Seniors who keep their home clean and tidy feel emotionally and physically better after tackling their daily chores and getting their house in order. Kathy D. Wright, PhD, RN, CNS, a postdoctoral KL2 Scholar at the Case Western Reserve University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and colleagues studied 337 participants, aged 65 to 94-years-old. Participants had to have at least one chronic illness, have physical restrictions that prevented them from doing at least one basic daily task, such as bathing and dressing, and be unable to manage certain responsibilities, such as taking medicines, handling finances or accessing transportation. Results showed that housework and maintaining property affected the participants’ physical and mental well-being more than other factors, such as neighborhood or income. “House cleaning kept them up and moving,” said Dr Wright. “A clean environment is therapeutic.”
Housework Helps Seniors Stay Physically and Emotionally Fit
Wright KD, Pepper GA, Caserta M, Wong B, Brunker CP, Morris DL, Burant CJ, Hazelett S, Kropp D, Allen KR. Factors that influence physical function and emotional well-being among Medicare-Medicaid enrollees. Geriatr Nurs. 2015;36(2 Suppl):S16-20.
