Even if she’s sorry to see #things go, there may be some money in it that encourages Mom to #downsize. Help her sell antiques and collectibles to specialized dealers, post bigger-ticket items on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or stage a #garage sale to earn some extra cash. #Donate any items of historical significance to the area historical society, and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation pickup of any wearable used clothing, furniture, or other household odds and ends. Whatever you do, take it slow with the “maybe” pile, says HomeLight. Make a box for those items revisit them with your parent every couple of weeks so they can process what they really need. #HelpMomDownsize #MothersDay
Tag: parents
When Mom Is Reluctant to Let Go
The problem with helping a parent #downsize is that you likely don’t have the same attachment to their #stuff. If Mom is reluctant to let go of the #things she doesn’t need, consider hiring a professional #declutterer, The Guardian says. They can offer a detached viewpoint and keep the #downsizing process on track. You may also ask parents to #donate their items to a favorite charity so that they know their stuff is going to a good cause rather than into a landfill. That’s where ClothingDonations.org can help; the free service will pick up lightly used clothing and other household items and resell them to fund veterans programs nationwide. #MothersDay #HelpMomDownsize
Downsizing May Get Emotional for Mom
If your mother is getting older, it may be time to consider #downsizing before she needs to move to a smaller space or assisted living facility. #Downsizing can be emotional, says the Wellspring Center for prevention; the process takes time and energy, and Mom might be attached to her #things and the #memories they hold. Instead of rushing things, set aside several weeks or months to accomplish a thorough #decluttering. “Don’t force your parents to purge more than they are comfortable with in one sitting, especially if they have memory issues. Our brains can only make so many decisions before we hit a wall.” #HelpMomDownsize #MothersDay
Help Mom Declutter and Downsize
You can take Mom to brunch or otherwise celebrate her this Mother’s Day (May 12), but you can also do her a favor: Start helping her #declutter and #downsize. Her family home is likely the repository of decades of family memories, photos and other #memorabilia, and she probably could use some assistance in #organizing that legacy. Plus, she will appreciate the quality time you spend together sorting through that #stuff and streamlining her space. You’ll score major cheese points if you volunteer to do a few other #organizing and decorating chores such as framing family photos or hanging shelves. #HelpMomDownsize #MothersDay
Helping Aging Parents Downsize
Most people will eventually face the fact that their aging parents won’t live forever — and they’ll likely need to adjust their living situations as they age. And that typically means that they need to sort out a lifetime’s worth of stuff before moving into a smaller space.
It’s a big job — especially when the parent or parents have lived in the same home for many years. Moving is stressful under the best of circumstances, but giving up a home filled with memories can get emotional even if the kids are there to help.
To help a downsizing parent, schedule bite-sized #decluttering sessions, Houzz says — no more than four hours per day, a few times a week. Spacing the sessions out will allow all parties to have some quality time together without getting overwhelmed by the task at hand.
For proper downsizing, try to get a picture of what the parent or parents’ new lifestyle will look like: Will they be cooking, entertaining, traveling or dressing up to go out? Their goals and interests can have a big impact on what they need to have in a new place.
Start by #decluttering the least sentimental items such as linens and clothing. Chances are that they have a lot of these and can pare them down easily to only what’s needed in a given week. Then gradually move on to the more difficult decsions.
Consider digitizing photos and other memorabilia, says Highgate Senior Living. Prints and collectibles can take up a lot of physical space, but digital photos or video scrapbooks can preserve the memories without the burden of extra #stuff.
One wholesale #decluttering strategy is to label everything with Post-it notes, designating what will definitely go to the new housing environment, what gets distributed to family members and what gets sold or #donated.
You aren’t really helping a parent #downsize until that extra #stuff is removed from the home, however; they can backslide on their decisions if things are allowed to sit there in limbo. Schedule a #free #donation #pickup — or multiple #pickups — at ClothingDonations.org.
It’s difficult to watch your parents get on in years. But with a little forethought, you can help aging parents adjust to a new space and lifestyle in their golden years.