{"id":12484,"date":"2017-09-06T13:08:38","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T18:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=12484"},"modified":"2020-10-26T15:30:18","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T20:30:18","slug":"what-to-keep-store-discard-when-helping-downsize-parents-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2017\/09\/what-to-keep-store-discard-when-helping-downsize-parents-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Downsizing: What to Keep, Store and Discard"},"content":{"rendered":"

What to Keep, Store and Discard When Helping\"What<\/a> Downsize a Parent\u2019s Home<\/h1>\n

Helping a parent downsize from the long-time family home, whether he or she is moving into your house, a retirement home or assisted living, means determining what to do with a whole lifetime of belongings.
\nAnne Beckley, owner of Caring Transitions Inland Northwest in Spokane, Washington, is a certified Relocation and Transition Specialist. She says the process can be completely overwhelming.<\/p>\n

\u201cGenerally, a senior is moving from a larger home where they\u2019ve been for 25 to 60-plus years into a space of 600-1200 square feet. And there is a huge accumulation of \u2018stuff,\u2019 much more than they realize. Sorting through possessions is not only physical but also emotional, and it\u2019s exhausting.\u201d<\/p>\n

It can be harder when an illness precipitates the move, but whatever the circumstances there are ways to make it easier.<\/p>\n

What to Get Rid Of<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If it\u2019s possible, start decluttering six months or even a year before the move. Shred old canceled checks and other unnecessary paperwork. Donate clothes not being worn. Pare down kitchen items, especially if your parent is moving into a residence that serves meals. Make sure you and your siblings take your old sports trophies and school yearbooks home. Doing as much of this as possible ahead of time will make the move itself much easier.<\/p>\n

What to Store or Keep<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Let your parent lead the way on what to keep. The nicer-looking, newer armchair might not be the one that\u2019s a source of comfort. Did your mom collect teapots? Maybe she can take two or three favorites, and you photograph the rest and then present the photos to her in a special book.<\/p>\n

Keep the family heirlooms or other special items, such as photo albums and cherished Christmas decorations, that can\u2019t go with your parent. If there isn\u2019t room at the new place, make space in your home or garage or keep them in a small storage unit.<\/p>\n

What to Move<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Transition specialists like Beckley say it\u2019s common to try to move too much. Before you rent a big moving truck<\/a>, make a floor plan of the new home, noting where the doors, windows, and appliances are, and figure out ahead of time what furniture will fit.<\/p>\n

Beckley says transition specialists also help determine what has financial value, and auctions or sells those items.<\/p>\n

\u201cOften they are not the items our clients think,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Store and move important paperwork, such as banking, medical paperwork and legal documents, in one carton. Make sure to pack important items your parent will need right away \u2013 medications, pajamas, toiletries, a change of clothes, fresh bedding \u2013 in a box marked \u201copen first.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the new home is nearby, consider moving your parent and what they are taking first, and then returning to their home to deal with the rest of their belongings out of sight. A bonus: If there\u2019s something they are missing as they settle in, you can probably still take it to them.<\/p>\n

And be patient during the process. Helping your parent sort through their possessions can be difficult, but it\u2019s also a great time to listen to them reminisce about memories, times and people that were important to them.<\/p>\n

This article was contributed by <\/em>SpareFoot<\/em><\/a>, the largest marketplace for storage. SpareFoot makes it simpler to move and store your stuff by providing the most storage options nationwide.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What to Keep, Store and Discard When Helping Downsize a Parent\u2019s Home Helping a parent downsize from the long-time family home, whether he or she is moving into your house, a retirement home or assisted living, means determining what to do with a whole lifetime of belongings. Anne Beckley, owner of Caring Transitions Inland Northwest in Spokane, Washington, is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2267,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[200,162,2],"tags":[165,13],"class_list":{"0":"post-12484","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-families-caregivers","7":"category-retirement-planning","8":"category-senior-living","9":"tag-retirement-planning-2","10":"tag-senior-living-2"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDownsizing: What to Keep, Store and Discard - SeniorAdvisor.com Blog<\/title>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Downsizing: What to Keep, Store and Discard - SeniorAdvisor.com Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What to Keep, Store and Discard When Helping Downsize a Parent\u2019s Home Helping a parent downsize from the long-time family home, whether he or she is moving into your house, a retirement home or assisted living, means determining what to do with a whole lifetime of belongings. 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