Part of your role as a family caregiver is making sure your aging parent has a healthy, clean environment to live in. Unfortunately, there are many potential hazards that may exist in your senior’s home which can put their health and well-being at risk. One of these is mold.
September is Mold Awareness Month. This is the perfect opportunity for you to determine if your aging parent may be suffering from health consequences as a result of exposure to mold, and to take steps to remove mold safely from their home environment.
Some signs that mold in their home may be damaging your seniors health include:
- Runny nose
Home Care Plainview NY – Could Mold Be Damaging Your Senior’s Health? - Stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Postnasal drip
- Itchy eyes
- Itchy nose
- Itchy throat
- Watery eyes
- Dryness or scaliness on the skin
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
If your aging parent has been experiencing these symptoms and they have not been related to another health issue such as a cold, it may be due to exposure to mold throughout their home. Inspect areas of their home that might be prone to dampness, such as their bathroom or basement. Keep in mind even if the mold is located in the basement, it can move into the rest of the living area in the air. Removing mold safely is critical, as it can spread easily through the air.
Some safe and effective means of removing mold include:
- Scrub with a baking soda solution, rinse, and then spray again with the baking soda and allow to dry.
- Spray thoroughly with vinegar and allow to sit for an hour. Wipe the area clean.
- Spray thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide and allow to sit for ten minutes. Scrub and then wipe down the surface.
Keeping a home clean can be challenging for an elderly adult who is living with health challenges, or mobility problems. Fortunately, helping your parent to keep their home clean and healthy is one of the many fully customizable services offered by home care. A home care services provider at can help your loved one with basic housekeeping tasks such as laundry, dishes, tidying, and taking the trash out. Not only does this help the home stay cleaner and fresher, but it also helps your parent to conserve energy, and stay safer. As a family caregiver, knowing your aging parent has access to this type of assistance can give you more confidence they will be able to enjoy a fresher, cleaner, and healthier living environment as they age in place.
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mold-allergy/symptoms-causes/syc-20351519
If you or an aging loved one are in need of Home Care Services in Plainview NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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