Smart Downsizing Tips For Seniors
I was relaxing at home alone recently, enjoying the peace and quiet of my empty house. My wife had left to run errands and my kids were out and about with their friends doing what teenagers do on weekends. The quiet was almost unsettling to me given the fact that it so rarely happens in my hectic household. It gave me a moment to pause and think about when an empty home would be the norm rather than the exception.
As a senior home care professional, I know the day will eventually come when the children are gone and the house we live in will be more than my wife and I need. It will be a bittersweet moment. As much as we would love to remain here forever, the voice of reason talking in our heads will tell us it’s time to transition to a more manageable way of life.
Avoid Stress By Taking Your Time
We’ll no doubt do what more and more seniors are learning to do – downsize smartly. One of the best ways to minimize the stress of downsizing is by planning for it as early on as possible. Give yourself the luxury of ample time to go through all the contents of your home at your own pace so you’re not rushed into making hasty decisions you might later regret. Some items you may be willing to part with today may have deeper meaning later on and vice-versa, so give yourself enough time to balance your emotions and reason.
Every house contains things seen and unseen. The latter is a good place to begin your inventory tasks. Items stored in the garage, basement, in the back of closets and high up on shelves were put there because you thought you would need them again someday. Were storing the items impulse decisions or do these things have real purpose or meaning? Start sorting them out, keep what you need and get rid of anything you no longer want. You can put unneeded items in the trash, donate them to a thrift store, have a garage sale or sell them online.
One Month, One Room
It took years to accumulate everything in your home, so give yourself at least one month per room to sort out its contents. Set aside some space in your home to store the expendables and put them in plastic bags or cardboard boxes that you can pick up for free at local retail stores. Once one room is done, dispose of the items collected before you begin another room. By sorting out contents room-by-room, you’ll never feel overwhelmed by the amount of work required and you’ll feel more confident in your decisions about the things you keep and those you don’t.
A lot of rooms in senior’s homes are rarely used, such as the one’s their children occupied. There may be things in these rooms that have little or no value to you, but to your children they could hold important memories. Consult with them before discarding such things and whenever possible, invite them to help in the sorting out efforts.
Chances are you will find items you no longer want or need that have monetary value such as certain collectibles. Ask your children or friends if they would enjoy being gifted with these items. You might not have them anymore, but you’ll find comfort knowing they are cherished and retained. Making the evaluation of your home contents a family or team effort will not only lighten the physical load, but it can be a time for bonding or reconnecting with your loved ones as you spend time together sorting through the contents.
Think With Your Head And Heart
Every item in your home chronicles a moment in time. A baseball glove can recall memories of happy times at little league baseball games. Old toys can ignite warm feelings of birthdays your children celebrated. Deciding what stays and what goes can be a tug of war between your head and heart. Although it can seem like you’re on an emotional roller coaster, don’t fret. Enjoy the ride. The most treasured items in your home will always be the sweet memories you have, and nothing can ever take them away. They will follow you wherever you go.
Downsizing can be a wonderful thing when the time comes. The secret to success lies in how you approach it. In a future posting, we’ll discuss more smart ways to get ready for your move including the types of housing options that best suits your personal needs and lifestyle.
