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Red Coats courteous staff work with you on the “sorting process” and help you decide what to keep, what to sell or give away. This can be a very difficult process, but a most important part of letting go with the old and preparing for the new.
However, the process can often be both tiring physically and emotionally. Red Coats can certainly make it easier for you. One of our caring, bonded associates will help you sort through your possessions and decide what is to stay and what is to go.
This ensures that when Red Coats unpacks your belongings in your new home, there is a place for everything to be put away and you can enjoy a fresh new start.
For a complimentary consultation please email:
Vicky@redcoatsmoving.com
or call us at 416-920-1317.
How to help your parents downsize
By Victoria Riley Keyes
When it’s time for an older adult to downsize, declutter and move, how do you, as a caring family member or friend, help them to do it with as little stress as possible? Here are 10 tips to help.
Remember, they are still in charge.
This is their move, not yours! You naturally want to organize it all for them but for the majority of seniors, it is very important to let them know that they are making the decisions, not you. When I work with a family, I always defer to the person who is moving; even though they may not give me the answer, they still know that they can make the decisions.
Concentrate on the big picture.
Sometimes, confusion can arise between siblings over who is responsible for disposing of items or which sibling is getting certain items from the parent. When working with siblings, communicate regularly so that all family members are kept in the loop. Also, moving will be made easier if one family member organizes all the jobs that have to be done.
Get comfortable with the new residence.
Once a new home has been selected, visit it before your parent moves in. Then, bring them for several visits, and get the staff to introduce them to a few of the residents. Stay and have lunch and mingle. It all helps to get a senior more comfortable with the prospect of moving.
Prepare for the move.
Start with the floor plan of where they are moving to, and look at where they are spending most of their time in their current home. Is it the kitchen, the den, or the basement? What are their daily habits? Do they eat breakfast at a table or on a tray watching the TV? Moving from a large home into a space of around 550-square-feet will take some planning.
Let the senior decorate.
Adult children tend to want to “decorate” the new home to make it look nice, but what is important here is familiarity and routine. Most of the clients I work with know exactly where everything is placed and want the same in their new home.
Whenever possible, mirror the exact same environment and routines in their new home as their old. It may mean bringing a large, old ugly chair, but it that’s what they sit in everyday, bring it. Also, take photographs of curio cabinets and bookshelves to ensure that items are placed back in the right place.
Take time to sort and pack.
Focus on sorting, not packing. Let the senior say goodbye to their possessions. It is one of the most important and rewarding things you can do. Try and schedule sorting sessions to an hour at a time. Sorting through possessions can be tiring, both physically and emotionally, and it is important to let them take their time with each item. For example, during a recent sorting session with a client, the gentleman and I walked into his study where he showed me a photo of a Lancaster bomber and its crew. He said, “on this day 60 years ago, I flew my first bombing raid into Germany.” It was important for him to share his experience, his life, and his youth, and then move on.
Your parent’s priorities differ from yours.
Remember, the senior adult is in charge and their priorities are different to yours. If books were special to them, they will want to know what will happen to the books that are not going with them. Trying to rush them through this process will only frustrate you both. Proceed in a sequence that addresses their priorities, not yours!
Accept their gifts.
Please accept their gifts, no matter how full your home may be. Knowing that passing something on to a family member or friend is very satisfying and comforting. Your parents came from a post-war generation; they looked after their money, spent wisely and worked hard. A good piece of furniture bought from Eaton’s 40 years ago still has value. Whenever possible, accept it with appreciation.
Be realistic.
Be realistic about how much time you can devote to the project. Allow at least 40 to 60 hours and, if possible, spread the time out for the sorting process. If your time is limited, use it to help your parents prepare for the move.
Delegate.
As with most jobs, delegation is the secret to getting the job done and staying sane during your parent’s move. If the job is too much for you to handle, consider hiring a move management professional like Red Coats Moving Solutions to help with part of the move or the entire move. Delegating responsibility will save you your time and your sanity.