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Declutter Methods to Help with Autism and Alzheimer’s

Donna Nichols • April 1, 2021

9 Simple Methods you can use to help declutter the home of someone with Autism and/or Alzheimer’s

April is National Autism Awareness Month and we thought we’d share some ways to declutter the home that will help those with Autism. The best part is, these methods will also help those with Alzheimer’s.

Declutter Methods for Autism and AlzheimersChanging a person’s environment can be very frustrating, even if you don’t have Autism or Alzheimer’s, but when you have a disorder or a disease it’s enhanced. Try to make everything the same as it always has been.

This would not be a good time to purchase new furniture, or rearrange the house.
Even the slightest little thing can be extremely upsetting.

Come up with ideas to incorporate ways to reduce frustration and anxiety and increase their understanding.

1)   There are some simple things you can do like purchase an erasable calendar and have a clear, concise schedule laid out so they can understand it.

2)   Give warnings when something is about to come up, Your doctor appointment is in a half-hour, we’ll be leaving in fifteen minutes. Things like this, it can ease their frustration as well as yours.

3)   Avoid loud noises, flickering lights, and anything that may cause frustration or stress. This could be as simple as replacing light bulbs or turning the volume down or the television or radio.

When your home is cluttered, it frustrates the person with Autism or Alzheimer’s because they have a hard time finding things.

4)  Let go of things, get rid of the old magazines lying around and keep a few of their favorites.

5)   Keep floors clear from trip hazards such as throw rugs, extension cords, or anything else that may be in the walkway. They don’t always watch where they’re walking and if they trip, they can become very angry.

Check out our blog on the Senior Home Safety Checklist , this list can be attributed to everyone and shares some valuable insight to things you may never think of.

6) When decluttering someone else’s belongings, involve them in the process. You may look at that old, stained styrofoam cup as trash, but to someone with Autism or Alzheimer’s, it could be something they are emotionally attached to for whatever reason.

7) Make sure you explain to them what you are doing and why, they will most likely forget and keep asking you what and why you are doing this. This will only frustrate both of you. Put it in writing, so they can read what you are doing and why you are doing it. This will help ease the frustration levels as they can refer back to paper when they want to question it again.

8) Start in the smaller places like the bathroom or the kitchen. If you see they have five toothbrushes in the cabinet say something like, Do you use a different one for each weekday? That’s a great idea, but can we just use one toothbrush every day?

Just make sure to not sound judgemental, there is a reason they have five different toothbrushes in the cabinet, they just may not remember or know why, but it makes sense to them.

9) Declutter slowly, this is a big step and can be very upsetting. Take frequent breaks if you need to and go back to it after a nice lunch or a cup of tea. Have some meditation music playing quietly in the background to help them remain calm.

Remember, you are upsetting their world, take things slow, involve them in the decluttering process, and start small.

We are all here to assist the person with Autism or Alzheimer’s live a happy and healthy life and together we make it happen.

If you need help or encouragement as a Caregiver give us a call at  386-847-2322 or check out our  Caregiver Support Group. Our  Senior Advisors  are here to walk with you through this journey.

Make Valentine’s Day Special for Seniors

By Donna Nichols • February 5, 2025
Valentine’s Day tends to zero in on romantic love, but what about our seniors? They too often get forgotten. We have some ways to make Valentine’s Day special for them too. Spend the day with your loved one. Spending quality time with a loved one is more important to a senior than anything else. There is no greater gift than time and please make sure you have enough, so you are not rushed. Do your elderly loved one have a favorite meal? Perhaps you can prepare it for them, or if they are able, you can prepare it together. How fun would that be for you both? Be sure to discuss the enjoyment it brought you while you are sharing the meal together. How about a game of name that love song? You could prepare a playlist of love songs from the generation and play them to see how many they get correct. Or, if you can sing, you can sing some for them and see if they can recollect them. Take some time for reminiscing, go through old photo albums, or ask about old times. Ask them about when you were young and what trouble you caused; this will give you all something to laugh (or cry) about. Has your loved one been cooped up all winter? Take them out for a nice lunch, or weather permitting, a picnic in the park. Go for coffee and a donut, then head out to see a movie. Make a “date” of it. Maybe your senior is into crafts. You can design special Valentine’s Day cards for other family members. This way your senior can express their love for them and send it to them in their own unique way. You can create other greeting cards as well. Bake some special treats together. Does your senior have some favorite cookies or cake? You could bake it together, or you can bake it for them. Then you can enjoy it after you have the meal you prepared together. Yummy, delicious!! You can watch some romantic movies together if they prefer to stay in the house or the weather isn’t so good. If they like to color, you can buy them some of those large coloring books and you can color together. Don’t forget the decorations and the flowers! Make the house or apartment as festive as possible. Even if they live in as assisted living community, you can still decorate their room to the nines! Make it as festive as possible! If you live in another state or can’t be close to your senior for Valentine’s Day, how about sending them a specially crafted care package. You can hand make some gifts, add some photos of family and friends, and send a personally recorded message. You can bake some homemade treats and incorporate some things that are of personal interest to them. This will show how much you care for them and make their Valentine’s Day extra special even if you can’t be with them.  There are so many ways to make Valentine’s Day special for seniors. Let’s not forget about them; make sure to show them they are so loved too!

February is National Heart Month

By Donna Nichols • February 4, 2025
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Hydration Tips for the Winter

By Donna Nichols • January 8, 2025
I’ve written many blogs about the importance of staying hydrated in the summer, but did you know it’s just as important to stay hydrated in the winter months? I’ve shared some important tips on how to stay hydrated in the winter and why. Cold, dry air can dehydrate you easily and quickly. Even if you don’t feel thirsty. Proper hydration can help regulate your body temperature, maintain healthy organ function, and prevent fatigue, dry skin, and headaches. In the colder months, you do not feel thirsty, that’s why it’s so important to make sure you drink plenty of water. Why is winter hydration so important? Colder air tends to be drier causing moisture to evaporate through your breathing which can cause dehydration. In colder weather, you may not feel as thirsty, causing you to become dehydrated quickly. Also, wearing more clothing traps sweat inside your clothing causing more fluid loss. What are some of the benefits of staying hydrated in the winter? • Drinking enough water helps keep your skin hydrated and prevents dryness. This will help with that dry, itchy skin feeling we all get in the winter. • Water helps your body maintain a regular core temperature. Which is so important to maintain in the winter. • Drinking plenty of water supports your immune system, which helps fight off winter colds and the flu. We all want to fight those germs off! • When you are dehydrated, you become tired easily, so drinking plenty of water helps keep your energy levels up. How do you stay hydrated in the winter? • Make sure you drink plenty of water. Set reminders if you must; you probably won’t feel as thirsty in the winter, but you need to keep drinking that water! • You don’t have to drink cold water; room temperature water works. You can also drink tea or water with lemon, as long as you’re getting your water. • If you’re going out, carry a water bottle with you to ensure you have water to drink. • Eat fruits and vegetables that contain water. Tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, watermelon, cauliflower, mushrooms, cucumber, apples, and pineapple are just a few that contain high water contents. • If you think you’re dehydrated, check your urine; if it’s a darker color, that can suggest dehydration. Urine should be a pale, yellow color. As you can see, staying hydrated in the winter is just as important as staying hydrated in the summer, if not more. In the winter you don’t realize you are thirsty therefore you tend not to drink as much water as you should. This has the potential of wreaking havoc on your body. Please make sure you drink plenty of water in the wintertime as you do in the summertime. We have rebranded our company, we are now Assisted Senior Services! Call us for ANYTHING SENIOR!! 386-847-2322!
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