If you or your elder care provider are taking care of your senior parents, you may be surprised to find they like thrifting or going to antique stores to shop.
As every child is concerned, you might fear how safe a thrift store is. Believe it or not, you may think thrifting is a risky hobby for seniors, but just like any in-person shopping experience, it will have the same risks. If you are worried about how clean something is or exposing seniors to diseases, there are a few tips for you and your elder care provider to keep in mind. Seniors shouldn’t give up fun hobbies like shopping at thrift stores, and there can be tons of fun advantages a senior gets by going out.
If you notice your senior parents are going out less because you cannot provide rides when they need it, you should consider elder care attendants to help them out. They may be able to help sanitize any goods a senior finds at a thrift shop and get them to and from each store safely. Elder care professionals can help a senior live independently while still being able to have fun on their own, like going to thrift stores. Here are some tips on how to stay safe while thrift shopping.
Avoid Pillows and Blankets
Although a cozy blanket may look great as a throw, and a senior may really see themselves wrapping up in it, it’s something to avoid at thrift shops. You never know if the person before was a smoker or how clean they were. Even a simple washing may not get rid of things like bed bugs or cockroaches. It is one of the best things to avoid when thrifting. This is one of the best tips to go by when you are concerned about your older parents thrifting.
Sanitize Dishes and Other Products
Finding fancy glasses or tea sets is always fun and may inspire your senior to host a dinner for friends and family. However, everything they buy should be deeply sanitized. Try using vinegar or bleach if necessary. Some dish sets may be really dusty and need to be rinsed off for safe use.
Wear a Mask
There are tons of viruses going around right now, and it may make you feel scared. However, one of the best ways for a senior to stay safe is to wear a mask while shopping around. This is not exclusive to thrift stores but something a senior can do for any store they enter. They don’t have to give up any hobbies because of what is floating around.
Why Should Seniors Continue To Thrift?
Seniors must have hobbies that they find intriguing. Every day there will be something new to browse through at the thrift shop, and they may even find other seniors with the same passion. It is a way to buy cheap items and then flip them or make them look brand new, which can fill up a senior’s time. This is a fun way to get out of the house and encourage seniors to be social. It isn’t something they should give up if it’s something they love doing.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in San Francisco, CA, and the surrounding area, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203
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