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SeniorHomes.com Weekly Roundup

Monday, February 6th, 2012 by Angela Stringfellow

This Week in Senior Living News

Aging News:

If you’ve ever wondered if yourself or a loved one is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a new questionnaire developed by doctors at the Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Arizona may offer some insight. The simple, 21-question quiz is designed to be answered by a caregiver or loved one and is said to be more than 90 percent effective at detecting Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). About 15 percent of patients with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease within one year.  Check out ABC Action News for more information.

Senior Living News:

MOMA

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If you live in or are planning a visit to New York City, and you or a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, you should check out Meet Me at the MOMA, a unique monthly program geared towards memory-impaired individuals and their caregivers. Not in proximity to NYC? No worries: ARTZ (Artists for Alzheimer’s) is offering similar programs at museums around the world. Visit AARP to find out more.

Caregiver Stories and Advice:

Forbes contributor Carolyn Rosenblatt talks about placating an aging parent who resists moving. Is it safer to undertake home modifications that enable aging-in-place, or is it more cost-effective to move to a senior living community?

Falls are common among aging loved ones. This humorous (or not so much) first-perspective account of a fall is a helpful caregiver read. Galveston Daily News has the story.

Tech Roundup:

The Caregiver Partnership features an informative piece on information technology tools that can aid caregivers and health providers. Check out the article for the latest tech sites for caregivers, new mobile apps and services and great tools for long-distance caregivers.

Considered Skype as a tool to keep in touch with an aging parent or loved one? The Seattle Times talks about this and other struggles common to long-distance caregivers.

Operations and On the Political Beat:

The healthcare sector continues to grow in terms of employment, while other industries are struggling to maintain the status-quo. According to BusinessWeek, healthcare is expected to be the biggest job gainer by the year 2020.

So much for the CLASS Act: The section of the 2010 health reform law designed to provide long-term care insurance is on the chopping block, as the House voted to repeal it last week. However, the Obama Administration says it won’t implement a repeal. The future of the CLASS Act may just depend on the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. News Medical discusses the vote and what it may mean for consumers.

Uwe E. Reinhardt, a professor of economics at Princeton, tackles the rising cost of healthcare in a detailed analysis for The New York Times. Reinhardt criticizes the concept that Americans are “over-insured” and therefore opt for expensive, high-tech diagnostic tests as a driving factor behind health care costs. Is the problem that Americans have little to no valid information about what a procedure or test may cost prior to agreeing to it? Reinhardt takes a complex, yet very interesting look at the possible causes of skyrocketing health costs.

Sex offenders in nursing homes? As the population ages, more and more residents will be entering nursing homes with a checkered past. It’s an issue serious enough that the House subcommittee is taking notice, deliberating over a bill that would require nursing homes and assisted living communities to check the sex-offender registry against both current and new residents and provide proper notification in the event that a resident is on the registry. The bill is far from coming to fruition, as many amendments and modifications have been proposed, including some that would separate registered offenders from the mainstream long-term care population. Get the details from the Des Moines Register.

Things that make you say, “Huh?” and our favorite unexpected news of the week:

What’s the best cure for the winter blues? An assisted living community in upstate New York thinks it has the answer: A good, old-fashioned snowball fight, complete with hot soup to warm up. McKnight’s Long-Term Care News reports.

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Posted in Aging, Senior Housing Marketing, Senior Living News | 1 Comment »

SeniorHomes.com Weekly Roundup

Saturday, January 28th, 2012 by Angela Stringfellow

This Week in Senior Living News

Aging News:

Maintaining cognition through aging

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Ladies, we knew it! Mild memory impairment is more common in men, according to a post on WebMD. All joking aside, the condition is officially termed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and is more than just the occasional “senior moment.” Often, MCI is a precursor to the development of full-blown Alzheimer’s disease, and a recent study showed the development of MCI was more common in men over the course of three years. The study also found MCI to be more common among participants who were less educated and those who were single.

