Getting Organized for a Loved One to Stay at Home: A Caregiver’s Checklist
This article originally appeared in Sutton Place Social.
by Sonya Weisshappel
The kind of organizing and possible decluttering for in-home healthcare patients, their caregivers, and their family are vastly different other types of clutter management, especially in a New York City apartment.
Ask yourself: What’s their “new normal”? What’s the routine? Are they ambulatory—meaning, are they walking? Is the path they take from bed-to-bathroom, or bed-to-kitchen, clear and wide enough to accommodate a walker or a wheelchair? Is there anything they could trip over, or something like a carpet that could catch onto a wheel? Table legs may stick out, making it difficult to maneuver a mobility device. Doorways are also critical, both inside and out of the apartment. Can a wheelchair fit through the hallway and in the elevator? Is there a garbage chute or do bags need to be carried downstairs? All of these questions must be considered. Think about it in the same way you would approach baby-proofing a home for a young child or a new pet. In rare cases, this process may require slight renovation work. After you've dealt with your loved one’s overall safety and wellness, you should then start to look at the assets within the home.
Don’t know where to begin? That’s more than OK. First important question: Can your loved one sleep in their bed or will they need a hospital bed? If so, will that bed go in the bedroom or another room? Even if they’re bed-bound with a catheter, the placement of their bed is still an essential part of their day-to-day wellbeing. Whenever possible, choose a spot with a view. It’ll give them a sense of familiarity and comfort so they don’t feel stuck.
Next, figure out the bathroom habits. Will they need to get up in the middle of the night, and can they do it alone? Will they need a shower bench or any other item necessary for bathing? Oftentimes, the type of equipment that’s needed for senior home care can be overwhelming for the patient and their family. There may be oxygen tanks, large bags of diapers, all sorts of supplies and medicines. With this lifestyle change comes a shift in how you’re using the space. Perhaps the dining room table becomes the “triage” area for supplies, or maybe a sideboard or linen closet. If the apartment isn’t blessed with an extra maid’s room or a basement storage cage, try the tub of the guest bathroom.
Typically, if you’re hiring 24-hour, live-in help, you're going to need a spot for someone to sleep. Sometimes it’s close to the patient and sometimes it’s in another room. If they stay over consistently, then they need a place to put shoes, a change of clothes, toiletries, etc. Is there a closet for this, or a surface for that? What are their needs?
Whenever an outside caregiver is coming into the home, there may be other tough questions that should be asked for everyone’s safety and security. Do you know what’s valuable and what’s not? What would be missed it if got broken or misplaced? Accidents happen. Is there an important item that’s too big for a safe? Should a family member take it? Having a digital inventory with photographs, measurements, and descriptions is always a good idea.
Choosing the right caregiver is a challenge, for sure. A lot depends on finances and schedule, not to mention that special blend of patience, humor, and general affection for elderly people. A geriatric care manager can help you find that person and be an advocate for you, your loved one, and your family.
Sonya Weisshappel is the founder and CEO of Seriatim, Inc. She is currently working on a memoir about her twenty-six years as an organizer and move manager in New York City and her advocacy for individuals who are aging and/or ill.