Home Inventory – Are you prepared for the unexpected?

Photo: istockphoto.com If there was a natural disaster or heaven forbid intruders were to enter your home, do you have an inventory document of everything in your home? Some ideas:1. Without going through each room, you forget what you have. It’s impossible to go off memory. Having an inventory of your property is useful for homeowners’

Recently, my team and I worked at home, and after we finished, our hair, clothing, and shoes were covered in cobwebs. Now cobwebs bring spiders and can cause an infestation. If you let your loved one live in a home that is not vacuumed or broom swept periodically, or cleaned on a regular basis, cobwebs

If you are moving out of a home you’ve lived in for 10 – 50 years and have never decluttered it, I estimate it will take at least 60 days. Why? Because 60 days will give you enough time to reflect on what brings you “love, joy, and happiness” or what can be passed on

Most of the households we’ve helped have struggled to keep household paper clutter under control. From mail and kids school papers, to doctors’ appointments, etc. Paper is a big one. Everyone has their own method. There is no right or wrong way to organize documents, but excess paper can quickly become overwhelming. I think teaching

Whenever we work with a new client or family, we frequently hear: “How do we know what to sell, donate, or discard?” When clients tell us to throw something away, if applicable we suggest donating instead. We believe it is our duty to prevent landfills from being overfilled with non-recyclable items, so we take great

In my post on June 2nd, I discussed how making changes can be both good and scary at the same time. This post suggests another method of bringing about change by creating opportunities to meet and socialize with people of different age groups. If you are in your 40’s or 50’s, maybe try meeting or

I am in the change business. Moving people to new locations, downsizing their homes, helping with decisions on what to keep or what the kids might want, and moving their furniture and items around their house to a different spot. As we mature in age we need change. It keeps us refreshed and energized. If

Everyone has a story, so there’s no doubt that your parents may have an interesting story. In our busy lives, we often forget to talk to our own parents about their own journeys. It can be hard to strike up deep conversations with close relatives, so here are a few questions to ask your parents

We’ve recently started working with an 88 ½ yr old wife and her husband who is 93 yrs old. The three adult children live out of state but talk to their parents on a regular basis. The existing home is one story, with a step down from the hallway to the living room. The wife

This is a sad, uncomfortable subject, but it needs to be discussed. We never know what tomorrow will bring us. In January 2020, I personally was in the hospital for 8 days with the Delta COVID. I was on oxygen and doctors told me I might have to go on a ventilator. My sons who

As an adult child, maybe one of your parents has passed away. Or maybe the other parent is still living in the family home. They have become more fragile physically and maybe mentally. How do you begin that talk? If there are several adult children, schedule a weekend you all get together at the family

Are you wanting to stay in your home for as long as you can? Age in Place? $75 OFF OUR SERVICE If YOU SIGN UP AND PUT A DEPOSIT DOWN ON OR BEFORE FEB. 28th. Do you not want to move to a retirement community until you need to? Or are you on a waiting

Source: Paula Span, The New York Times, December 7, 2022 Lynne Ingersoll and her cat, Jesse, spent a quiet Thanksgiving Day together in her small bungalow in Blue Island, Ill. A retired librarian, Ms. Ingersoll never married or had children. At 77, she has outlived her parents, three partners, her two closest friends, five dogs

Source: The Atlantic, November 15, 2022 by Elizabeth Keating Many people don’t know very much about their older relatives. But if we don’t ask, we risk never knowing our own history. You might think you already know your family’s stories pretty well—between childhood memories and reunions and holiday gatherings. You may have spent hours with

As families gather together over the holiday season, observe if your parent or loved one needs help cleaning up. Don’t tell them what to do, but ask how you can help them. No one likes to be told what to do. They might have a lack of energy or sense of purpose to accomplish some

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Home Inventory – Are you prepared for the unexpected?

Tooooo many cobwebs!

How much time do I need before a move?

True Stories: Daughters with power of attorney overwhelmed by mother’s newspaper collection during senior home clean out

True Stories: When downsizing and decluttering a home, how do you decide what to sell and what to donate?

True Stories: CHANGE IS GOOD – Part 2

True Stories: CHANGE IS GOOD – Part 1

How Much Do You Really Know About Your Parents?

True Stories: What happens if your adult children force you to move out of your home and into a retirement community

10 Tips for Planning Your Funeral

Having That Talk with Mom and/or Dad

Baby Boomers and Beyond….

Who Will Care for ‘Kinless’ Seniors? Part 1

The Questions We Don’t Ask Our Families but Should

The Value of Support: When a Loved One Needs to Downsize and Move