11

Sep, 2012

Senior Downsizing: 6 Indicators That You Have TOO MUCH STUFF

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As a Senior I suspect that you already know if you’ve got too much stuff lying around or need to downsize your home, but here are some senior downsizing indicators to help you make your decision. Senior Downsizing Indicators When I go to hang up a shirt or blouse in the closet I have to push aside the other clothes to make space.   I can’t see the floor in my closets.   At least one bedroom has been turned into a storage area.   We rent storage space or […]

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23

Aug, 2012

6 Packing Tips

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Packing tips to help seniors get ready for move day   When packing do not overfill or under fill cartons because this increases the possibility of damage. Tops must close flat and be sealed with tape. Packing heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on the top. Pack snugly so that things won’t shift. Cushion every carton on the bottom, between layers, at the top and in any empty spaces. Use your pillows, towels, and blankets for cushioning. It can be a handy way to pack them! Also have […]

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7

Aug, 2012

Gentle Beginnings When Helping Seniors Downsize

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You know that feeling you get when you have to tackle a big project and aren’t sure where to begin? Imagine it; only now imagine your joints and muscles don’t move like they used to. Your vision is less sharp. Perhaps you even are in physical pain when you move around too much. You have some unspoken anxieties about aging. Oh, and imagine those feelings magnified tenfold. This is the feeling many aging parents have when their children approach them with the suggestion, “It is time to go through your […]

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17

Jul, 2012

Red Means No Green Means Go

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Red Means NO and Green Means GO When downsizing into a smaller living space you must decide what to keep, what to give away and what to throw away. One strategy that I often employ with clients is a color-coding system. This process gives you a wonderful visual as you look around your current space as to the things that are coming and going. Using color-coded post it notes helps you to see clearly just what furniture is going and what can not go. Begin with green post-its for Go […]

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10

Jul, 2012

Choose To Change

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There are 3 things we know about the future: It is not going to be like the past. It is not going to be exactly the way we think. The rate of change can take place faster than we can imagine. In 1803, the British created a civil service position in which a man was required to stand on the cliffs of Dover with a spy glass. His job was to be on the lookout for invasion. He was to ring a bell if he saw the army of Napoleon […]

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4

Jun, 2012

4 Tips When Moving To A Smaller Space

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One of the most difficult parts of relocating to a smaller space is letting go of the much-loved home that you’ve spent many years enjoying and making memories in!   The things collected over the years that fill that home simply cannot all go with you.  As you look around, everything you see seems precious.  What do you do? As you begin the process of rightsizing for your smaller space, keep these tips in mind. Determine what furniture can realistically fit into the new square footage. Choose your very favourite sentimental […]

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23

Apr, 2012

7 Tips for a Successful Senior Move

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TAKE ACTION. If you are capable, take action. Enlist the help of friends and family to lend support. DON’T GO IT ALONE.  Moving is difficult but you don’t have to do it alone.  Find those that can give you tools, assistance, motivation, encouragement and information to help with the transition. WHERE DO I START?  Start with a plan and a time table. Then you stick to it and re-adjust as you go. WHAT DO I TAKE?  Remember that you are moving to a smaller home. Take only those things that […]

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2

Apr, 2011

Un-junking the Junk Drawer

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Nearly everyone has a junk drawer. You know, that place in your house that has become a catch-all for the things that seem to appear from nowhere and have no other home in your house. Loose change, batteries, pizza coupons (probably expired), runaway marbles from your grandkids’ stash – the possibilities of what your junk drawer contains are endless. When you are in a rush to tidy up, the junk drawer comes in handy. You hide things there, intending to get back to them later. Well, it is time for […]

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28

Mar, 2011

A Yard Sale? Seriously…

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Garage sales can be pretty unremarkable, but several years ago I went to a garage sale that shifted my perspective. While on my way home I spotted a yard sale sign not too far from our house. I convinced my husband to come take a look with me. As we approached, I could tell this was no ordinary yard sale. The large, fenced yard was packed with stuff. 50 years’ worth of stuff. The owners of the house came out to greet us. They were elderly and bone-weary. As we […]

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