Baby Boomers
As baby boomers mature there are many questions that adult children face. Do I have the knowledge to move Mom and/or Dad into assisted living? Do I have time to take on such a momentous challenge? Will our relationship survive such an ordeal? Sometimes it’s hard to look at ourselves in the mirror when we know the answer to such questions. But honestly, it’s better to know our limits than to ignore them and go onward full speed ahead.
The questions that I just wrote about are asked more than one would think and I find that education is essential in answering any and all of the realities of life. If you are or will be facing these circumstances presently or in the near future, you need to be aware and be prepared to take on all the different components associated with this type of move. Our strategy at Everything Organized* may assist you with your research. We break it down into four main categories.
- Downsizing
- Senior Transition
- Estate Sale and
- Estate Preparation.
Downsizing is when every item of a home is reviewed to determine what is moving with the senior. If the item is not making the move, is the item given to family and/or friends? If not, then will it be added to the estate sale, and at what price? Be prepared that it will take approximately 20-40+ hours to go through a 2200 square foot home.
Senior Transition takes place after the Downsize is finished. The items that have been tagged for the move are now loaded onto the moving truck, transported, and unloaded at the new destination. Once the items are in the new space, each item will need to find a home. As seniors can become anxious over a move, it is recommended that all items are unpacked at this time. If not, the seniors can become overwhelmed and easily fatigued causing slips and fall as they are too tired to pay attention to their new surroundings. It is not unusual for this to take one or more days to complete depending on the amount of help that is available.
Estate Liquidation takes place once the senior has physically moved out of the residence and the remaining items are for sale. I recommend that ads be placed in the newspapers for maximum exposure and signs are erected for ease of visibility. Anything that is not sold can then be boxed up for charity pick up. Don’t forget that the Food Bank will also make pickups for non-perishable food items.
Once all the above is complete, then comes the final category, Estate Preparation. This is when elbow grease rules and laziness drools! Nothing sells a home faster than one that is clean and has great curb appeal. This is one area that should not be scrimped on. It’s the first impression that people have of the home. This can make or break and sell and can be financially devastating if not completed wholeheartedly. Again, be prepared that with the interior and exterior it may take 2-3 days to complete.
Don’t feel bad if as an adult child you feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the amount of work that it takes to assist your loved one with such a huge endeavor. It is a lot of work and we don’t all own an ‘easy button’ like the Staples commercials portray. If this is too much for you or your family, give us a call as we specialize in custom packages for seniors, anywhere in Canada.