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As we age, our homes often become a reflection of our life experiences, filled with memories of cherished moments with family and friends. However, as needs change, its important to ensure that these spaces remain warm, welcoming, and safe. At A Call to Order Professional Organizer, we believe that every senior deserves a living environment that promotes comfort, independence, and connection. Creating a heartwarming space for seniors not only enhances their quality of life but also preserves their dignity and fosters a sense of belonging. In this blog, well explore practical tips and creative ideas that can help transform a seniors home into a haven of warmth and welcoming vibes.Understanding the Unique Needs of SeniorsCreating a welcoming space for seniors involves more than just aesthetics; its about addressing their unique needs with sensitivity and care. Here are some factors to consider:Embracing Comfort and AccessibilitySafety First: As we age, mobility can become an issue. When designing a welcoming senior space, prioritize safety by ensuring that areas are well-lit, free from clutter, and equipped with handrails or grab bars where necessary. Simple adjustments like removing throw rugs can significantly reduce the risk of falls.Comfortable Furnishings: Choosing the right furniture is essential. Opt for comfortable chairs and sofas with good back support. Furniture should be ergonomic and at a height that makes sitting down and standing up easy. Fabrics should be soft and inviting, encouraging relaxation while adding a personal touch.Accessible Layout: The layout of a home plays a crucial role in how easily seniors can move around. Ensure pathways are clear and wide enough to accommodate mobility aids like walkers or wheelchairs. Consider rearranging furniture to create open spaces that invite easy movement.Adding Personal TouchesMemory Lane: Infusing personal memories into the decor can help seniors feel more at home. Display family photos, mementos from travels, or artwork created by loved ones. Creating a gallery wall or a memory corner can evoke cherished memories, allowing for moments of reflection and connection.Create a Cozy Nook: Designing a special reading corner or a cozy nook can encourage relaxation and leisure. Include a comfortable chair, a soft throw blanket, and good lighting. This space can become a go-to spot for reading, reminiscing, or simply enjoying the view outside.Natures Embrace: Incorporate plants and nature into the space. Indoor plants not only purify the air but also add life and vitality to a room. Choose low-maintenance plants like succulents, which require little care but bring a sense of tranquility. A little garden nook or even a few herbs on the windowsill can do wonders for the spirit.Practical Tips for a Warm EnvironmentNow that we understand the emotional and functional aspects of senior spaces, lets dive into practical tips that transform any home into a warm, welcoming retreat. Step 1: Declutter with PurposeStart Small: Tackling clutter can be overwhelming, especially for seniors who have lived in the same space for many years. Begin with one area, such as a kitchen drawer or a single room. Break the task down into manageable steps.Decision-Making Approach: Help seniors decide what to keep, donate, or discard based on usefulness and sentiment. Encourage them to focus on items that bring them joy or serve a purpose. This process can also spark meaningful conversations that lend themselves to reminiscing.Step 2: Organize with IntentionMake it Accessible: Organize items by frequency of use. Place everyday essentials within easy reach and consider using clear containers to make finding items effortless. Labeling bins and shelves can also provide clarity and foster independence.Involve Family: Encourage family members to participate in the organization process. This creates an opportunity for connection and engagement, easing any feelings of loneliness seniors may feel.Step 3: Personalize the AtmosphereScent and Sound: The senses play a vital role in creating a welcoming environment. Consider introducing soft music that the senior enjoys or aromatherapy with soothing scents to create a calming atmosphere.Color Palette: Choose warm, inviting colors for walls and decor. Soft blues, gentle greens, and warm yellows are known to create a peaceful ambiance. Avoid harsh contrasts; instead, opt for complementary hues that promote serenity.Step 4: Foster Community ConnectionsShared Spaces: If the senior lives with family, designate shared spaces that encourage interaction, such as a cozy dining area or a warm living room. This creates opportunities for gatherings, fostering conversation and connection.Engage with the Outside World: Ensure that the living space feels connected to the outside world. Large windows that frame a garden view or easy access to outdoor seating can promote feelings of openness and connection to nature.Conclusion: Creating a Heartfelt Space for Our SeniorsAt A Call to Order Professional Organizer, we believe that every senior deserves a home that feels like a warm embracea space that honors their past and supports their present. By focusing on safety, accessibility, and personalization, we can create environments that not only meet their physical needs but also nourish their emotional well-being. If youre looking to create or enhance a seniors space, let us guide you in this meaningful journey. Together, we can transform their home into a haven of comfort and love, ensuring that it remains the heart of their cherished memories and an inviting space for family and friends. Contact us today to learn how we can help make that transition beautiful and seamless.

