This week, I’ve invited Jackie Waters, owner of Hyper Tidy, to provide her insight on how we can help seniors cope with the loss of their spouse. Living on a three-acre farm in Oregon, this mother of four helps people by showing them how to maintain their living spaces and declutter their lives.
“The Housekeeper: Helping Seniors Cope with Loss” by Jackie Waters
Grieving is personal and everyone grieves differently. The relationship to the loved one who has passed certainly plays a role in how long the grieving lasts and how it affects you. In the case of a lost family member, the impact can be devastating.
For those who are left behind, there are a lot of memories to work through, decisions to make, and challenges to manage. In the case of a senior who is dealing with the loss of their spouse, those tasks are nearly insurmountable. Grieving takes a physical toll on an already weakened elderly body. The burdensome mourning stages, coupled with the mentally draining tasks of their everyday life, create a whirlwind of emotional pain. It is inconceivable to expect the senior to handle it alone, while still remaining in full health. They will need help.
Believe it or not, hiring a housekeeper is actually one of the practical ways to help an elderly family member handle loss. Some home tasks might have been the job of their spouse, and they might find it emotionally challenging, or physically exhausting to complete them on their own. The simple act of hiring a housekeeper to declutter and maintain a clean environment can allow the senior to heal while removing the added stress of managing their home.
What Does a Housekeeper Do?
- Clean: Housekeepers maintain the overall clean appearance of the house. They tackle household chores like washing dishes, vacuuming, dusting trinkets, mopping, and taking out the trash. The cleanliness of our home environments actually have a positive effect on physical health. Conversely, just seeing a cluttered room can overwhelm the visual cortex and cause confusion, which can be a serious issue for an elderly person.
- Organize: Housekeepers declutter and organize household items. Many seniors have a specific place for each of their belongings and prefer that the placement of these things remain in their place. Housekeepers are trained in fulfilling their clients’ specific instructions, and once they have visited several times, they will be well-acquainted with their necessary routine.
- Maintain: Housekeepers provide preventative maintenance. They will keep the house in pristine condition. As they are cleaning the house, they will become familiar with the layout and structure. They might notice mildew, cracks, or leaks in the home before a senior does. This way they can alert you or the senior if a service call needs to be made.
How Can a Housekeeper Help a Senior Cope with Loss?
- Sense of Consistency: Seniors often need consistency in their lifestyle. When the senior has recently experienced the loss of their spouse, that consistency has been drastically altered. It might be helpful for them to experience regular visits from someone living outside of their situation who can be a friendly face and offer their assistance. When they know they can expect to see the same person bi-weekly, it gives the senior a sense of a re-established routine.
- Social Support: Having a housekeeper in the home provides a less lonely atmosphere for the senior. Even if it is just for one day every other week, the senior has time to be social. While there is a distinct line between housekeeper and friend, a senior who has recently lost their partner, will appreciate the visit and feel less lonesome during their time there.
- Stress Relief: There is a stress-relieving benefit to hiring a housekeeper. After loss, the care of the senior and the management of their home typically falls to their children and other family members. These loved ones are tasked with driving their beloved senior to doctors appointments, picking up groceries, maintaining a medication schedule, and keeping them mobile. They have little extra time to maintain their own households, much less the home of another. A third party housekeeper helps remove that burden from their to-do list.
Small acts of kindness can significantly impact the new lifestyle of an elderly person who is facing loss. Everyone needs a healthy, safe, and clean home environment. It can make a positive difference in the life of the senior as they grieve.
Ready to make your health a priority? Contact me here to schedule your consultation.
