Over and over, we heard readers who said they wanted to offer assistance to loved ones in need, but that they just didn't know how. And so, I made these lists of ideas that mostly came from what the people I interviewed shared: They were too tired to make dinner, were getting treatments when their kids needed to be picked up from school, could use a ride to the doctor, were in search of audio books, now needed their home to be handicap-accessible.
But one thing I didn't hear in all that time and in all those interviews was how much of a difference it could make to someone who is ill to have their house cleaned.
It didn't strike me how soothing and supportive a tidy home could be until I read this article in the Chicago Tribune about a coalition of cleaning services that provides free housekeeping for female cancer patients while they are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
I was astounded that 500 cleaning services located in each of the 50 states and in two Canadian provinces have partnered with an organization called Cleaning for a Reason to take one burden off a women's shoulders when they are in treatment. Since its inception three years ago, Cleaning for a Reason has served more than 2,000 women.
The organization relies upon donated cleaning services by partners as well as individual donations, and corporate grants. The cleaning service partners say that it is their way of giving back to the community.
And if it doesn't seem like having a clean home could really make that big of a deal in the bigger picture of fighting cancer, consider these words from a 46-year old woman who is in the midst of ovarian cancer treatment and was recently given complimentary services.
"After going through nine hours of chemo, where you are hooked up like a pincushion, then sitting in traffic for an hour and a half, to walk through my front door and have it smell so fresh and clean was incredible. It may seem like something so little, but it is so big, because it is so daunting to think about vacuuming, or dusting, or any kind of cleaning (while undergoing cancer treatment). To have people doing this for you out of the kindness of their hearts is just incredible," patient Hilarie LaTurno said.
I love that Cleaning for a Reason has mobilized housekeeping companies, essentially making their employees ambassadors of goodwill, and taking a commitment of service to a whole new level. I also love that the premise is simple and that professionals are not afraid to spend some of their time and money to make a difference in how happy and healthy individuals are in their own homes.
If I was still writing those lists, I would add cleaning the house to the very top. If you can call upon Cleaning for a Reason for yourself or to serve someone you know who is in cancer treatment, that is wonderful. But this is also something we can all do for those people we know who are exhausted and overwhelmed and focused solely on getting well.
Why not call or email someone you know who is battling cancer or another illness or injury and offer to spend some time making their home more comfortable for them? They may be thrilled to have you come and clean their home completely if they are not able. If this is not comfortable for you or for the person you want to support, remember that doing simple tasks can also make a big difference.
Here are 10 light housekeeping tasks to consider as a kind way to spend one little hour (or less) supporting someone you love when they need it the most:
- Load/unload the dishwasher or wash the dishes and put them away
- Do a few loads of laundry (you might also offer to arrange clothes into outfits, either for them or for kids in the house)
- Vacuum rugs and do some light dusting
- Clean out the refrigerator (if the patient has food aversions, put the foods and drinks they can have at eye level or where they most easily accessible)
- Make and organize lunches for the week (even simple sandwiches and bagged up fruits and veggies)
- Make the bathroom sparkle (and put bubbles, lotions, and other soothing amenities within reach of the tub if your loved one would be calmed by spending time in the tub)
- Take out the garbage and recycling
- Refill water jugs (and fill up reusable water bottles so they are easy to grab from the fridge)
- Feed, walk, play with, and tidy up after any pets
- Mow the lawn, rake the leaves, water the plants or tend to any greenery indoors and outside the house
