When seniors thought about what their later years were going to be like, they probably didn’t imagine spending a lot of time and energy cleaning. But a lot of times what happens is that seniors start to become almost obsessed with keeping their homes clean. There are a few different things that could be going on, and home care might be a solid tool that helps.
Feeling Lost
One of the factors to consider when seniors are doing things like cleaning a lot more often is that they may not have a feeling of purpose. It’s tough to no longer have a job or responsibilities like they had in the past. Seniors can feel as if cleaning gives them a feeling of accomplishment that might be difficult to find in other ways.
Cognitive Changes
Another possibility is cognitive changes. Some cognitive illnesses affect memory and cognitive function. This could mean that seniors may not remember that they already cleaned a room or area. Or they could have trouble recognizing that the area is clean. Being stuck in a cognitive loop in which they’re convinced they still need to clean the home might mean that seniors keep cleaning, even when the house is very clean already.
Mental Health Concerns
It’s also not uncommon for seniors to develop mental health issues later in life, even if they didn’t have those issues in the past. Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a condition in which people have persistent thoughts that tell them to use ritual behaviors to help them to feel more in control. For some seniors, this means that the persistent thoughts tell them to keep cleaning. There are treatments for OCD, so it’s important to talk to a medical provider if seniors seem to be experiencing compulsions to clean.
Feeling Lonely
If seniors feel alone and lonely, they may try to fill their time with any activity that keeps them busy. In some cases, that might mean that they’re spending a lot of time cleaning their homes. Keeping busy with cleaning tasks can help them to avoid thinking about the fact that they’re not getting the social interaction that they really need.
Finding Solutions
Any time that family members notice that the seniors they love are engaging in new or different behaviors than they did in the past, that’s something to pay attention to. Seniors might benefit from elder care providers coming to visit them, especially if loneliness is a big contributing factor. Home care can also help seniors to find other activities that give them a sense of purpose and feel like they’re accomplishing things. The experience these professional caregivers have can also help families notice bigger changes that mean that a medical condition is causing issues.
Whether the new obsession with cleaning is occurring because of mental health concerns, other health issues, or loneliness, there are solutions that can work for seniors. Home care can help families narrow down possible answers that they can put to work right away.
