Helping Seniors in Santa Cruz, CA and Nearby Areas Downsize

Your elderly parents have likely accumulated a great deal of treasures, memories, books, kitchenware, outdated gadgets, power cables, and other miscellaneous items throughout the years. They may be reluctant to downsize because of the amount of effort required to go through and discard their possessions or because they have too much emotional attachment to all the clutter, even if they don't use or look at certain things anymore.

A significant number of adult children in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties believe that the process of downsizing their parents' home begins when they arrive to their parents' house wearing work clothes, cardboard boxes, and dust masks in order to clear out the garage, closets, and attic. Instead of waiting until that day, you should start the process of shrinking your loved one's home much earlier.

If you're worried about how to approach the conversation about downsizing, here are some tips to make the process much easier. Additionally, Visiting Angels Central Coast can help seniors in Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Marina, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Salinas and surrounding communities during the downsizing process to give families complete peace of mind.

Why It's Important for Seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties to Downsize

Is it necessary for your senior loved one to get rid of some of their possessions? Here are a couple core scenarios where downsizing is necessary:

Safety concerns - If your loved one has accumulated too many possessions over the years, they will benefit from getting rid of some it via downsizing. Not only can a cluttered home look unpleasant, but it can be the sign of a hoarding problem or cause your loved one to trip over junk, leading them to fall and injure themselves. Downsizing can benefit your senior loved one's health and safety in the long run.

Relocation - If your loved one is moving to a smaller home, moving in with a relative, or moving to an assisted living facility, they will need to part with some of their possessions. Since wherever they're moving is most likely smaller than their original home, they can't possibly take everything with them or they won't have enough room. In some cases, seniors may argue that they can't move to a smaller home because they have so much stuff. Downsizing can make moving to a new home much easier for seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

How a Compassionate Approach Can Make Downsizing Less Stressful for Seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties

Older people in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties may find it difficult to let go of belongings, even if they are no longer needed. However, when relocating to a smaller house or having to navigate numerous fall-related risks that are caused by clutter, decluttering becomes a must.

Give your loved one back some agency over their possessions and ease the burden on you and your family by starting the downsizing process early and doing it properly and gently. A compassionate approach to the downsizing process can make your loved one warm up to the idea of getting rid of unnecessary possessions.

Help your aging parents downsize while reducing stress with these tips:

Be compassionate

Handle the discussion of downsizing your loved one's home with empathy. As they age, your loved ones will lose a lot of important things, like friends and family members passing away, getting sicker and less mobile, and being less independent. Your parents may be quite attached to their stuff because they may believe that giving them up is another loss. Acknowledging the emotional worth of particular objects and making an effort to understand their hesitation might facilitate a more seamless process.

Start the conversation early

Always begin the process of downsizing a senior loved one's house with a talk, or conversations, that take place in the weeks or months leading up to the clean-out. The best way to handle your worries and respect your loved one's preferences is to have a conversation with them about their possessions and come up with a strategy together to declutter their home.

Focus on the "opportunities" that downsizing can create

Talk about the "opportunities" when you bring up the idea of downsizing your elderly loved one's home. For example, they may be able to help their adult children declutter while they're still physically able to, they can share the joy of giving away treasured possessions to other family members, or they can reminisce with loved ones as they go through old photos and keepsakes.

Make downsizing easy and convenient for your loved one

Make it as simple and convenient as possible for your elderly loved one to clear out their home when the "clean-out day" arrives. To help your loved one go through their belongings, make three containers and name them "Keep," "Donate," and "Toss." Take up the offer to send or deliver things to loved ones, drive donated goods to the community center, list items for sale online or at a garage sale, or even take care of disposing of trash and unwanted items.

Patience is key

You should not rush the process of sorting through a loved one's belongings to choose what to retain and what to discard; instead, take your time and go at their speed. Let your loved one take their time reflecting on the belongings and decide whether to keep, give, or dispose of them in an orderly fashion. This will help them feel empowered, appreciated, and cherished.

How Visiting Angels Central Coast Can Help Seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties Downsize

If your family needs a little help with downsizing a senior loved one's home, consider professional home care from Visiting Angels Central Coast. By offering a personalized approach to caring for seniors, we provide complete peace of mind for older adults and families in Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Marina, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Salinas and surrounding areas in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.

Although our caregivers can't help with certain tasks like lifting heavy objects and moving furniture, there are many ways that our home care services can be beneficial when downsizing, including:

Light housekeeping assistance can include taking out the trash, sweeping up debris after moving certain objects and cleaning down surfaces

Offering to take possessions that need to be donated to the appropriate destination

Listening to your loved one reminisce about their possessions and providing meaningful companionship

Helping your loved one get dressed in clean clothes that are appropriate for the physically intensive task of downsizing

Reminding them to take prescribed medications throughout the day

Helping your loved one safely get around the house or use the stairs as they're cleaning and organizing their possessions

Need help during downsizing from Visiting Angels Central Coast? Call us today at 831-430-0616 or fill out our form to set up a free in-home consultation!