Speaking of memory, want to try to keep your brain sharp? A number of publications have weighed in recently with tips for maintaining cognitive ability and giving your noggin a good workout. Read these tips, learn about current brain research and get inspired by tech-savvy and forward-thinking seniors by visiting The New York Times, The Columbian, Moorabbin Leader and 9News.com.

Senior Living News:

Joan London is at it again! This time in Joan’s Journey: The Search for Senior Housing, Joan is writing a blog post directly to you, her loyal readers. She’s been loving the many words of encouragement, friendly advice and suggestions. Read Joan’s latest post.

LGBT Crosswalk currently has an ad in the running for the TED Ads Worth Spreading Award. Aging LGBT adults face a unique set of challenges, and the issue is garnering more and more attention in the media and even by the U.S. Government. President Obama made mention of the struggles this group faces during his State of the Union Address. Check out the press release on PRWeb for more facts and details about emerging organizations focused on increasing awareness and improving transitions.

Caregiver Stories and Advice:

Do you accompany an aging loved one to medical office visits? If you do, you could be improving the care your loved one receives, according to an article in Outcome Magazine.

Caregiving is often a 24-hours a day, seven days a week challenge. It’s easy to become burnt out, and the problem is only compounded by the feelings of grief that follow. We feel guilty because we wish we had a few moments to ourselves, or we feel like we’re not doing enough. Here are a few tips for avoiding caregiver burnout from EmpowHer.

Tech Roundup:

Is Social Security taking a step backwards in technology? U.S. News says the Social Security Administration will resume mailing paper statements to beneficiaries in February. But it’s not what it seems: The Administration didn’t move to an electronic system, they simply put a hold on mailing statements to save money temporarily. There are actually plans to develop an online system, according to SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue, but the system is being tested to ensure demand can be met and there are no firm implementation dates at this time.

Computer-aided exercise is a valuable tool for seniors, according to a post in The Atlantic. A study tested whether combining stationary bike exercise with video-led visual routines would help seniors maintain cognitive ability. Turns out that video games might not be as bad for our brains as we think. We also covered the study in a recent blog post.

Operations and On the Political Beat:

The National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC) reports that senior housing occupancy rates continued to show a slow recovery in the fourth quarter of 2011. Construction, however, remains stagnant. Occupancy rates are expected to continue at a slow growth rate, with projections indicating occupancy rates of 89% by Q4 2012. NuWire Investor summarizes these findings.

Obama hangs out on Google+

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Health reform discussions are heating up as we ramp up to the upcoming presidential election. The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, an independent body tasked with determining the comparative effectiveness of health policies, programs and treatments, has published it inaugural agenda, outlining plans for research in the coming year. Dr. Joe Selby, the Institute’s first chief executive officer, talks with The Washington Post about health reform and the group’s role in ensuring positive outcomes. Additionally, the PCORI is soliciting feedback on its National Priorities Research and Research Agenda. The public comment period ends mid-March. Get the details on how to add your comments from SacBee.

The Alzheimer’s Challenge 2012, a collective effort by a number of groups and companies, was introduced at the Care Innovations Summit in Washington, D.C. The Challenge aims to improve diagnostics through the development of cost-effective, consistent tools and techniques that can assess memory, mood, thinking and activity level over time. Get more details on the program and how it may improve Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatments at Enhanced Online News.

Things that make you say, “Huh?” and our favorite unexpected news of the week:

I know, we preach about social media a lot. We love social media. And apparently, so does President Obama. When he first took office, he wouldn’t give up his Blackberry, as most presidents are asked to do to maintain safety and security. Now, even President Obama is hanging out on Google+. That’s right, hang out with the President and maybe even have your question answered (you must submit it by Jan. 28th – today!). And get this: Questions are to be submitted via The White House’s very own YouTube channel.

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Posted in Aging, Health News, Health Tech, Senior Living News | 1 Comment »

Joans Journey: Joan wants your Advice!

Friday, January 27th, 2012 by mackenzie

Welcome Joan’s Journey Readers! Responses to Parts 1 and 2 about my search for senior housing have been heartwarming.

