Alta Vista on downsizing = freedom – LIVING WELL Magazine

Downsizing = Freedom!

By Debbie Whipple, Alta Vista LIVING WELL Magazine

My expertise in downsizing and moving into a senior community doesn’t come from having gone through that process myself. Instead, I have had the opportunity to watch several hundred seniors make this move into one of the senior communities I have had the privilege to work at over the past decade. I have learned so much from them, and the many professional organizers who have helped them along the way.

The Chinese may be way ahead of us in this regard. If you pick up any article on the popular design philosophy of Feng Shui, you will quickly learn of the high regard for clear, open space and lack of clutter for optimum wellbeing. It’s all centered around ‘getting rid of the old, so you allow room for the new.’

During my relationship with seniors on the move, the one comment I heard most often was, “It sure wasn’t easy, but I’m so glad I did it!” I can’t count the number of times that residents would tell me they wished they had downsized and moved sooner. One of my most memorable quotes was from a dear resident named Mary Lou. She said, “I thought I owned all that stuff, but now I realize it owned me.” This was after she had moved from a very large home in Phoenix into a lovely senior apartment home. She absolutely loved the freedom she felt from releasing all of the things she had been taking care of all those years.

Another surprising fact that many residents have shared with me over the years is this: “When we were ready to give some of our valuables and heirlooms to our children and grandchildren, they didn’t want them!” Many of the things we have cared for, moved, dusted, and cherished only have value to us.

Following is some of the valuable advice I’ve learned from downsizing and organizational experts I’ve met along the way.

  • Don’t try to do everything at once, give yourself time to work on de-cluttering a little each day if you have the time.
  • Invite children and grandchildren to ‘go shopping in your house.’ Once you have decided what you would like to part with, let them come and make their own selections. It will be a very fun day, and one filled with memories to share as well. Flip a coin for those things more than one relative would like to have.
  • Tackle one room at a time.
  • Start with paperwork––we keep way too much, and you need to sift through all of that first! There are companies that will shred on site, or pick up and shred if you don’t want to do all the shredding yourself.
  • Create three piles in each room and label them: Donate, Sell and Keep. If you are going to donate items, there are many wonderful charitable groups that will be glad to pick up your donations, or allow you to drop them off.
  • Clothes and shoes––if you haven’t worn them in a year, give away or donate!
  • Books…this is a biggie, we all have way too many! Many libraries will take donated books to sell online for revenue to enhance library inventory and programs. Hospitals also like donated books to place in their surgery waiting areas.
  • Family Heirlooms––if you have a family member, who would enjoy it, give it to them while you are still around to share in their joy. If not, consider selling it on eBay or at a consignment store if you feel it is too valuable to donate.
  • Photos––there are many companies online that will transfer your photos to DVDs. This way you can keep the photographic memory, without all the boxes and books of photographs. (Grandchildren love looking through photos on their computers)
  • Take pictures of some of your treasured items before you let them go; you will enjoy looking through the pictures later for the memory that item may conjure up.
  • Most important piece of advice––Only sort once then get it out of the house. Many people go back and re-think their decision and end up keeping too much.

For more information, contact Maggie Greenwood at 928-772-6000 or visit Alta Vista’s website at www.avprc.com.

Debbie Whipple is the health and wellness director at Alta Vista Senior Living, Prescott, AZ.