Spread Positive Energy. When sorting through belongings, try to keep the mood positive and light. Keep furnishings simple for comfort and try not to overcrowd the space. Stay with the basics of what they will need and use every day. The assisted living community may have a movie theater, so a second TV in your loved one’s apartment may not be necessary. Will they be cooking? Do they have space for a second TV? Will they need space for a hobby? Most assisted living communities have dining rooms for meals and craft rooms for projects. Think About Their New Lifestyle. In addition to a floorplan to see what furnishings fit also try to fit their new lifestyle. If there are duplicates, consider selling these online or giving to a family member to use in their home. But try to streamline wardrobes, decorative items, and housewares to just their favorites. And they may want to have a small variety of dishes for their kitchenette. You will want more than one set of items such as towels and bed linens. So, make a rule not to keep or move duplicates. But your loved one’s space will be limited. We see something on sale and pick up a few extras. Give yourself and your loved one plenty of time to go through everything without exhausting or frustrating them in the process.ĭon’t Keep Duplicates. We all do it. It is surprising what may look like nothing to you, could have significant meaning for them. Be understanding as you sort through their fond memories and personal items. Even if they agree that the move is the best choice, this still may not be easy. They may be sad, upset, nervous, and feeling a sense of loss. Don’t lose sight that your parent is making a huge change in their life, and this process can be difficult for them. You may want to box up trash and donations before you end your session and get those moved out of the house to free up space and avoid the temptation to pull items out.īe Sensitive. Involve your loved one throughout the process of sorting their belongings. This system may take a little time, but eventually, your loved one should be able to move through items more quickly. If they are having a tough time making a choice, set an item aside, and move onto the next. Be patient, but try to decide then move on to the next item. Pick up an item and help them to determine which box to place it in. Involve your loved one as you sort through their belongings. Set up four boxes and label each of these: keep, trash, donate, and sell. Make Four Boxes. If you have watched some of the popular decorating and organizing shows, you will see a tried-and-true method often used to declutter and downsize. Their apartment should feel comfortable, but they will be able to use the entire community throughout the day. Remember, your loved one’s new home extends beyond their apartment with common areas and a dining room where they will eat their meals. Keep pathways clear for walkers and wheelchairs. Try to use multifunctional furniture, like an ottoman with storage. Carefully measure their furnishings and the new space, most assisted living communities will provide a floorplan. You don’t want to overcrowd an assisted living apartment for a senior when furnishings can become tripping hazards. An objective third party can help make tough decisions about what to keep and what to let go.ĭesign the New Space. Assisted living and memory care apartments are much smaller than a family home, so they should be decorated appropriately for the size and use. If the job of downsizing their house is too big, you can always hire help. The more hands to help, the quicker this daunting project can go. Schedule time on weekends and enlist the help of family and friends to help organize, make runs to the dump, list items to sell online, box up items to be moved, and make trips to charity drop-offs. You don’t want to overwhelm your loved one into making too many decisions and feeling upset about the move. This can be a big job, so break it down into manageable smaller amounts of time. Get Assistance. If your loved one is still living in their family home, your family will have years of memories and volumes of belongings to sort through. Here are a few helpful tips to get started: If your loved one or family member is downsizing as they transition into an assisted living or memory care community, it’s time to start to declutter the home and organize piles to keep, sell, give, or donate.
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