10 Decluttering Tips For Seniors To Make Their Lives Easier

Seniors, are you looking to declutter your home but not sure how to get started? Here are 10 decluttering tips for seniors to make their lives easier!

Hi, seniors! Do you find it difficult to declutter your home?

Perhaps you don’t have the same strength and mobility as you did before.

Or maybe you’re overwhelmed because you’ve lived in the same house for years, and you simply don’t know where to start decluttering!

I hear you. Decluttering is a lot harder to do when we age.

However, your senior years are a time when it’s more important than ever to declutter and downsize.

That’s because decluttering your home will make your life so much easier.

Not only will you be able to find things easily, but you’ll also find it much easier to clean your home.

Additionally, decluttering allows you to get rid of any hazardous items that may affect your well-being.

All in all, decluttering is a great way to kickstart simple living for seniors.

Decluttering for seniors may be challenging, but it can be done with some help. Read on to discover 10 simple and useful decluttering tips for seniors that will make their lives easier.

Table of Contents

10 Decluttering Tips For Seniors

1. Declutter when you’re physically and emotionally well

Many seniors don’t think about decluttering until they think it’s time to downsize.

Unfortunately, not everyone is fit or well enough to declutter when the time comes.

Some may be seriously ill, while some may not be as agile as they were before. Besides that, some may be dealing with depression and grief after the loss of their loved ones.

One of the most important decluttering tips for seniors is to declutter when you’re physically and emotionally well. This will help you to stay focused and productive throughout the process.

Additionally, a clear mind will enable you to make firm decluttering decisions.

2. Give yourself time

Decluttering can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting, regardless of which age group you’re in.

Give yourself plenty of time to declutter. Chances are it took years for you to accumulate the amount of stuff you have today. It certainly doesn’t make sense to declutter years’ worth of stuff in a day!

Decluttering at your own pace makes the entire process less overwhelming and stressful. It could be 30 minutes a day or 3 hours a week – as long as you remain consistent in your decluttering efforts, you will definitely see results!

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Many elderly people suffer from chronic health problems and limited mobility. It’s only natural to have less stamina and strength as we age.

Decluttering can be physically demanding, which makes it even more challenging for seniors.

If you’re a senior who’s struggling to declutter on your own, don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Make it a fun family activity by inviting your family over and sharing stories of your belongings. Once you’ve decided what to declutter, your family members can help you with the heavy lifting like sorting the items into different boxes, moving things around, etc.

If your family members or friends are unable to help, there are many professional decluttering services for seniors that can assist you with the process.

Professional decluttering services for seniors are great because they also offer cleaning services, which are very helpful after a decluttering session.

4. Start small

The thought of getting rid of every single thing is daunting to most of us.

The best way to begin the decluttering process for seniors is to start small.

Choose a small area or space you use most often and start there. Don’t worry about the other rooms or areas in your house until you’ve finished decluttering the specific area.

Work on decluttering things you don’t have to think twice about. For example, things that you don’t need or don’t use anymore, broken and/or non-functional things, etc.

Starting small will help you to achieve significant decluttering progress, which can provide you with much-needed motivation to keep going.

5. Clear floor space

Are you a senior looking to declutter but not sure where to start?

One of the most helpful decluttering tips for seniors is to clear floor space first.

According to the CDC, about 36 million falls are reported among seniors each year. Of these cases, 32,000 are fatal, and 1 out of every 5 falls causes serious injuries like broken bones and head injuries.

That’s why it’s so crucial to make sure the floor is clutter-free at all times.

Gather everything that you can remove from the floors. This includes clothing, trash, cables, books, papers, etc. Either put it where it belongs or get rid of it.

Anything on the floor excluding the carpet is a trip hazard, which can be dangerous to seniors.

6. Get rid of dangerous items

Another helpful decluttering tip for seniors is to get rid of dangerous items in the house. This includes broken furniture, old unused devices, expired medication, etc.

These things are dangerous because they can either affect one’s physical health or cause hazards in the home.

If some of these things are too heavy, write a list of such items in the house and get a family member or neighbor to help remove them.

7. Figure out what you need for your new lifestyle

As a senior, you may have a completely different lifestyle than when you were younger.

For example, you may be retired and living alone now.

Therefore, you may not need a lot of things you used to. For instance, children’s toys, clothes, books, sporting equipment, work uniforms, and many more.

