Three main steps to become a more organized caregiver

Is there chaos in your caregiving world? Do you believe that a cluttered space= a cluttered mind?

This article applies to just about anyone who feels stressed, rushed, and disorganized. However, if you are a caregiver or caring for someone in your home, the chaos and clutter can affect mood, productivity, and your ability to perform your caregiving duties. These tips and hacks may be helpful in creating some calm and peace amidst the busyness of your life.

 

Step 1. Clear clutter and make space.

 

This is probably one of the last things you want to think about but it truly is the best place to start. Studies show that decluttering boosts mood, improves health, sharpens focus, and reduces anxiety.

 

I’m sure you can relate to how you can feel calm in one moment and then become a frantic lunatic when you can’t find the pack of wet wipes you know you just bought yesterday! Or you need to make an appointment for dad and you can’t find any of the doctors’ business cards you were saving to make the appointment. Maybe you can’t tell which pajamas are mom’s clean ones or the dirty ones from two days ago? Are there two cartons of spoiled milk in the fridge? Forgot to pick up more briefs? Are there half used tubes of Desitin barrier cream on the sink, three of them with missing caps?

 

I hear you! Been there. You are just trying to get through the day and take care of your loved one (LO) while still thinking about the 55 other things you have to do by dinnertime. The problem is that the clutter itself creates a feeling of unease and disorganization which makes all your tasks feel a little more daunting. If you are spending time searching for things, shuffling through piles and papers, and feeling like you are constantly rushing, then your surrounding environment could be contributing to the problem.

 

If you have time to prepare for your caregiving duties a , then that gives you a little headstart on this project. If not, do not worry. You can tackle space little by little until you have a sense of peace and order. It does not have to happen in a day or even a week. Start small.

 

I would start with your LO’s space and the bathroom they will use. We aren’t organizing yet. Step one is purely decluttering. You will organize later.

 

1. Make a plan in your calendar on how you are going to tackle this project. Maybe 15-30 minutes each day, or one section a day. Perhaps you can knock out several spaces in a weekend. Writing it down in some type of schedule or list will help keep you on track.

 

2. Make 3 piles. Keep, Donate/Sell, and Toss. I bring 3 bins into the space I am trying to declutter and start with one area, like a closet, cabinet, or corner. I find that I do best when I’m in the right frame of mind to not hold onto stuff. If you are getting sidetracked by looking through photos for hours or counting your children’s baby teeth you saved in those little tooth boxes (yes, sadly that was me) in your closet, then you might not be ready at that moment. If you haven’t read the book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo, it is an easy read and quite helpful in coaching you on how to part with items that no longer serve you or make you happy. It helps you to realize that you don’t need 4 pairs of scissors or 3 beige cardigan sweaters that you haven’t worn in years. Do your best to keep in mind that you are creating a clean and orderly space that will bring calm to you and the person whom which you are caring for.

 

Once you finish that area, decide the next best place. Maybe the kitchen area or the living room. In the kitchen, try to toss as much as you can that takes up space in your cupboards, pantry, and fridge. Toss items that are expired or are growing stuff on them. Tackle the spaces little by little. When you fill a bin, get another. It is a really good feeling to start reducing the amount of “stuff” you have and preparing for the next steps.

 

Paper clutter is the devil. I find it to be the thing that builds up the quickest and lingers around the house the longest. If you already have that part down, then you are more organized than you might think! Personally, I would maybe put the paper clutter in a bin, away from the main living and dining areas, for you to address when you are ready. Once you have decluttered , you can head to the organization section and start to tackle that.

 

 

Step 2. Clean OR Clean and Organize

 

Great! You got the “declutter phase”. Maybe it took you a week. Maybe a month. It doesn’t matter. It feels good, right?

 

Now it’s time for the next step. Some people like to organize space as they clean. I get that. However, the organization can take some time so it might help to clean the house before you get to the organization step. The clutter is gone so you should have some space to really clean. If you have family who can help or can afford a cleaning service, I highly recommend it. Is Mother’s Day or Father’s Day coming? A birthday or holiday? Ask for your house to be cleaned. It might not be the new saw you want or the nice earrings on your wish list, but a clean house is a perfect gift. I am talking clean the fans, the baseboards, all of it. This is a clean slate (no pun intended) toward the organized home that you don’t even know how badly you need for this season of your life. You can do some organizing as you go to prepare for better organization later. At least the spaces will look more relaxed and inviting without “stuff” laying all over the place, since you already decluttered.

