This month’s guest blog is written by Sorin Floti of Right at Home Wandsworth & Lambeth
For many people, organising and decluttering starts as a practical task – clearing space, tidying drawers, making the home easier to manage. But as we get older, the state of our home can have a much deeper impact: on safety, independence, mental wellbeing, and even the type of care we need in the future.
From a home care perspective, a tidy, accessible environment is not a “nice to have” — it’s often fundamental to someone’s ability to live well at home.
Safety first: reducing everyday risks
When we begin supporting a new client at Right at Home Wandsworth & Lambeth, one of the first things we do is carry out a detailed Risk Assessment. This includes looking closely at:
- trip hazards such as cluttered walkways, loose rugs, or trailing cables;
- overcrowded rooms that make mobility aids difficult to use;
- electrical risks from overloaded sockets or hard-to-reach switches;
- items stored too high, too low, or in illogical places.
Many falls and injuries don’t happen because someone is unsteady; they happen because the environment hasn’t adapted as needs have changed. Decluttering and reorganising a space can significantly reduce these risks and help people move around their home with greater confidence.
The mental health benefits of an organised home
There is also growing evidence that our physical environment affects our mental health.
Research in psychology and neuroscience shows that cluttered spaces can increase stress levels, contribute to anxiety, and make it harder to focus or make decisions. For older adults, especially those experiencing memory changes, clutter can feel overwhelming and disorientating.
A calm, organised home supports:
- better mood and emotional regulation;
- reduced cognitive load as there is less to process and remember;
- greater sense of control and dignity;
- improved motivation to engage in daily routines.
Over the long term, this can support healthier ageing by helping people stay independent, engaged, and confident in their own space.
Organising as a cost saver in care
There’s also a very practical consideration: care is easier, quicker, and more effective in an organised home.
When everything has a clear place, carers can:
- help someone dress more efficiently;
- retrieve items without searching or causing frustration;
- make beds, tidy rooms, or prepare meals more smoothly;
- support routines without unnecessary time pressure.
This can mean care visits are used more effectively, and in some cases, fewer hours of support are needed because daily tasks simply flow better.
At Right at Home, our Carers can help with light tidying and everyday organisation as part of regular visits. However, larger decluttering or re-organising projects often need dedicated time, specialist skills, and a structured approach — this is where professional organisers like One Stop Organisers bring enormous value.
Working together: care and organising, side by side
The best outcomes happen when care and organising work hand in hand. At Right at Home Wandsworth & Lambeth, we can support clients with day-to-day routines, safety monitoring, and ongoing practical help. One Stop Organisers can step in for more complex projects, from full room resets to systems that genuinely work for how someone lives now.
Together, we help create homes that are not just tidy — but safe, supportive, and fit for later life.
Because sometimes, organising isn’t just about space. It’s about care.
About the Author
Sorin Floti is the Managing Director of Right at Home Wandsworth & Lambeth, a local home care provider supporting adults to live safely, comfortably, and independently in their own homes.
Right at Home is part of a large, nationally recognised and award-winning care network across the UK, known for high standards of persona-centred, relationship-led care.
Right at Home Wandsworth & Lambeth is a Living Wage Accredited employer, reflecting a commitment to valuing and supporting carers as professionals.
Sorin and his team work to core values of Trust, Compassion, Quality, and Respect, believing that great care starts with strong relationships with clients, families, and local partners.
Contact details
To get in touch with Sorin or Right at Home Wandsworth & Lambeth:
Phone: 020 8159 2373
Email: sorin@rightathome.co.uk
Website: www.rightathome.co.uk/Wandsworth
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576384002786#
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rah.wandsworth.lambeth/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rahwl