Let me state for the record I hate housework. I always have and I expect I always will. Luckily, my hatred for filth exceeds my dislike of housework, so my house is reasonably clean. A quick vacuum, dusting and paper/clutter clearing make my house presentable for guests.

So while I’m not a complete slob, I’m also not keen on the next steps I need to take to keep Jim safe.

It’s time to simplify our life and surroundings. Key areas are the kitchen and the spare bedroom. They have become depositories of stuff. If it was just me, this wouldn’t be an issue but living with someone with dementia, means that all those things you aren’t quite ready to get rid of creates a space is filled with so much potential for confusion.

Back when we were both working, we had a shared love of kitchen gadgets. I’d come home to see something he thought I’d get a kick out of. Then as his hands started to shake, I bought him gifts like an electric potato peeler. Now that he isn’t cooking anymore, the peeler sits on the shelf, taking up space and there’s a three level steamer is shoved in the back of a cupboard somewhere. (I am going to have a seriously epic yard sale one of these days)

As Jim’s dementia progresses, he is easily disoriented. We have three cooling racks, they’ve been kept in the same spot on the shelf for years. Jim remembers where they should be when he’s looking for them but sadly, for the past six months, they disappear every time he puts them away. This morning I found the round one at the bottom of the wire fruit bowl. I’ve been missing the 9×13 one for weeks.

I can put it off not longer. I need to take all of those Amazon boxes I’ve been saving for ‘some day’ and actually fill them with the unnecessary items around our home. I need to take them to the garage. That way, if I eventually want to use them again, I have them but at least I get them away from of our daily lives.

We are of an age and condition that we will eventually have to downsize. Instead of doing it all at once and possibly with a tight deadline (like selling the house) I should start doing it now. Fill a box or two every week. Simplify our surroundings for Jim and get a head start on the inevitable, cause as much as I like to pretend it’ll happen. The stuff won’t clean itself.