 

This might be a good time to have a family meeting😊 I realize that this project might be in your home or it could be your LO’s home, but if there are other people living there, then this meeting applies to them as well. If your LO is capable of maintaining some order or picking up after him or herself, then he/she should be a part of this meeting also. This is where you get to explain the purpose of what you have been doing and the reasons for having a clean and organized environment. If you need to delegate daily or weekly tasks to the family members, then please do. If your biggest request is that every person clean their dishes and put them in the dishwasher, so be it. My bestie calls it “Bus your station!” That’s restaurant lingo for “clean your space.” It is a team effort to have a clean and peaceful home. This is when you get to make YOUR needs known and make the family realize that momma, wife, dad, or whoever you may be… needs for this to be the new way of doing things to maintain peace and order in the home. If you are the main caregiver in the home, and you have other responsibilities, a job, or whatever it is, then this is the part where your family really needs to HEAR you. Please do not waver in your requests. Be calm but be firm. This is for them as much as it is for you.

 

Step 3. Let’s organize:

 

Let’s start with your LO’s sleeping area, bathroom area, and “hanging out” area. In these areas you will be organizing to make things easier for you to assist your LO with their personal care, but also to help them be more independent if they are able. A rolling bedside table is great for keeping their necessary items and can serve as a meal tray if they sit in their room for any snacks or meals. Consider only having necessary items on the tray so that it doesn’t get cluttered and overwhelming; things such as a Kleenex box, phone, book, glasses, and remote control. You could use a small organization box for the items, but it is sometimes easier for them to access them if they can have them laid out in their visual field. You could use contact paper to cover the tray in a solid light color to provide a contrast for them to better see their items. I would keep a small trash can right near their bed, chair, or rolling table. If they have a nightstand next to the bed, you will likely want a lamp if you have to come in and check on them at night. It is nice to have a “touch lamp” with a dimmer so you can adjust lighting. If your LO needs to be changed in bed at night, you may want to have a small plastic bin or basket with briefs, wipes, gloves, and barrier cream right next to the bed. Clothes and blankets can create a lot of clutter. You may find that once they settle in, they prefer to wear certain clothes, probably comfy ones. You may decide to keep a few nice outfits and donate clothes that won’t get worn. Clothes that are easy to don and doff will make both your lives easier. Elastic waistband pants, easy pullovers or button-up shirts are often nice to use. Even house dresses (yes, muumuus) that zip are nice and make toileting easier. Putting labels on dresser drawers for the clothing items makes it easier for you and for them to know where their clothes are. Some people label in words (shirts, shorts, underwear) and some use pictures. Just use bold large print and keep it simple. If you have one spot, a bin or hook, designated to hang or place clothes that can be worn again the next day, it will reduce clothing clutter.

The bathroom area will get messy, no doubt about it. The fewer the items that are available, the better. Easy access to a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, a wash cloth and hand towel is helpful. You know your LO best, so location of these items will be up to you. If your LO is forgetful or has dementia, then you may want to leave a couple items set up at the sink within their visual field. If they can access the medicine cabinet, placing them there will reduce the clutter. If they are at wheelchair level, you might organize a few items in a small bin at the sink. Small throw rugs can be a tripping hazard and make wheelchair maneuverability difficult. The toileting area is a place where you definitely want to have supplies easily accessible and fully stocked, whether they toilet themselves or you assist. It may be beneficial to have a small basket in the corner, or in a cabinet, with extra shorts, underwear, and towels. If you use briefs, barrier cream, gloves, and wipes, then have those close by or in a bin on top of the toilet tank so you don’t have to go searching for anything. If you leave wipes within reach of your LO, keep in mind they may end up in the toilet and clog your drains. This has happened to me at my facility more times than I care to admit, and it can be expensive if you need a plumber to clear the clog. Keep the toilet paper where they can see, but maybe the wipes where only you can reach. There are all types of adaptive equipment that can be used to improve safety with showering and toileting. I will be doing my next blog on setting up the home for safety.