Danie Scott commented, “Try before you buy. Even if you rent, try not to enter into long-term agreements before living there for a while … one person’s heaven can be another’s hell. There’s no way of knowing until you experience it yourself.”

Lisa Baehr of Retirement.org posted Joan’s Journey on the Facebook pages of retirement.org affiliate communities. A resident of Mirabella Seattle suggested, “Look for compatible people, large space and good food.”

Sound suggestions for my senior housing search. What’s your advice?

My upcoming installment will describe the emotional process of selling my beloved condo and leaving Baltimore to relocate to the West Coast. On Jan. 31, I’ll travel to Palm Springs and areas surrounding Los Angeles. Check out Seniorhomes.com for future installments of Joan’s Journey.

This entry was written by Joan London. You can read more about her and her search for senior housing by checking out her blog here.

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A Boost for Health Tech: Computer-Aided Exercise Improves Cognition

Thursday, January 26th, 2012 by Angela Stringfellow

Numerous studies have proven that exercise delays and possibly helps prevent the onset of dementia in older adults. But in reality, just 14 percent of adults age 65 to 74 actually participate in regular physical exercise. Among adults 75 years and older, the figure drops to just seven percent.

Older adults get cognitive benefits from exercise

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The Union College’s Healthy Aging and Neuropsychology Lab researcher, Cay Anderson-Handley, devised a study to determine whether computer-aided exercise (such as the use of a stationary bike accompanied by a computer-generated video) provided the same benefits.

Study specifics

More than 100 volunteers (between the ages of 58 and 99) residing in an independent living facility, with access to an indoor exercise bike, participated in the study. Participants were monitored three times per week for a total of three months, and cognitive function was assessed periodically.

Researchers evaluated executive functions at the start of the study, one month after and three months after the conclusion of the study, including:

  • Planning
  • Working memory
  • Attention

In addition, participants’ blood plasma was evaluated periodically to check for levels of a neurotrophic growth factor (brain-derived), which can be used as a measure of brain plasticity. Brain plasticity is a medical term used to describe the ability of the brain to compensate for injury or atrophy, essentially re-wiring itself to create alternate pathways to perform functions usually controlled by other areas.

Results

Both the control group and the experimental group participated in the same amount and frequency of exercising. However, participants in the experimental group, which used computer-aided visuals and techniques to enhance solitary stationary bike exercise, showed a 23 percent greater reduction in progression to dementia in comparison to the control group.

The bottom line

Video games may get a bad rap for overuse by the younger generation, but in the older adult population, there are clear benefits to incorporating “exergames” in a general fitness program. This study demonstrates a clear benefit to enhancing solitary stationary bike use with computer-generated programs and features, at least in terms of cognitive benefit. So while video games are often criticized for being “mindless” activities for youth, older adults can reap significant cognitive benefits from specially-designed programs.

Read the full study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

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Seniors Who Socialize Report More Happiness, Study Shows

Friday, January 6th, 2012 by Angela Stringfellow

Social seniors are more content.

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A new Gallup poll shows that socialization is clearly linked to happiness and lower stress levels. Seniors (65 and older) report the highest levels of happiness of any age group, and those who spend at least three hours daily socializing are more likely than their peers to report happiness.

The level of happiness reported increases with each hour of social time, to a maximum of about seven hours. Most interesting is that the senior group seems able to maintain their levels of happiness with less social time, provided they are getting at least a few hours each day.

The biggest gap, it seems, is between seniors who get no social time and those who get at least three hours of socialization each day. In fact, the number of seniors reporting happiness and contentment increases by 20 percent between zero and three hours of socialization. But figures remain nearly the same for this age group between those reporting three hours of social time and those reporting up to seven or eight hours.

Research limitations

It’s always tough to generalize findings from this type of research. There are many variables that are unaccounted for which could be impacting the numbers.

