As a dietitian, I remember being alarmed when I noticed my aging, 90-something mother become increasingly unconcerned about obvious food safety issues in her kitchen. Every time I (or my sisters) visited her, we’d surreptitiously remove ancient, unsafe foods from the refrigerator. Offers to do more for her, however, were quickly squashed. If you’ve noticed this same situation with an older parent, friend, or loved one, there are ways you can help. But first you need to get their buy-in.
Having someone suggest (or outright tell you) that your house is less than tidy is, understandably, insulting. So don’t be surprised if you detect some resentment or if they openly take offense. The key is to help minimize any embarrassment about their messy or cluttered space by being respectful and tactful. Emphasize that you’re not there to pass judgment or criticize. Instead, you’re concerned about their comfort, health, and safety. Offer to work with them as a team, so they don’t think you’re just trying to take over. Once you’ve got the okay to proceed, follow our tips on what to tackle.
Start With the Refrigerator
People aged 65 and older are at high risk for foodborne illness. This is due to a natural decline in immune system function and digestive changes, among other things. Also, as people age, their senses of smell and taste typically diminish. And this can make it harder to distinguish when food tastes spoiled or smells “off.” For these reasons, start by going through the refrigerator.
- Check the temperature of the refrigerator using a refrigerator thermometer. Keep the refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees or less, and the freezer at 0 degrees.
- Work your way through all sections of the refrigerator, checking expiration dates and tossing all expired or questionable items.
- Store all remaining food items in a cooler while you continue to clean the refrigerator.
- Remove all shelves and drawers—wash them with warm, soapy water and dry with a clean towel.
- Wipe down the interior from top to bottom with a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. A spray bottle works great for this step.
- Pull the unit away from the wall to sweep up any debris that may be underneath it or behind it. Dust off the condenser coils and wipe down the exterior (don’t forget the top).
- Replace shelves in a logical way that is useful for your older friend and the food items they have.
- Add back the remaining food items, taking care to wipe them all down (including under twist caps, etc.). This is a good time to discuss the FIFO (first in, first out) food safety rule. For example, when there are multiples of the same item, make sure the oldest are in front of or on top of the newer ones. (While you’re at it, remind them about leftover food safety rules, such as refrigerating food promptly and eating it within 3-4 days. Food heated on the stove should not be left there all day and reheated again at supper time.)
- Toss old items from the freezer and give it a wipe down. Arrange items by date, putting the oldest items front and center so they get used first. For a stand-alone freezer, a defrosting may be in order as well.
On to the Pantry or Food Cupboard
Many older people rely on their stash of shelf-stable food for their meals, and that is ok! (We appreciate pantry recipes for their convenience, and have plenty of Guiding Stars earning pantry-friendly recipes.) But it’s crucial to make sure that the food in the pantry and cabinets is still good and accessible. To do so, employ the same basic process that you did with the refrigerator. Remove all items, toss expired or spoiled ones, wipe down the shelves, and return remaining items. A couple of other things you may want to do:
- Consider adding large “use by” dates. Finding or reading expiration dates on some packages can be difficult sometimes. Make it easier by putting a piece of masking tape or brightly colored sticker on items and dating them with a permanent marker.
- You may find that flour, grains, cereals, rice, or other dry goods have moths or other pests in them. If so, consider getting resealable or lidded containers for these items when you replace them. Then label these containers so your loved one can easily know what’s inside. This is also a good time to remind them that these kinds of items may spoil faster than they’re used. It might be better to replace them with smaller-sized packages (for example, two pounds of flour instead of five).
- Gather like items in areas of the pantry or cupboard, using bins if desired. Be sure to arrange the shelves so that the items used most often are the easiest to reach. And avoid putting anything on the ground or on the highest shelves—keep things at eye level.
Make Daily Upkeep Easier
A little daily tidying can be easier than a big cleaning. This is especially true for older folks who may have a lack of energy, strength, or mobility.
- Check to see that hand soap at the sink is available, as well as dish soap. Remind them that washing their hands before cooking and eating is important for preventing illness.
- If you can, provide things like a pan scrubber with a handle or a trash can with an auto-close lid.
- Many older people stick with their “tried and true” cleaning methods and equipment even when easier alternatives are available. It may be difficult to convince them to change their ways. But if you can demonstrate how much easier cleaning can be, perhaps you’ll be successful. Items like disinfecting wipes, spray mops, and lightweight, cordless stick vacuums might make all the difference in keeping things tidy.
- Consider helping them with bigger cleaning tasks like cleaning the oven or wiping down the cabinets and shelves. Alternatively, they may be able to hire someone to do those things and more (such as washing windows).