Downsizing has ups and downs for many seniors
Downsizing means to reduce in number or size.
For the area蘑菇视频 older population, the term means to move from a large home into a smaller one with an accompanying reduction in the number of personal possessions.
According to Catharine D. Allado, a senior career expert and chief operating officer of SeniorCareHomes.com, there are several reasons why senior citizens downsize.
鈥淢ost seniors want to move to a smaller home because they feel that their house is too big. When their kids move out and it becomes an empty nest, it becomes tougher and tougher to maintain a big house as they age.
鈥淲hile some sell their house to move to a retirement community or other senior care facilities, there are other seniors that prefer to move to a smaller house or apartment,鈥� Allado said.
鈥淭he decision to downsize is not an easy one. Moving to a new place is always hard to deal with especially with all the memories shared in the home over the years. However, the most challenging aspect when seniors downsize is still packing. It will be very tough to decide on which things to bring and which things to throw away, leave or sell. One has to accept that the new home will be smaller, therefore, it is impossible to bring all the things that have been accumulate over the years,鈥� Allado said.
That was the case for Virginia Mihaliak of Uniontown.
鈥淚 lived in a larger home to start with. Then I moved into a condo. My problem was I was starting to get knee and leg difficulties and there were steps to the laundry and the garage,鈥� Mihaliak said.
A Realtor showed her several condominiums.
鈥淚 have been very happy about the move,鈥� Mihaliak, 79, said.
In addition to a large home, she also had a large yard that required maintenance and upkeep.
鈥淭here were a lot of shrubberies and trees and it made it difficult for me to get the work done,鈥� she said.
An association where she now lives handles all the outside yard work.
鈥淚 gave away a lot of my possessions to charities and different family members. We also had the usual yard sale,鈥� to scale back on her possessions, she added.
鈥淢y kids said they made me move to make me get rid of the junk and keep the good stuff,鈥� Mihaliak quipped.
鈥淢y family was very supportive,鈥� which was helpful since she fell and broke her femur during the process of selling her home and moving to the condo.
鈥淚 had to go through surgery with all that (moving) in between and trying to wrap things up.鈥�
According to AARP, a move for an older adult is often an emotionally charged event. The downsizing process can be especially difficult since it will involve long walks down memory lane and having to part with much-loved possessions. But done correctly 鈥� and in enough time 鈥� the process can be less painful and more productive.
AARP offers the following suggestions to help older family members or friends pare down:
n Divide assets: Decide who gets what early on. Way before there蘑菇视频 even talk of a move, sit down with the parent or loved one and decide who in their circle will receive anything they plan to pass down. Put this in writing or tag which pieces are to be distributed to which family member.
n Clear out kid clutter: Work with any siblings, or children to clear out childhood treasures once and for all. Parents often get stuck with prom dresses, letter jackets, schoolbooks and other mementos when their children fly from the nest.
n Establish a sorting system: Before digging into bins, boxes and closets come up with a system by which to sort. Designate areas in each room for items to be kept, tossed, donated and passed on. Then begin the downsizing derby.
n Donate clothes and furniture in good condition that someone less fortunate may need and pass on keepsakes that are not going to the new home.
For more information on downsizing, go online to AARP.com or SeniorCareHomes.com.