  • How is socialization defined, specifically? Is there a difference between social time inside or away from the home? The Gallup poll asks, “Approximately how many hours did you spend socially with friends of family yesterday? This can include telephone or email.” But the results don’t account for differences between those who socialized primarily on the phone and those who spent more time in the direct company of others. Further, it’s not clear whether socialization at work counts. Most of us have friends at the  job, so does friendly office chatter count?
  • How many respondents are widows or widowers, and how does this variable skew responses? It’s possible that those reporting high levels of contentment have a living spouse, for instance, whereas seniors living alone may require more social hours for the same level of contentment.
  • How many seniors responding are residing in communal settings, such as assisted living or independent living, and what effect does this have on responses?

Clear link between social time and positive emotional state

Get social to reduce depression.

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Still, we can safely conclude that seniors are more likely to be happy if they’re spending time with friends and family for at least three hours each day. That could mean spending time in a senior center, an adult day care facility, on the golf course or at the fitness center. For some seniors, it could mean it’s time to consider a move to an assisted living home.

Individual personalities and preferences can strongly impact how much satisfaction a senior may get from different activities. Some social outings, for instance, can be very stressful for seniors who struggle with mobility or prefer the comforts of home.

Gallup notes that the average amount of social time spent each day drops dramatically with age. The 30-and-younger crowd reports an average of 8.1 hours of socialization each day, but Americans 65 and older average about 5.7 hours. Among the 65+ group who reported positive moods without a lot of stress and worry the previous day, the average social time was 6.1 hours.

So what’s the bottom line? If you’re a senior and you’re feeling down, try getting out and about. Grab lunch with a friend. Give a loved one a call. If you’re a caregiver, and your loved one lives alone and isolated, consider trying a community setting like a senior center or elderly day care center. Encourage your loved one to get involved with activities at church or local social clubs. But be sure to keep a close eye on unpredictable stressors, like a hidden mobility challenge.

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Posted in Aging, Caregiver Tips, Health News, Senior Living News | 2 Comments »

Joan’s Journey: The Search for Senior Housing

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 by mackenzie

The search for senior housing can be a daunting task.  Yes, you can find advice online or through professional agencies, but you are rarely able to get advice from someone who has been through it themselves.  That  is why we partnered with Joan London to create a new blog series focused on her search for senior housing.  She takes you through every step of the process, allowing you to get a first hand account of her journey.   We hope you will be able to learn from her experiences and use them for your own search.  Moreover, we hope that this blog series helps ease your concerns over moving yourself or your aging loved one.

Joan London

Joan London is a freelance writer living in Baltimore, MD. Since retiring in 2007 from a more than 30-year career in journalism and public relations, London spends much of her time traveling to and from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to visit her three children and four grandchildren in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. “Geminis love to travel,” says London.

When not writing, traveling or working as a volunteer advocate, London enjoys surfing the Web, going to movies and most of all, spending time with her grandchildren. She also finds time to be a consumer advocate/expert witness for the Food and Drug Administration and the Maryland Governor’s Task Force on Chronic Illnesses and Related Diseases.

“I love being a senior,” says London. “We have so much flexibility and so many choices.”

Her Search

For the last 10 years, Joan has lived a very comfortable, and fun life in Baltimore.  It wasn’t until a recent surgery, left her alone and unable to speak for a couple weeks, that she realized she missed being close to children.  Furthermore, the harsh Baltimore winters have been getting harder for her to handle.  So, Joan decided to take the leap and begin to look for senior communities on the West Coast, where all three of her children live.

So in the next couple of months Joan will be traveling to Seattle, San Francisco, L.A., and Palm Springs to visit Senior communities.   Check out her latest blog post to follow her journey across the country to the west coast.

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Posted in Aging, baby boomers | 11 Comments »

Aging America: Affecting a Grocery Store Near You

Monday, December 12th, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

You can expect to see some changes on your local grocery store shelves in 2012, according to a new report from Leatherhead Food Research, a U.K.-based market research firm. The aging population means changing consumer demands, so you can expect to see more foods with added health benefits (or claims of added health benefits). Further, younger consumers with food intolerances and preferences will drive demand for gluten-free items and dairy alternatives.

