CLEANING THE HOMES OF OLDER ADULTS

1. CLEANING THE HOMES OF OLDER ADULTS Home Skills Enhancement Project

2. Older Adults May Need Help • Shopping • Transportation • Meal preparation • Cleaning • Laundry • Bathing • Home Chore

3. 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

4. Old Fashioned Households • Rigid schedule of cleaning • Monday-washing • Tuesday-ironing • Wednesday-sewing • Thursday-shopping • Friday-cleaning • Saturday-baking

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Sequence of Cleaning Rooms • Gather laundry, sort clothes, start wash • Clean upstairs bedroom, hallway, bath • Living room, • Dining room • Bathroom • Kitchen • Porch

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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