Starting a conversation with your older adult about downsizing can be just as challenging—and emotionally charged—as talking about giving up driving. In fact, many people avoid the topic altogether because it feels so overwhelming.

Older adults can accumulate a lot of stuff over the years. Many come from a generation where hosting meant elegant cocktail parties and beautifully set tables for holidays and social gatherings. Heirlooms from their parents are often cherished and carefully kept by many older adults. It’s not the item itself they’re attached to, but the memories it represents. Saying goodbye to a treasured decanter or dessert set is no small thing, which is why passing them on to the next generation often feels so meaningful.

The problem with passing down treasures is that other family members often have different tastes or don’t harbor the same emotional connection. Many young adults live a more minimalist lifestyle in smaller spaces, preferring to focus on experiences instead of owning things. Meanwhile, their parents have their own “stuff” they are looking to shed.

The biggest hurdle can be how overwhelming it feels to even think about downsizing, let alone getting started with the process. This is where Springpoint at Home’s Aging Life Care Advisors™ can be a life saver. They will help facilitate a downsizing discussion and can help your older adult understand that this is a safety issue if they plan to stay in their home. If downsizing is needed because they are moving into a new home or community, our Aging Life Care Advisors™ can be a neutral third party to help them pare down household items while keeping memories alive.

Here are some tips to make downsizing a little easier:

• Recognize that your older adult’s identity is often intertwined with their treasures and there is grief in letting them go.
• Don’t rush this process if possible. Take the time to talk about the memories associated with a treasure. Take a photo and put it in an album that will allow them to continue to tell the history of this treasure and the people associated with it.
• If they intend to pass along something after they are gone, have the person over while they are still living so they can see their joy and share the memories. Make this a special occasion, perhaps over lunch or dinner.

Creating a plan with the help of a Springpoint at Home Aging Life Care Advisor™ will help make the process less overwhelming and stressful. They can help:

• Decide which five or six possessions are valued the most and must be included in the move or kept in the home.
• Commit to throw out anything broken, cracked, or deteriorated.
• Create a list that helps prioritize belongings, and then check it against the space available when moving to a community.
• Decide what should be sold, donated, or thrown away.
• Be patient with the person and the process.
• There are professional organizations like National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals and/or Certified Senior Home Managers whose members can be hired. Our Aging Life Care Advisors™ can help you find these resources.

For more information on how Springpoint at Home can help, please call: 609-301-2101 or 844-724-1777.