As we grow older, the value of time becomes clearer. Lifes most precious moments are often spent connecting with loved ones, enjoying favorite hobbies, or simply savoring the peace of a quiet day. Yet, the clutter of everyday life, both physical and emotional, can rob us of these meaningful experiences. For seniors, simplifying life is about more than just organizing possessionsits about creating space for moments that truly matter.At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we understand that the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our loved ones is timetime to connect, time to relax, and time to create memories. Our goal is to help seniors declutter and simplify their lives so they can focus on what really matters. Heres how simplifying your life can lead to more meaningful moments and a happier, more peaceful existence.The Emotional Burden of Clutter and How to Overcome ItAs we age, we accumulate not only material possessions but also memories, emotions, and experiences attached to these items. For many seniors, the process of decluttering can feel overwhelming, as every object seems to carry a story or sentiment. But holding on to too much can become emotionally burdensome, making it difficult to move forward and enjoy lifes present moments.Why Decluttering Matters for Emotional Well-beingPhysical clutter often translates into mental clutter. A disorganized home can make it hard to focus, relax, or even find joy in the little things. For seniors, this clutter can also lead to safety concerns, such as tripping hazards or an inability to find important items. But beyond the physical risks, clutter also weighs heavily on emotional health.Letting Go of the Past: While it can be difficult to part with possessions that remind us of the past, its important to remember that memories arent tied to objects. Letting go of excess allows room for new experiences and connections. At A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we guide seniors through the process of decluttering with compassion, helping them hold on to whats truly meaningful and release what no longer serves them.Creating a Peaceful Space: A clutter-free home is a peaceful home. When you clear out whats unnecessary, you create a sanctuarya place where you can relax, reflect, and focus on the things that bring you joy. Whether its spending time with family, enjoying a favorite hobby, or simply sitting in a quiet, organized room, the emotional benefits of decluttering are profound.The Joy of Simplicity: Simplifying your life doesnt mean losing what you love; it means finding clarity and freedom. By keeping only what brings you happiness or serves a purpose, you make space for meaningful momentstime spent with family, pursuing passions, or just enjoying a stress-free environment.Practical Tips for Simplifying Your Senior LifeSimplifying life doesnt have to be an overwhelming task. With the right approach, seniors can declutter their homes and create more time for the moments that truly matter. Here are some practical tips from A Call to Order Professional Organizers to help seniors simplify their lives:1. Start Small and Take It Step by StepDecluttering your entire home at once can feel overwhelming. Instead, start small by focusing on one area or room at a time. Whether its a closet, a kitchen drawer, or a spare bedroom, breaking the process into manageable steps makes it less daunting and more achievable.2. Keep Only What You Love or NeedOne of the most effective ways to simplify your life is to adopt the love it or need it rule. When deciding whether to keep or part with an item, ask yourself, Does this bring me joy? or Is this truly necessary in my life? By keeping only the items that enhance your well-being, you can create a space filled with positivity and purpose.3. Enlist the Help of Loved Ones or ProfessionalsDecluttering is often easier when done with the support of others. Whether its family members or professional organizers like A Call to Order, having someone to guide and encourage you can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. Not only does this provide emotional support, but it also helps create a shared experience with those you love.4. Digitize MemoriesFor many seniors, one of the hardest parts of decluttering is letting go of sentimental items such as photos, letters, or mementos. Consider digitizing these memories by scanning old photographs or letters and storing them in a digital format. This allows you to preserve the memories without holding on to physical clutter.5. Establish New Routines for Maintaining SimplicityOnce youve decluttered, its important to establish routines to keep your home organized and clutter-free. Set aside time each week to tidy up, donate items you no longer need, or reorganize spaces. This not only maintains the physical organization but also fosters a sense of control and peace in your home.Conclusion: A Life with More Time for What Truly MattersAt A Call to Order Professional Organizers, we believe that simplifying life is the key to finding more time for the things that matter mostwhether its spending quality moments with family, nurturing hobbies, or simply enjoying the beauty of a peaceful home. For seniors, this journey toward simplicity is about more than just letting go of clutter; its about embracing the gift of time.By decluttering your home, you can make room for the things that truly matter in your lifemore meaningful moments, greater peace of mind, and the joy of living simply. Let us help you on this journey, so you can enjoy every precious moment life has to offer.

