Today
Downsizing Mom to Move Into Assisted Living
by Jacqueline Marcell
Posted September 4, 2007 12:07 AM
Posted September 4, 2007 12:07 AM
Posted in
Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com
Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving
Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME!
WELCOME BACK ALL MY CAREGIVERS—Tell us your story!
I am hearing from more people lately who are struggling with how to sort through their parents' many years (only fifty or sixty!) of stuff, so they can move them to Assisted Living or a Nursing Home. Even though I have never been a big collector of stuff, it was hard for me to do--just moving from a home to a condo!
Also, my dear friend Sarah is going through it right now with her elderly mom who shouldn't be alone anymore in her big house--and wants to be in the same facility where her husband is in the nursing/dementia care area. Sarah flew to Florida to make it happen, but said it got so intense trying to convince her mom to let go of stuff--that when the mom wanted to take her wedding dress, Sarah had to go out to the car and just scream for a while!
I suggested that Sarah take pictures of everything her mom wants to take but can't, and put together an album for her. She could even cut a little piece of the fabric and make a scrapbook. She sighed so heavily with complete exhaustion, "Yeahhh, that would be really nice, but I just don't have the time to do that!"
Well... to meet this growing need, a relatively unknown business has popped up with organizing/moving specialists who handle it for you from start to finish. How great to have someone else tell your mother she doesn't need to take her mother's sewing machine--because she doesn't sew anymore.
Over the last few years I have interviewed quite a few of these organizing professionals on my radio show-so scroll through these 11 archives and listen for lots more ideas!
http://www.wsradio.com/internet-talk-radio.cfm/shows/Coping-with-Caregiving/archives/topics/category/Care-Management,-Social-Services,-Organizing.html
Author Elder Rage www.ElderRage.com
Host Coping With Caregiving Radio Show www.wsRadio.com/CopingWithCaregiving
Jacqueline's Lecture on CD; 12 Experts; 14/hrs. of Help--ASK ME!
Tell us your story!
Comments
Have something to say? Share your thoughts.
Posted September 5, 2007 8:18 PM
Jacqueline -
You write about a very important issue relating to later life transitions. As not to strain family relationships, it is often much easier for the senior to work with an objective person than their children when deciding what to keep and what to part with. Regardless, the transition is stressful. Healthcare professionals have studied the affects of moving for seniors and have written about the affects of Relocation Stress Syndrome in Older Adults.
I am one of the organizing/moving specialists in Central Indiana, that you refer to in your post, called a Senior Move Manager or Specialist. It is important to find a professional who is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM). Members must meet certain membership requirements like carrying liability insurance and supplying references. Members also follow an professional code of ethics.
Another great benefit of working with a NASMM member is that we network with other Senior Move Managers throughout the country. For example, I will be handling a move later this week for a family moving from the Chicago area to Indianapolis. A Chicago-based senior move manager is handling the downsizing, packing and coordinating the move from Chicago, and I will be there to coordinate arrival of the truck in Indianapolis, unpacking and settling in the client at the senior living residence, coordinating with unloading items at self-storage as well.
Our national association has a referral service of professionals throughout the country. Visit www.nasmm.org for more information.
Thanks for writing about this important topic.
Janet
The Organizing Genie
www.SimplifiedSpaces.net
Posted September 5, 2007 8:30 PM
Thanks so much Janet--excellent information! Perhaps you'd like to be a guest on my radio show!
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