4 Benefits of Cleaning Services for Seniors

For people in their golden age, a professional cleaner does much more than simply clean a home. From offering some social interaction to providing an informal wellness check, investing in a cleaning service can be invaluable.

In this post, Gem City Cleaning Solutions, a leading cleaning company in Erie, PA, looks at four benefits of cleaning services for seniors. Whether you’re a retiree looking for a bit of assistance around the house or you have a parent that needs help keeping tidy in their home, this piece can help you make your decision about hiring a professional cleaner.

1. Increase Social Interaction

Chronic loneliness is a major problem for seniors in the United States. Many people refer to this lack of social interaction for elderly people as the “silent killer.” In fact, Health Resources & Services Administration found that loneliness and social isolation can be as damaging to a person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

What’s more, a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report found that more than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also notes that many adults aged 50 and older are socially isolated or lonely in ways that put their health at risk.

Case in point: Social isolation significantly increases a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Even more specifically, social isolation is associated with a:

• 50% increased risk of dementia
• 29% increased risk of heart disease
• 32% increased risk of stroke.
• 400% increased risk of death
• 68% increased risk of hospitalization
• 57% increased risk of emergency department visits

Conversely, a study found that those with strong social relationships had a 50 percent increased likelihood of survival over their socially isolated counterparts. This finding remained consistent across age, sex, initial health status, cause of death, and follow-up period.

All these facts and figures are to say, it’s absolutely essential that older adults have regular, high-quality social interactions. Hiring a friendly, respectful home cleaner can be an excellent way to add social interaction to your day or your loved one’s day.

2. Reduce Accidents

Cleaning requires a lot of movement and potentially slippery surfaces. Considering that around three million seniors are hospitalized each year due to falls, removing any unnecessary risk factors is important. In conjunction with having a professional cleaner handle the deep cleaning, you should also consider:

• Adding handrails in the bathroom
• Using non-slip mats in tiled areas
• Removing rugs that could cause trips
• Replacing tables with glass tops
• Installing an elevated toilet or toilet seat

There are also a lot of chemicals in cleaning products. If an older adult misuses them, there could be a variety of severe side effects. That said, keeping everything but the necessities out of the house can reduce the risk of harmful accidents.

3. Improve Cleanliness

No matter your age, having a professional cleaner helps improve the overall cleanliness of your home. But for seniors, cleaners are able to get to the hard-to-reach areas that might otherwise be inaccessible. Spaces such as behind the toilet, under beds, and behind furniture can get messy quickly if left unattended. When you use a professional cleaning service, you can expect:

• Less dust
• Fresh smells
• Clean floors
• Disinfected surfaces
• Minimized clutter

A deep clean provides more than just a spotless home. In fact, keeping a clean house can elevate your mood, increase productivity, and improve your mental health!

Improving the cleanliness of a home can also improve the overall air quality inside. Reason being, dust and dirt won’t get sucked back into the HVAC system when the heat or air conditioning is on. Instead, you can breathe easy knowing the air circulating throughout your home is clean and clear.

4. Minimize Mold

Mold is a common household problem, but it doesn’t mean it’s an easy one to solve. To help keep you or your loved ones safe from its harmful effects, have a professional cleaner come over and eliminate the issue with the right cleaning solutions.

Mold often grows in hard-to-reach places, making it exceptionally difficult for seniors to eliminate it without endangering themselves. And when mold starts to grow, it spreads rapidly, so it’s crucial that you address it quickly. For an elderly person, a spot of mold could go unnoticed, and having a professional cleaner in the home regularly can be a huge help.

Hire a Friendly Cleaner

Whether you or your loved ones are basking in the golden years, it’s important to consider the usefulness of a home cleaner. They’re fast, effective, and affordable. Additionally, they can provide social interaction, help you maintain a hazard-free environment, and improve the home’s overall cleanliness.

But with a bit of help from the right people, you can increase safety and cleanliness at the same time. Contact us today to schedule a full clean for yourself or a loved one.