The reason for this major shift is due to the Baby Boomer generation entering its senior years. Baby Boomers are savvy consumers and don’t take their health lightly, so they’ll be looking for products that can help maintain good health as they age. Items like glucosamine (for joint health) and omega-3 fatty acids (for brain function) are top on the list of desires for this group.

Also important? Heart health. Researchers anticipate that demands will drive growth in this department, with product launches that claim to improve heart health by reducing plague buildup in arteries.

Even the younger consumer groups are impacting change in terms of food products. Food allergies, as well as a preference for cutting out certain harmful ingredients, will drive sales of gluten-free, dairy-free, reduced sugar and reduced fat food products in the coming years. Nuts, also a common and sometimes dangerous allergy, are also on the hit list. Researchers anticipate more nut-free foods over the next year or so.

Seniors will drive food trends in 2012.

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The New York Daily News covers this new research and also points out some other up-and-coming food trends courtesy of Leatherhead:

  • Reductions in fat, salt and sugar (big diet no-nos) will be common as manufacturers strive to meet nutritional guidelines.
  • Convenience is still important. Even retired Boomers have busy lives, so prepared and time-saving  meals will continue to be popular.
  • Natural and organics will get a boost. Consumers are looking towards natural products, free of dyes and additives that have a reputation for being harmful over time or causing gastrointestinal upset. Organic produce and meats, among other items, will be commonplace.
  • Buying local. Consumers are looking to boost their local economies, as well as cut down on transport costs, so they’ll be increasingly seeking out locally-produced foods.
  • Eco-friendly packaging. In tune with the organic and natural trend, packaging will also become more environmentally-friendly, making use of recycled materials when possible and an overall reduction in packaging.
  • Flavor, flavor, flavor! Expect to see bold flavors and added use of spices to compensate for the flavors lost in the reduction of fat, sugar and salt.

And if you’re looking to start a healthier lifestyle for 2012, check out these resources to get you motivated!

The USDA has a cool feature that allows you to track both your food intake (per the food pyramid – er, plate – guidelines) and physical activity.

U.S. News and World Report has a basic article with tips for senior diet and exercise — oldie, but a goodie.

WebMD explains why it’s never too late to get started with a healthy diet and exercise plan.

SeniorFitness is a complete website dedicated to providing resources and advice for older people who want to start a fitness routine. Check out their article on planning a menu for weight loss.

Do you have a favorite website or app that helps you track your diet and fitness? A great resource for seniors who want to start eating healthier or living a more active lifestyle? Let us know in the comments so we can share it with our audience!

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Posted in Aging, Health News, Senior Living News, baby boomers | 2 Comments »

Life Reports. How would you Grade your Life?

Monday, December 12th, 2011 by mackenzie

If you had to write a report of your life what would it say?  How would you evaluate yourself or even choose which chapters to highlight?  This is a question  David Brooks asked his readers.  A month ago,  David Brooks asked readers over 70 to send him their Life Reports. He asked them to take a step back and write a brief essay about what they had learned in “the realms of private life, career, faith, community, work and self knowledge.”  Since then he has begun to post the ‘Life Reports’, and the stories he received are poignant, fascinating, and thought provoking.

The Life Reports

Writers of many different backgrounds contributed to the long list of Life Reports that have been submitted. They share with us the highlights of their lives, which include their successes and failures, their regrets and their fond memories, and the relationships they made along the way.  Here are some of my favorite pieces of self-reflection:

The Life Report Noah Inbody

“Part II.  Grade C+. Later I recognized how unhappy I was even as an active, well respected pastor.  This effected my ability to father my children properly, but I chalked it up to “being busy for the Lord.”

The Life Report Regina Titus

“At 56, while working and studying at nights and on weekends, I obtained a BA degree, Cum Laude, with English honors, from Marymount Manhattan College. Graduation was one of the most joyous, exciting and rewarding times of my life…..I try to live my life remembering a little poem my mother loved: Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. ”

The Life Report Charles Darwin Snelling

“Six years ago tragedy struck our household. My dear, sweet Adrienne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. So, here comes the redemption. It never occurred to me for a moment that it would not be my duty and my pleasure to take care of my sweetie. After all, she took care of me in every possible way she could for 55 years. The last six years have been my turn, and certainly I have had the best of the bargain.”

