The environmental protection agency is one of the first organizations to recognize September as Mold Awareness Month. The elderly are at higher risk for many things in life. Mold can be hazardous to anyone’s health but especially seniors. Personal care at home can help maintain a household and do the basic cleaning, but mold can be tricky to get rid of, especially if it has spread out of reach or inside of the walls of a house.
Personal care at home attendants may want to learn where the most common places are that mold grows and how to properly clean a house. This will help them provide better service to the seniors and keep them healthy.
There are many negative impacts that mold can have on a senior citizen, and it is the job of personal care at home to limit these risks. If someone is a new caregiver and notices mold, they should take the senior to get checked by a doctor immediately. Keep reading to understand more about mold and to educate yourself during Mold Awareness Month.
Where Does Mold Typically Grow?
Personal Care at Home in Woodbury, NY: Mold and Seniors
When you own a house, you will have to clean a lot more than expected. Seniors may start to struggle cleaning and may need help with their routines. Personal care at home can help take on some of the responsibility by helping a senior clean. Here are a few places to check to ensure the area is mold-free.
Showers
Even if the senior has a bathtub this is the best place to check for mold and to clean regularly. This is a great place for bacteria to grow and thrive causing a lot of mold to build up over time if not cleaned regularly. Seniors may struggle to bend over and clean for long periods.
Bathroom Floors
If the bathroom is not ventilated properly the area may remain moist a lot of the time. This is the best environment for spores to open, spread, and reproduce quickly. It can be unhealthy to breathe in and it can spread faster than you think.
Refrigerators
A senior may not go through their fridge and look for old food. This can cause a mold outbreak and even ruin other newer foods. Fridges should be cleaned out and the shelving washed occasionally.
Vents
If the senior has an AC unit or heating vents these need to be checked regularly. If a vent has mold in it and is turned on the spores can spread quickly. Vents should always be cleaned regularly to ensure there is no mold.
How to Get Rid of Mold
The best way a caregiver can help a senior get rid of any accumulated mold is by using a bleaching solution. It will be part bleach and part water; they should be poured in equal lengths. Wear gloves and start scrubbing. In some cases, the bleach solution may need to sit for several minutes to a few hours before cleaning the area. The scrubbing may be too much work for a senior to do, and that is why a caregiver can be so handy.