1. Why is it important to help my senior get organized?
2. I’m in my 60’s and have some of the same organizing problems that my parents have. Can I still be of help to them?
3. I live across the country from my parents, and I can’t take a lot of time to help them downsize or move. What can I do?
4. My mom’s clutter seems to be overwhelming her. I know it overwhelms me. Is something else going on?
1. Why is it important to help my senior get organized?
You can help your senior to organize in a number of important areas. These are just a few…
- Medications: making sure your senior has a list of his or her medications, instructions and reactions to medications will be of great help in an emergency and even in day-to-day life.
- Reducing clutter in the home will make the senior safer and reduce the chance of a fall as well as ease exit of the home in an emergency.
- Organizing important papers will bring peace of mind to both you and your senior.
- If your senior needs to downsize to a smaller home or a different living situation, it’s much easier when the senior is able to help and make decisions herself about possessions and not feel rushed or pushed to let go of things.
2. I’m in my 60’s and have some of the same organizing problems that my parents have. Can I still be of help to them?
Yes, of course! It’s often much easier to organize someone else than yourself. You can ease the burden a bit by using some products specifically created to help seniors get organized—like workbooks that help you get papers together or help organize a move. It’s also great motivation for yourself—once you’ve been through the process with someone else you might find that you have a better idea and more motivation for doing the same. If you still find it difficult to work with your parents, for any number of reasons, then think about hiring some outside help, like a senior move manager or a professional organizer.
3. I live across the country from my parents, and I can’t take a lot of time to help them downsize or move. What can I do?
This is the perfect situation to consider hiring a senior move manager or a professional organizer to assist your parents in organizing and completing a move. You can find trained and credentialed professionals on industry websites. See our resources section.
4. My mom’s clutter seems to be overwhelming her. I know it overwhelms me. Is something else going on? I really just want to throw all the stuff out, but she gets angry and emotional.
Your mom might have compulsive hoarding issues. This is a complex and little- understood condition. If she’s open to therapy and to having an organizer (trained in helping clients with compulsive hoarding) in to help her, you may see some progress. The last thing you want to do it toss it all out without her permission. That can do more harm than good. A great little book that helps friends and family understand this situation is “Buried in Treasures.” See my resources list for more information and the article "Clutter: When to worry."
