Space Up
11 Sept 2025
When we want to help our parents, we don't want to make things worse... Most elders aren't "unwilling to tidy up," but rather reluctant, hesitant to start, or afraid of bothering their children. Their belongings carry the weight of time and stories; easily disturbing them can hurt feelings. Therefore, instead of urging them to "throw them away," it's better to ensure their safety first, then build trust through small-scale trials; if necessary, seek outside help (organising/cleaning/recycling) to handle the difficult steps, while respecting that the decision rests with your parents. This article provides a follow-up process for those who want to solve problems without causing conflict.
How to Start Organising an Elder's Home
How to Bring It Up Without Hurting Feelings? — Includes a three-sentence dialogue script and boundaries.
When Should You Seek External Help? — Safety/Hygiene/Functionality: If any one of these criteria is met, you can start.
What Will External Help Do? — Organizing vs. Cleaning vs. Moving/Recycling vs. Social Welfare Resources: Clear division of labor.
Is There a Step-by-Step Checklist? — Yes, a 5-step process + checklist allows you to proceed without time pressure.
When Do You Need External Help? — Three Key Criteria (Any One Requires Action):
Safety: Aisles < 80 cm, poor lighting at night, no non-slip surfaces in the bathroom, clutter around the stove in the kitchen.
Hygiene: Mouldy odours, signs of insects and rodents, expired medicines and food stored away.
Functionality: Dining table unusable for extended periods, bed covered in clutter, frequently used items (medicine, ID, remote control) taking more than 30 seconds to find.
Principle: Prioritise safety, then aesthetics. First, address the entryway/hallway, bathroom, dining table, and kitchen countertops, then tackle low-frequency storage.
Conversation with Elders: A Three-Sentence Dialogue Design
1｜Concern + Specific Observation
"You've mentioned getting up frequently at night lately, and I'm worried these boxes in the hallway might trip you. How about I help you create a safe and secure nighttime route?"
2｜Agreement on Scope and Boundaries (Public First, Private Later)
"We'll start with the hallway, dining table, and bathroom—the public areas. Your wardrobe and storage will remain for now; we can gradually work on them once you feel an improvement."
3｜Small-Scale Trial + External Support
"I've found a storage and organisation service that will accompany you to review the categorisation. Let's try it out in one area first. If it works well, we'll decide whether to expand. I'll cover the costs, and you can discontinue the service at any time depending on usage."
Avoid Confrontational Statements: × "Your place is messy" → Change: "This route isn't safe at night" × "Just throw them away" → Change: "Put frequently used items in more easily accessible places first."
Who is the External Support? Three Clear Roles and Division of Labor
Type | Applicable Situation | What They Do |
Organisation Company | Needs categorisation, decision-making, workflow, and storage systems. | Accompanying decision-making, sorting, positioning, shelving, and labeling; can assist in reviewing item categorisation + systematic categorisation based on usage frequency. |
Cleaning Company | Needs deep cleaning and restoring environmental hygiene. | Degreasing and mold removal, disinfection and stain removal, curtain and carpet cleaning. |
Moving/Recycling | Large furniture relocation, old item removal. | Moving, recycling, and donation coordination. |
5 Steps to Start the Organising Process
1｜First, create safe hot zones
Clear aisles to ≥80 cm; place non-slip mats and nightlights in the bathroom; restore the dining table to usable condition; expose the work area on the kitchen countertop.
Place frequently used medications and hygiene products at shoulder-width (approximately 80–140 cm).
2｜Define the Scope and Boundaries
Only work on public areas (entrance hall, aisle, dining table, bathroom, kitchen countertop); do not leave personal drawers and storage areas untouched.
Establish a "No Loss Rule": No personal belongings may be lost without parental consent.
3｜Small Area First (Approx. 60–90 minutes)
Choose one area: hallway/dining table/bathroom.
Process: Take out everything → Quickly sort (keep/pending/exit) → Locate nearby → Large label (room | purpose).
Frequently items place without lid cover; separate supplies for "front desk use" and "back stage storage".
4｜Introduce External Assistance to Expand Effective Practices
Organisation Company: Expand the pilot program to other common areas; assist with categorisation, decluttering, and repositioning according to traffic flow and usage frequency.
Cleaning Company: Perform deep cleaning in the organised areas; moving/recycling: Remove abandoned items and large furniture.
Children should accompany their parents throughout the process to confirm "location and labeling," but the final decision rests with the parents.
5｜Maintenance and Fine-tuning
Indicators: Finding items < 30 seconds, returning items to their place ≤ 3 steps, repositioning within 2 minutes in the evening.
Supplies are managed using a double-box system (opening a second box equals restocking); sentimental items are placed in a "trial box" with a date label, and re-inspected after 30 days.
Item Handling Guidelines
Sentimental Items: First, tell a story; allow keeping a "masterpiece," the rest can be photographed for archiving or made into "story cards" before being given away.
Documents and Medicines: Documents should be consolidated in one place; medicines should be distributed according to expiration dates, and expired items should be discarded.
Duplicate Items and Supplies: Establish limit cards and fixed storage locations (front desk use, back stage reserves).
Large Furniture: Prioritize safety and traffic flow; adjust or remove as necessary.
No-Fault Principles: Do not make decisions for others, do not comment, do not steal; prioritise public area over private, safety over aesthetics.
FAQ
Q1: What if parents insist on not spending money?
A: First, implement a safe hotspot and a small area, let the results speak for themselves; children should initially cover trial costs, then evaluate expansion.
Q2: What if parents don't want outsiders touching their personal belongings?
A: Focus on public areas; for private areas, accompany the decision-making process, do not make decisions for others, and do not discard items without authorisation.
Q3: Suspected hoarding at home, with odours, insects, and rodents?
A: First, address hygiene: professional cleaning and pest control; simultaneously, only perform low-impact tidying in public areas.
Q4: Is the tidying prone to relapse?
A: Set the correct placement setting to the easiest (nearest, uncovered, same size), and use "event triggers" for fine-tuning: if finding an item takes more than 30 seconds or the item gets stuck, adjust its position or container.
Q5: Sibling disagreements?
A: Define the scope (public areas first, private areas later); for non-emotional items, let 2/3 decide; for emotional items, put them in a "trial box," and discuss them again after the trial period.
整理, 服務