“I’m not ready to downsize. Your dad and I lived in this home for 45 years before he died, and I’ve been here for another five. I always said I’m not going to become a stubborn, old woman, but I’m not ready to move yet,” stated Barbara.

“We aren’t asking you to move, Mom,” responded Lisa. Her husband, Jason, nodded in agreement.

“You aren’t? Then what’s the big ‘talk’ about?”

“We want to help you downsize your stuff – not your living space,” said Jason.

“If we help you declutter now, your home will be safer, you’ll have less to take care of, and you can enjoy it more, said Lisa. “Jen, Michelle, and Chris and Amy will help. The grandkids will help too. We’ll create a timeline to make it less overwhelming and tackle it one room at a time.”

Barbara looked around her dining room and gazed into the living room. “I do have a lot of stuff I never use, and it can get in my way, but it’s hard to separate memories from practicality. It’s easier to go to lunch with my friends and save it for another day.”

Once Barbara realized her family wanted to help her, rather than ‘take over,’ they put together a plan. Initially, they met on the first Saturday of each month to declutter a room. After the second month, Barbara was ready to pick up the pace, and they met every other Saturday.

Drawer by drawer, shelf by shelf, they sorted items into four categories:

• Keep: I still use this item – even if it’s seasonal.
• Donate: I haven’t used this item for months, but someone else would appreciate it. Sell: Some items were worth selling, and Barbara set the money received aside. “How I use this is my secret,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
• Toss: I don’t know why this is still sitting here – out to the trash!

If an item was an heirloom, or even a more practical item with lots of memories attached, that Barbara was ready to pass on, it was set aside for kids and grandkids to choose from. Once they were finished ‘shopping”, the remaining items joined the sell or donate piles.

As Barbara sorted her knick-knacks, she also considered her wall hangings. Less on the wall meant less to dust now and less to get rid of later when it was time to downsize. A couple of the granddaughters gathered all the photo boxes together and offered to scan them and create printed photo books. Multiple photo boxes became a set of books on Barbara’s living room shelf.

Six months later, they were finished. They hired a local cleaning service to do a deep cleaning.

When the cleaning crew left, Barbara walked through each room, made herself a cup of tea, and sat down in her favorite chair. Her mind was at rest, and her once anxious heart and mind filled with peace. The clutter was gone.

• Everything had a place yet was easy to find when she needed it.
• Tripping hazards were a thing of the past.
• Her home would be much easier to clean (or cost less if she chose to hire someone)

For the first time in a long time, the idea of having her family in for supper or hosting a luncheon for her friends sounded like fun instead of overwhelming. Barbara knew she would enjoy her home until she needed to downsize to a senior condo. And when the time came, it would be a much easier transition. She picked up her phone to call the granddaughters and invite them over to look at her new photobooks.

Your loved one may need help with more than decluttering, and oftentimes, various factors keep you from being able to help. Consider HomeAides. We have been providing high-quality in-home care services in Northwest Pennsylvania since 2012. We understand that choosing the right Home Care Agency is essential for your peace of mind. Contact us today.