It’s time to get rid of them so you can make room for the things that reflect your current lifestyle.

If you’re moving to a new, smaller place, you should get the dimensions and the number of rooms in your new home. This way, you will know exactly what you need and what will fit inside your new space.

8. Pass down valuable items to family members who will appreciate them

Decluttering sentimental items can be very challenging for seniors.

As we grow older, we may form an emotional attachment to things because they remind us of our memories and our loved ones.

The emotional aspect makes it hard to let go of our sentimental items.

Here’s one of the most useful decluttering tips for seniors: pass down valuable items to family members who will appreciate them.

Letting go of things we love is easier when we know they will be cherished by the people we love.

Hopefully, your keepsakes will continue to be passed down from generation to generation as family heirlooms.

Not sure if your family members want any of your stuff? Start a group chat with your family and let them know to respond with a ‘yes/no’ if they want them.

Trust me, if they say no, you’ll feel less guilty for getting rid of them. This applies to your children’s toys, artwork, and photos too!

9. Arrange a donation pick-up service

If you don’t need the money, I recommend donating everything you don’t use, need, or want anymore.

Arranging a donation pick-up service is an easy and quick way to get rid of everything.

This is the best way for seniors to get rid of clutter because it saves you the hassle of loading the car and driving them to the nearest donation center.

All you need to do is to leave your things on a porch/curb and the team from the donation center will pick them up.

On a separate note, selling your stuff is also an option if you want to make some money. Just remember that selling requires a lot of time, effort, and patience!

10. Allow yourself to keep a few things

As we grow older, we learn to cherish different things like photos and greeting cards. After all, these are some of the things that remind us of our good old times.

Just because you’re downsizing doesn’t mean you have to get rid of every single thing.

Allow yourself to keep a few favorites – a photo of you and your partner, a card from your children, or a handwritten letter from your parents.

You may be tempted to keep everything, so set a limit for the number of things you want to keep before you begin.

Once you’ve decided, make sure to keep these securely in a box or storage bin so you can take them with you to your new place.

Why should seniors declutter?

Decluttering plays a big role in improving seniors’ physical and mental health.

First, decluttering makes your life easier. Having a clutter-free home helps you to be independent so you can take care of yourself.

Without clutter in the home, it is a lot easier to locate essential everyday things like medication and personal hygiene items.

Plus, decluttering helps seniors to maintain a clean home and reduce pollen, dust, and other allergens in the home. This leads to improved air quality at home, which is beneficial for your health.

More importantly, decluttering reduces the risk of injuries. Falls are less likely to occur when there are fewer things in the house.

Furthermore, decluttering reduces anxiety and stress for seniors because you don’t have to constantly worry about storing and organizing your stuff. This creates a more peaceful environment for them.

What are the challenges of decluttering for seniors?

Some seniors might find it difficult to declutter because they are physically unfit due to a previous injury, chronic illness, or weak health.

Besides that, some seniors find it hard to let go because their belongings remind them of their memories and loved ones.

Some even seek comfort in their possessions because they are afraid they will feel lonely without them.

Other than that, some seniors feel guilty for decluttering things they spent their hard-earned money on.

Additionally, some refuse to declutter because they fear they’ll need something in the future but they no longer have access to it. They don’t want to deal with the inconvenience or hassle of acquiring the item again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I help seniors like my elderly parents declutter/downsize?

Sometimes seniors may feel shy or embarrassed to ask for help, so the first thing you should do is to check in on your elderly parents, relatives, and friends.

If they need help, here is a list of things that you can assist them with:

Prepare the supplies they need for decluttering: trash bags, boxes, storage bins, labels, etc
Offer a decluttering checklist
Ask questions to help them to decide which things to declutter
Sort things into respective storage bins/trash bags/boxes
Arrange a donation pick-up service
Move heavy things around
Place boxes on the porch/curb for pick-up
Throw trash out

Are there any decluttering services for seniors?

Yes! You can search for a Certified Relocation & Transition Specialist (CRTS) near you – this community supports seniors to move, organize, and downsize.

Other options include:

Be sure to check each organization thoroughly and read reviews before deciding which decluttering service is suitable for you.

Conclusion

Decluttering for seniors can be tough, but hopefully, these decluttering tips for seniors will ease the job and guide you through the process.

Are you a senior who has decluttered and/or downsized? Share your experience with us in the comments below!

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