Dear Friends,
Welcome to April, where the grass is growing, the cherry trees are blooming, the gardens are awakening, and many of us are hitting the reset button in our lives — as we are Staying Home and Staying Safe!
Being at home, especially now, we may find ourselves, while we are at home, starting new projects, cleaning out old clutter, planting and working the garden, and planning out (a big MAYBE) our summer vacations.
For those who are taking care of senior loved ones who still live at home, sometimes doing these above projects can be overwhelming. Their isolation can take a mental toll on them. They may find everyday tasks hard to take on; too much TV, and not eating right due to not being able to grocery shop or run errands.
Many of our seniors have lived in their home for 50-60 years. Their homes are consumed with items from their past, and they are hanging on to things that are no longer relevant in their lives, and somehow, we as their adult children need look after them for safety concerns.
It’s a challenging time for all of us, and we’re here to help.
This month on Answers for Elders Radio, we dedicate the theme to Aging in Place, especially now with COVID-19. We explore how can you keep your senior loved ones’ space safe for now, and hope to give tips on how to keep their spirits up, as they are living out their aging years at home.
We will be including many tips this month on simple tasks that can make a huge difference, not only in our senior loved ones’ homes, but also in our own lives.
If your senior loved ones live with you, it may be a great time of year to do a survey of their living space. Is there clutter or items that can be purged and sorted? You can drop off bags of unwanted items to your local thrift store, which not only will be a great way to use the time, but also, will bring in revenue to help seniors and families in need.
Just remember, we’re all in this together!
Suzanne
