So how do you get your parents to start thinking about downsizing? This article by Carol Bradley Bursack Minding Our Elders gives some great advice:
People want to stay in their own homes. You hear it and read about it all the time. And there’s some merit to that. Most of us can relate to the fact that relocating is emotionally charged. Add the fact that our parents get sick and tired of suffering the indignities of aging and often feel bossed around by everyone from the government to their kids, and you can understand why they often get stubborn. Where they live may be, in their minds, their “last stand."
Many elders do well in their homes. They graciously accept the help they need, have cleaning people come in, and are even able to throw away the old newspapers that are piling up in the corner. They are content with adding some safety measures and feel cozy with a bit of clutter.
Then there’s the other side. Many seniors are living in the same home they raised their children in. These homes are modest, but worked well for raising their family and even for the early empty nest years. Often, however, they are two-story cottages, with the...
Submitted by lori on
09/01/2010 - 07:10
I had the wonderful opportunity a few years ago to work with an amazing woman. At 92 years of age, she finally made the big decision to move from her retirement house of 30 years into Assisted Living so "someone could cook and clean for me for a change." Without children of her own and a husband long since passed away, she obviously was in dire need of someone to help her downsize her belongings before the big move. Fortunately for us, she decided to make a leap of faith and let us into her inner world of trust. I for one will never be the same.
Although she was an extremely independent person, time was beginning to take it's toll. After the passing of her husband 20 years earlier, many areas of the house simply became neglected. She always meant to go through her husbands things but just really never got around to it. We were able to work together, gradually sifting throught the years of memories. Sometimes it just takes a caring individual that isn't emotionally attached to the items to help clarify what items are really truly loved.
Several hours and many amazing stories later I realized just how much I wanted to be an advocate for the safety and...
Submitted by lori on
05/03/2010 - 11:21
The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) has declared May 9-15th, 2010 National Senior Move Managers Week. During this recognition week, NASMM members around the country are promoting the value of senior move management and senior move managers’ commitment to assisting older adults and their families, not only the actual moving experience, but with the emotional and physical aspects of sorting through and downsizing a lifetime of memories in the relocation process.
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Most older adults making a transition have not moved in 30, 40 or 50 years and need to downsize considerably. The organizational and physical tasks associated with planning and implementing such a move are overwhelming. Working with a Senior Move Manager during one of these moves reduces the stress and trauma associated with the process.
Adults aged 85 and above are the fastest growing segment of the US population. At the same time, social changes such as more women working full-time have made it increasingly difficult for family caregivers to provide all of the support during these transitions. Family and friends often want to help, but there are barriers.
...
Submitted by lori on
05/03/2010 - 11:16
Paper, paper where is the paper? As tax time quickly approaches, panic has set in for many. The vow to "never be this unorganized again" is being taken in homes all over. If you are a techno person that has decided to go paperless then here is a fun and workable option for you. This scanner will handle just about any type of paper you can throw at it. Using special software, it organizes your scanned papers for you on your computer for easy retrieval. Neatdesk
Submitted by lori on
04/13/2010 - 06:00
"...Downsizing can have a gratifying up side. Sometimes parsing through your things allows you to, in a sense, "select and choose who you are next," says gerontologist David J. Ekerdt at the University of Kansas who conducted a study of "household disbandment" (when older people reach a point in life where they must downsize). We couldn't agree more. Downsizing, or rightsizing, has a life-changing affect.
Paula Spencer over at Caring.com married news of the study with a useful checklist of items. Her list will help you build strategies as you work to shed your possessions or when helping someone else shed. It works as a navigation tool to help you know when to use extra care or extra work.
Take a read!
Submitted by lori on
04/13/2010 - 05:53
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to become a better steward of the environment, then consider reducing your junk mail including your phone book. Visit DMAChoice.org to help reduce your junk mail by 70-80%. Once you have opted out, it will take up to 3 months to see the huge difference you have made in saving trees, water and energy.
Another big help is eliminating multiple phone books delivered to your home. Visit yellowpagesoptout.com and plug in your zip code to see a list of companies that send you phone books. Click on the books you don't want to receive and opt-out from their mailing list.
If you would like to optout of all phone books with just a few clicks of the mouse, then visit yellowpagesgoesgreen.org.
Submitted by lori on
01/25/2010 - 05:30
The beginning of the New Year brings with it the hopes and joys of starting fresh. There is something to be said about wanting to be a better worker, person, parent, friend, etc. and actually becoming one.
My kids asked me the other day if I had any New Year’s Resolutions and I quickly said, "No, If I want to change something, why would I wait until the beginning of the year to start? I can make a decision to change at any time of the year." After I said it, though I thought to myself, Lori, you are blowing a good learning opportunity here for your kids. So I sat down with both of them, ages 6 and 9, and started talking about resolutions and why people have them. I know that for some people, it might take a whole year to build up the courage to make a change and for others it is just talk. Not because they don't want to change, but rather because they don't know how or they don't have the support necessary to keep it going.
We discussed how a resolution is really making your mind up to create a goal and get started on it. Most people however, really don't know how to set a goal or take the steps to make it achievable. It isn't something that is...
Submitted by lori on
01/18/2010 - 10:01
If your resolution this year is to become more efficient and organized so that you have more time in your life, then take a look at this article. It might surprise you that finding time might require making some difficult decisions that aren't socially popular but are family-friendly. When it really comes down to follow through, are you determined enough to go against the popular vote to do what works for you and your family?
Submitted by lori on
01/11/2010 - 05:30
A while ago, Oprah did a show based on an experiment that she asked some families to try. The topic was What Can You Live Without? The premise was to have four families go without certain items like cell phones, laptops, TV and see what they gained from the experience.
The results might just get you excited about trying this for your New Year's Resolution instead of the same recycled challenges year after year. If you challenge yourself to live without some of your creature comforts then maybe you might just find that you will excercise more, lose weight and have more time to yourself.
Oprah herself appeared to be affected by the experiment. In the spirit of living with less, Oprah went through her own closet to see what she could live without — and asked her audience members to donate ten things from their own homes. “Now more than ever, we all need to think about those who have been hardest hit by our economy, and the extra stuff in our lives might be something that somebody else really needs,” Oprah says.
Submitted by lori on
01/04/2010 - 05:30
I saw this wonderful piece the other day and thought what a fantastic outlook on life. Maybe in this day and age, we do need to stop and think about the simplicity of life and how it really can boil down to "no left turns".
Submitted by lori on
12/21/2009 - 13:30
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