 

The kitchen is usually the heart of the home, right? People end up congregating around the kitchen island or dining area to visit and snack! Questions to consider are: will you be meal prepping your LO’s food separately from the family dinner? Are they on a special diet or have food preferences? If so, I would try to have sectioned areas for their food items in the fridge and pantry as well as a corner of the countertop that you designate for their meal prep. If they help prep their own food, then it will be nice for them to have a designated area and special places that they can go to grab their own snacks and food. If they have special utensils or cups then they could have a section of the cupboard just for their favorite plateware and cups. You could have a bin in the pantry that has their snacks and you could label it if that helps. The kitchen is usually the most popular place where people store medications. You can keep them in a bin in the cupboard or in a drawer. Some people keep them out, but if you are trying to decrease clutter, you may want to find a section where you can store them for easy access. A lazy susan can be used so you can rotate it to access meds.

 

Your LO will probably spend quite a bit of time in their favorite chair or recliner, whether that be in their room or living area. Just apply the same organization principles to items they regularly use. This is when that rolling table comes in handy because you can just roll it between rooms.

 

Paper Clutter: The bane of my existence!! I am finally at a point in my life where I needed to find a better way. The paper clutter can still mess with your mind, even if it is subconsciously. You can shove it in drawers, but it’s still there, just lingering and lurking. Take a day… and get it over with. Even if you start with 3 piles, FILE… ACTION… TOSS (FAT) File important documents (medical papers, etc.). Action is a folder of anything you need to address (bills you need to pay or a wedding invite that requires an RSVP). And finally, toss/shred anything you don’t need. As you get organized you are going to want to keep your beautiful system going and maybe you can have a 3-tiered metal file organizer and label it file, action, toss so your daily mail will have a place to go. Then you can file and shred whenever you can find time. Shredding papers is something my residents actually liked to help with at times if you think your LO could help😊

 

Keep a calendar to track appointments, therapy, etc. This could be a large calendar on the fridge so that everyone is aware or a calendar you keep with you. You may prefer to use your phone. Usually, the LO likes to have a calendar to see what they have each day, depending on their cognitive level.

 

 

Medical Binder. Trying to keep track of appointments and meds and papers can be a full-time job. Staying organized in these areas will give you so much peace of mind. You could have one big binder with tabs for all the different sections or you could have a couple of binders, depending on how you like to organize. I would get a nice wide ring binder and write or print out a front cover page that clearly identifies what the binder is. No abbreviations and preferably printing vs cursive (i.e., Mary’s Healthcare Binder, Bob’s Medical Notebook”) This will also make it easy for other caregivers to locate information if you have other caregiver coverage. Clearly label the tabs in simple print.

 

Here are some tab sections that you can place in the Medical binder OR in a separate binder:

Cover Sheet/Demographics – you can make your own or use my free printable to record information about your LO. You can include address, doctors, hospital preference, homecare, and emergency contacts. You can add a page of their medical history and diagnoses, including medications/allergies.

About me page – interests/hobbies, likes/dislikes, favorite foods and drinks, favorite tv shows and music. You can include adaptive equipment they use and special instructions about their care.

 

 

Emergency file – Any advanced directives, DNR paperwork, Power of attorney, Living will, Healthcare surrogate

 

Consider keeping a health journal. This could even be a spiral notebook where you or other caregivers can note daily events, symptoms, and behaviors. This is good for therapists or other caregivers/family members to leave notes but also a good way to track symptoms for the healthcare team.

 

Daily Medication log – You could have this under a tab in your binder or separate (or both). This will be used daily to track and manage their medication. On your med pages, you want to include:

-patient name and DOB

-Medication name/dose/time (line for am, line for pm) and then check boxes 1-30 for each day of the month where you can initial.

 

This may seem like overkill but it comes in handy when you want to remember when a med was discharged or look back to see if meds were missed a day that led to a noticeable symptom or behavior.

 

Once you have these binders in place, it will not only be easier for you but for anyone else who may need to step in and assist with care.

 

Now you are decluttered and organized! I hope you find these tips helpful. I know it can’t happen in a day. This is definitely a project, but I promise a little organization will go a long way in creating a well-run, calmer household while caring for your LO. Good luck to you…

 

Thank you for your caregiver heart

Love,

Heather