The Life Report of Wayne

“As for my own marriage and family life: B-. If I (we) had one do-over, it would be adopting an infant rather than a six-year-old.  And I must admit that I wish both I and my wife had better control over our anger.  Too many verbal fights are regrettable to say the least.”

The Life Report David Leshan

“It took me twenty years of my fifty-year marriage to discover how unwise it was to attempt to remake my wife. … I learned also that neither could I remake my friends or students.”

How do you evaluate your life?

One of the most insightful parts of this experiment was the manner in which people examined their lives.   David  summarizes with the reader some of his thoughts and discoveries after reading through many Life Reports.

  • Divide your life into chapters. Many uphappy readers saw “time as an unbroken flow with themselves as corks bobbing on top of it.”  The happier readers were able to divide time into phases by looking at time as something that could be broken down, they were more able to stop and self appraise. “They had more control over their own fate.”
  • You can’t control other people. David Leshan, and many other writers made this observation.  However, other reports submitted by stepparents indicate that it took years for them to be accepted by their stepchildren.
  • Measure people by their growth, not their talents. Regina Titus is an example of this, despite demeaning jobs and a troubled personal life as a young woman, she was able to receive a college education at the age of 56.  David Brooks calls her a “story of relentless self expansion.”
  • Lean toward risk. “Many more seniors regret the risks they didn’t take than regret the ones they did.”
  • People get better at the art of living. For many individuals it wasn’t until their 60s where they really “found their zone.”

These are just a few of the life lesson’s David Brooks has extracted from the Life Reports so far.  I would advise that you take the time and read a couple today.  Whether you are near the end of your life or just starting out, there are many things you can learn from these Life Reports.

image by ktania on Stock.xchng

A few weeks ago I asked readers over 70 to send me Life Reports. I asked them to evaluate their own lives, taking a step back to write a brief essay on how they had done and what they had learned in the realms of private life, career, faith, community, work and self-knowledge.

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Memo Touch: A New Tablet Specifically for Seniors

Friday, December 2nd, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

If you or a loved one suffer from short-term memory loss, there’s a new tablet PC designed specifically for you: The Memo Touch, a tech gadget with limited functionality (compared to the typical tablet PCs like iPads), which offers reminders to take medication, keep scheduled appointments and even collaborate with friends and loved ones via an integrated calendar tool.

New tool for short-term memory loss

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This collaborative tool can be a lifesaver for long-distance caregivers, saving endless phone calls to remind an aging parent to take care of important tasks. An interactive website, accessible by anyone given a password, allows siblings, professional caregivers and patients to coordinate tasks through scheduled calendar events and personal messages. Loved ones can even send personal messages and photos.

Memo Touch is an especially useful tool when there are several family members all participating in caring for a loved one. With Memo Touch, it’s easy to coordinate schedules, assign family members certain tasks and ensure that everyone involved in care is on the same page and aware of all important details. The device can be updated remotely, meaning caregivers in distant cities can add appointments and other events. It’s more reliable than the typical sticky note and calendar method, as these more tangible items are easily misplaced.

It’s designed specifically for individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, who are still capable of handling many tasks alone yet need a gentle reminder to aid with short-term memory loss. Because it’s designed for aging adults, it’s limited functionality provides a shorter learning curve for those not accustomed to new technology. Memo Touch contains all the features needed to coordinate care and maintain proper schedules, without the addition of dozens of applications that will rarely–if ever–be used.

Memo Touch is a relatively new product, introduced in 2010. Those interested in learning how Memo Touch works can sign up for a free, 14-day trial on the Memo Touch website, which will allow complete use of the website during that timeframe for multiple users. If you decide to purchase Memo Touch, the cost is $299 for the device plus a monthly subscription fee. (6 months at $29 per month or 12 months at $25 per month). There’s a three-month trial period, so if you decide Memo Touch isn’t right for you after trying it for a few weeks, you may return it for a complete refund.

