Spring Cleaning the Kitchen Can Help Your Senior Stay Safe

With warmer and brighter days here, just about everyone will feel their energy levels increase and be ready to take on some home chores that perhaps they’ve put off all winter as they hibernated through the long, cold months. That extra energy for many people gets put into getting their homes back into shape for the warmer months. Whether it’s cleaning the windows, emptying overfilled closets, or taking a room in the house and giving it a thorough once-over. If you don’t live near your elderly loved one or have physical limitations on what you can assist with, your elderly loved one can receive the help she needs to spring clean from a home care assistance provider.

Why Spring Cleaning the Kitchen is So Important

Home Care Assistance Franklin Lakes, NJ – Spring Cleaning the Kitchen Can Help Your Senior Stay Safe

Taking an afternoon or a couple of days to focus on spring cleaning the kitchen area of your loved one’s home is a great idea each spring for several reasons.

1. The kitchen is one of the most used rooms and can have the most hazards. From items that are in cupboards too high to reach to appliances that don’t work properly, if not maintained well and adjusted to meet your loved one’s abilities, the kitchen area can easily lead to harm for your loved one.
2. The kitchen contains food. This seems like a no-brainer, but while all of that food can provide nourishment and enjoyment for your loved one, it can also lead to sickness if not inspected and kept fresh.
3. The kitchen is the heart of the home. For many individuals, the kitchen is where the love starts – from making someone’s favorite meal to baking comforting desserts to sitting at a table and having an intimate discussion. A clean kitchen makes all of these special moments more enjoyable and safer.

Five Spring Cleaning Ideas for Your Loved One’s Kitchen

• Clean out the fridge. Now is the time to take everything out of the fridge, review expiration dates (especially on all of those condiments in the fridge door), wipe down shelves, and rearrange as needed.
• Clean the floors. Get your loved one some help to move the fridge and stove so she can clean up any food or debris that has found its way under them this winter. Also, look for any possible damaged areas of the floor that need to be fixed so they don’t cause a tripping hazard.
• Clean windows. There’s nothing better than a nice view while enjoying breakfast.
• Rearrange cupboards and shelves. Make sure your loved one has what she needs within easy reach.
• Check for utensils that are broken or in poor condition. A dull knife can do more harm than a sharp one, and a cracked spatula can harbor bacteria. Fix or toss and replace as needed.

Not Around? How Home Care Assistance Providers Can Help with Spring Cleaning

A home care assistance provider can help her review her food for expiration dates, help her put needed appliances within reach, and assist with cleaning out the fridge or cupboards.

Spring cleaning the kitchen can require a lot of physical activity, so ensuring your loved one has the help she needs to do it will help her stay safe and injury-free while preparing her kitchen for spring and beyond.

If you or a senior family member is considering hiring Home Care Assistance Services in Franklin Lakes, NJ, please get in touch with the caring staff at Caring Solutions Home Care LLC.

Providing in-home senior care, servicing Bergen & Passaic Counties. Call today at (973) 427-3553.