give them your undivided attention

• See the person as unique individual

• Use a work plan

• Ask for input, suggestions, feedback

• Ask if others are cleaning home

Cleaning Homes

• Different attitudes toward cleaning

• Satisfying, makes you feel good

• Sense of order and control

• Benefits of clean, clutter free home

• More healthy

• Requires skills and knowledge

• Prioritize needs when time limited

Assessing the Environment

• May be rustic, not like our standards

• Honor the person’s desire to live the way they do

• Legal competence allows them to do so

• Report signs of neglect or abuse

• Assistive equipment in the home may require extra cleaning

Pets

• Beneficial for older adults

• May be allergic to pets

• Stuffy nose, skin rashes, asthma

• Dust and vacuum more often

• Wash hands after handling

• Keep off kitchen table and counters

• Use special dishes, keep separate

More on Pets

• Wash their dishes daily

• Keep off bed and out of bedroom

• Store litter boxes away from bathrooms and kitchens

• Change litter box when there is an odor

• Brush pets to remove hair

• Keep their beds clean

Clutter

• “Heap or assemblage of things lying in confusion”

• Paper clutter-newspapers, mail

• Kitchen clutter-food containers, meds

• Clothes, towels, general stuff on floors, surfaces

• Clutter adds to chaos and wastes time

Why We Accumulate Clutter

• Extras stored for future

• Huge collections of dolls or stuffed animals

• Unclear goals and priorities

• Some think it makes creative environment

• Sentimental attachment

• Lack of storage

• Dementia

Strategies for a Clutter Free House

• Establish a place to put things

• When you pick something up, put it away

• Put clutter in a box, remove what you use

• Quick pick up daily

• Set limits

• Keep stairs clutter free

• Storage boxes and systems

Risk Factors for Falls

• Older age, female, history of previous fall

• Chronic disease

• Mental impairment

• Medications

• Vision, hearing

• Bowel or bladder problems

• Muscle weakness, gait, balance

Things that Contribute to Falls

• Clutter in walkways

• Lack of stair railings or grab bars

• Dim lighting, especially on stairs

• Rugs

• Furniture, electrical cords

• Reaching above your head

• Rearranging furniture

Why We Clean

• Health, safety and comfort

• Cleanliness is goal, work plan is road map

• Regular schedule saves time

• Good habits will become routine

• Must set priorities-kitchen, bathroom, dusting, floors important

• Disinfecting sinks, faucets, toilets

Developing a Schedule

• Based on amount of time you have

• The rooms to be cleaned

• The number of jobs for each room

• Extra jobs that can be done if time allows

• Avoid distractions if possible

• Tidy up first

• Know what you are doing and why

Guidelines for Efficient Cleaning

• Higher to lower principle-clean upstairs first, higher to lower in each room

• Dry to wet principle-dry cleaning before adding water, dry rooms before wet rooms

• Inside to outside of house

• Chores first that require waiting time

• Have all supplies together

• Use cleaning fluids sparingly

Weekly Chores

• Bed linens

• Vacuum rugs, floors, upholstery

• Wash floors

• Dust, wipe doorknobs, pictures, mirrors

• Bathroom toilet, sink, tub, walls, floor

• Kitchen appliances, counters, floors

• Garbage cans

Sequence of Cleaning Rooms

• Gather laundry, sort clothes, start wash

• Clean upstairs bedroom, hallway, bath

• Living room,

• Dining room

• Bathroom

• Kitchen

• Porch

In Each Room

• Take all cleaning supplies in with you

• Stay in each room until finished

• Pick up soiled laundry, put in basket

• Empty trash into trash bag

• Pile misplaced things outside door

• Clean around room in circular fashion

• Top to bottom, floors last, make sure dry

Dusting

• Dust before vacuuming

• Spray-on waxes or pre-treated cloths

• Slightly damp cloth works well

• Spray lightly

• Rub in circular motion along grain of wood

• Slight downward pressure

• Keep several clean cloths ready

Vacuuming

• Grind dust and dirt into floor or carpet

• Dirt settles into carpets, makes tiny cuts

• Makes fibers break down, wears carpet

• The more you vacuum the better for the carpet

• Removes dust that circulates in the air

Bathrooms

• Least favorite room to clean for many

• Soap scum

• Hard water

• Goal is to prevent mold and mildew

• Shower chairs, other equipment

• Lack of ventilation a problem

Kitchens

• Most germ laden room in the house

• Sink, drain and dishcloths have germs

• Germs expected in bathroom are everywhere in kitchen

• Bacteria thrive in moisture and food

• Sweep floor around edges toward you to make a tidy pile

• Don’t lift broom off floor at end of stroke

Germ Stopping Habits

• Wash hands frequently

• Use paper towels

• Clean up dirty dishes promptly

• Empty trash every day

• Sponges vs. Dishcloths

• Wiping counters with dirty cloths spread germs

More Germ Stopping Habits

• Use the right size pots to avoid spills

• Use exhaust fan in kitchen while cooking

• Empty dishwashers promptly

• Ventilate the bathroom to remove moisture

• Close the toilet seat

• Squeegee shower walls after each use

• Mat at each entrance of home

More Germ Stopping Habits

• Close drawers, cupboards

• Keep closet doors closed

• Put things where they belong

• Have plenty of trash cans around house

• Avoid clutter