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Posted in Aging, Caregiver Tips, Health Tech, Product Reviews, Senior Living News | 4 Comments »

New Silver Spotlight Interview: Downsizing without Drama

Thursday, December 1st, 2011 by Angela Stringfellow

The SeniorHomes.com Silver Spotlight Interview Series continues with insights from Catherine Arendt, At Your Service Manager for Era Living. Arendt offers tips for avoiding drama and making a smooth transition while downsizing and moving an aging loved one, based on more than a decade of experience helping dozens of families do just that.

The emotional side of downsizing

Downsizing is, for many families, a very emotional experience. Whether a couple is moving to a retirement community and giving up the family home where they raised their children, or a widowed spouse is moving to independent or assisted living because the family home is too much to maintain alone, it’s inevitable that digging through years of old possessions will drudge up a host of emotions. Prepare to shed a few tears and reminisce. This experience can be tremendously healing for some, but for others it’s a very stressful time.

Sorting through old possessions brings back memories

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“It is very normal to associate emotion with transition,” Arendt says.  “It is okay to allow yourself to feel those feelings for as long as you need to.  Downsizing is a lot like exercise, if we are not consistently editing our belongings, we might need to start slow, and over time, gain strength.”

Arendt offers a few tips for seniors and loved ones tackling a daunting downsizing task. First, it’s likely you’ll encounter at least one item that evokes a powerful memory and can distract you from the task at hand. When you come across these items, put them to the side and allow yourself some time later to deal with and process those emotions. But don’t allow it to distract you from the task at hand at that moment. Placing it to the side knowing you’ll give yourself time to think through your emotions later will help you keep moving.

Arendt also suggests starting small. Downsizing a family home you’ve lived in for decades is a monumental task. Take just 15 minutes and sort through something small, like a drawer you don’t use very frequently. Often, you’ll get through it so quickly and easily that you’ll be motivated to do two drawers, or maybe a whole closet.

Communicate, communicate, communicate!

Moving aging loved ones

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When it comes to dealing with delicate emotions and loved ones, there can never be too much communication. Arendt says communicating is the first place to start: Talk about when, why and how downsizing will take place and how each family member or friend can play a part. It’s also important to discuss possessions each person finds most valuable. Finally, “Work together to make rules and then devise a system.  Acknowledge it is hard for everyone, and remember that throughout the process, it helps everyone be more compassionate toward each other.”

Avoiding disagreements

Families are bound to encounter a dispute over a valued item more than one person would like to keep. When you come across these items, set them aside to discuss later and focus on the items everyone can agree on. Arendt advises, “Understand and communicate that there is nothing in the house, no “stuff,” that is more important than your relationships with each other.”

The nitty-gritty of downsizing duties

There’s no doubt about it: Downsizing a family home is a lot of work. It takes both a physical and emotional tool on everyone involved. Here are a few tricks of the trade from downsizing expert Catherine Arendt:

  • First, figure out what you want to keep, then, decide what to do with everything else.
  • Group collections together, and then choose a couple of items that you love the most, like vases. You probably have a bunch of vases that came with bouquets that are of little value.  Keep only the ones you love most.
  • Concentrate on one room at a time.  Get through it; do as much as you possibly can before moving on to the next room.
  • Use color codes. I like dot stickers from the drug store. Dot stickers come in four colors; I use them to code with following titles: Keep, For Family and Friends, Donate, and Garbage. When organizing, I walk though a room and put on the colored stickers.  When someone comes to physically help me do the work they know just which section each of the items goes in.
  • For packed boxes, label them Donate, Family and Friends, and Keep.
  • If you are using big plastic bags, like garbage bags, buy two boxes of bags in different colors.  Use one color for trash and the other color for donations.

Visit our Silver Spotlight page to read more expert advice from Catherine! Have you had an experience downsizing your own home or helping a loved one with the process? Share your stories and tips with us in the comments.

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