What We Dont Know We Dont Know in Health Care: September 24, 2024 -Oral Care, Monitored Meals, and Aspiration PneumoniaProper oral care is crucial for maintaining optimal health. Keeping the mouth clean not only helps maintain the protective properties of saliva but also reduces bacteria in the mouth which can be a source of infection in aspiration pneumonia. In addition, monitoring meals and assisting with feeding for those at high risk for aspiration is also a necessity. The process of swallowing involves dozens of muscles that start in the mouth and include the pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. These muscles can become weakened with age and from various, often age-related diseases.  The aging population is especially at risk for aspiration pneumonia due to comorbidities, frailty, and conditions that can impair swallowing.  As a result, aspiration pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death from infection in individuals over the age of 65. One study shows that 1 in 10 deaths from pneumonia in elderly nursing home residents may be prevented by improving oral hygiene (Sjogren et al., 2008). Unfortunately, proper oral care and monitoring of meals is often overlooked in the health care setting.  Perhaps the greatest reason for this is the challenge that almost every health facility faces today: adequate staffing. When I started working in acute care as an RN over 20 years ago, nursing assistants (these are the staff generally responsible for proving oral care in an acute care setting) were typically responsible for 5-7 patients. Nurses had 3-5 patients (this was on a step down cardiac unit). Between the nurse and the assistant, we were able to provide oral care at every meal and offer one-on-one assistance to any patient that was at risk for aspiration. This is no longer the case.  RNs oftentimes look after upwards of 8 patients, and there is generally either no nursing assistant on the floor or only 1 for a patient load that can exceed 20.  Consequently, proper oral care is neglected.  I have often seen patients that are aspirating during meals, but do not have adequate staffing on hand to provide them with the supervision and monitoring that they need. This presents a hazardous catch-22: the aging individual needs to eat to maintain nutritional needs yet he/she needs assistance with eating to prevent aspirating pneumonia.   How can this be remedied? If the family is present, they can provide oral care and meal monitoring. If meal monitoring is required for an at-risk individual, its recommended to touch base with the health care team to inquire as to what the specific aspiration precautions are (every individual may have a different need and/or recommendation). A care companion can also be hired to provide the needed care. I hired a companion for my father when he was in a skilled nursing facility. He was not getting his teeth brushed or flossed regularly, and I was seeing a decline in his dentition. Having this extra support provided him with much needed assistance and the care companion had the added benefit of encouraging him to eat more at every meal, something that was a bonus as he was not meeting his nutrient needs. Touching base with staff to request that oral care and meal monitoring be done can also be helpful. Having an advocate to ensure necessary care is getting done can also be very effective in the health care setting.  What is proper oral care and effective meal monitoring?  Proper oral care includes brushing the teeth for at least 1 minute after every meal. It also includes using a soft bristle brush, fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily. A final component of oral care that is often not discussed is denture care. Dentures should be cleaned at least once per day and removed at bedtime. Removing them prior to sleeping can greatly reduce the risk of pneumonia (Iinuma et al. 2014). Effective meal monitoring includes adequate supervision during mealtime for those at risk of aspiration. Such supervision includes ensuring the individual is properly positioned for a meal (head of bed as high as can be tolerated and supine position), takes small bites, eats slowly, swallows a couple times in between each bite, and intermittently takes a sip of liquid to clear the mouth of food particles. The use of straws is generally not recommended for an individual at risk for aspiration as it propels the food to the back of the throat and hence can increase risk. I recall when I was working as a Registered Nurse (RN) in acute care that I was constantly removing straws from the bedside of at risk individuals and often reminding them to eat slowly and swallow at least twice between each bite to ensure food clearance. Individuals at risk for aspiration often require a modified texture diet as it can further prevent the aspiration of food and liquids.   This is a brief summary of the attention to detail needed in addressing oral hygiene and meal monitoring amongst the aging population. Both measures can play a significant role in reducing aspiration pneumonia.  If you would like more information on understanding proper oral care or any other questions that you may have regarding aging life care, please feel free to reach out to me.    Sources:1.      Sjogren P, Nilsson E, Forsell M, Johansson O, Hoogstraate J. 2008. A systematic review of the preventive effect of oral hygiene on pneumonia and respiratory tract infection in elderly people in hospitals and nursing homes: effect estimates and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials. J Am Geriatr Soc. 56:21242130. 2.      Iinuma T, Arai Y, Abe Y, Takayama M, Fukumoto M, Fukui Y, et al. 2014. Denture wearing during sleep doubles the risk of pneumonia in the very elderly. J Dent Res. doi: 10.1177/0022034514552493 3.      F Muller, 2015. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4541086/#