preparing for and cleaning up after a flood

Posted on: 10 August 2017

Mold is one problem that many homeowners fear so much that they will spend a lot of time researching and investigating to make sure their homes do not have a mold problem. Because of this, you would likely catch onto a mold problem before it completely overtakes your residence. Unfortunately, if you know an elderly homeowner, you have to help them be aware of mold in their home. These senior citizens often fall victim to major mold problems that almost completely take over before they realize there is an issue, which can be incredibly dangerous. Take a look at some of the most common reasons elderly homeowners are more prone to major mold problems in their homes.

Elderly homeowners don't often know the signs of a mold problem.

There are a lot of signs of a mold problem in a house that can tell you there is something wrong. For example,

• you may notice mold collecting along the baseboards
• you may notice an odd odor
• you may recognize signs of breathing problems 

However, a senior may not know that any of this is signs of mold problems, which means most will disregard signs that you would take note of right away. Because of this, it is important that you keep an eye out in the home of your elderly loved ones. 

Elderly homeowners don't often do the "heavy" cleaning that younger ones do. 

If you think about some of the major cleaning tasks you perform on a regular basis, it is easy to see why it would be hard for mold to be present without you catching on. You probably do things like clean behind your appliances, wash the trim and molding around the walls, and even clean the vents of your heating and cooling system on a regular basis. Older homeowners tend to disregard a lot of these tasks simply because they don't have the energy or mobility to do so, which means mold growing in some areas may never get noticed. 

Elderly homeowners may wrongly associate health problems caused by mold with their age. 

there are certain health conditions that can come along with aging that are also good signs that there is a problem with mold exposure. For example, an aging adult may naturally develop breathing problems. Because these symptoms can be just as much associated with age and age-related health issues, an older adult may not realize their health is in danger because of mold in the house. 

In the end, it is your responsibility when you have elderly loved ones living on their own to ensure their home is a safe one. If you suspect your senior relative has a mold problem, contact a mold remediation service for expert advice.