Moving into a retirement community can make a lot of sense for older seniors. You don’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning, and you have access to caregivers and greater assistance as you need it. But it likely means you’re going to be moving from a bigger house into a suite. That means you’re going to have to downsize.
#1 Downsizing Your Furniture
The first step is figuring out what to do with your furniture. What are you going to need in your new suite? Talk to the retirement residence before you start making furniture decisions. You’ll want to see the suite to get a sense for space and find out what furniture, if any, already comes with the suite.
It’s important to make the suite feel like your own. Suites at retirement communities such as All Seniors Care Living Centres are open for you to furnish as you want them. People tend to prefer bringing their own furniture when they move into a retirement community. You can find out more by visiting an All Seniors Care Living Centres in your area when you’re thinking about moving.
#2 Try the KonMari Method
With the launch of the new Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, getting rid of stuff has become a hot topic. Kondo became famous for her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, a guide to tidying up your home and transforming it into a more peaceful place. There’s also a lot of great advice for getting rid of things that you can apply to downsizing your home.
The KonMari method asks, “Does it spark joy?” There are a lot of different ways to interpret this. Does it spark fond memories from the past or of people who are no longer with you? Is it just something that makes you feel good inside, without really knowing why? This is a great way to decide what carries sentimental or non-material value to you – these are the things you should bring with you to a retirement community. The rest you can let go of.
Decluttering your home is a great way to get ready to downsize, even if you’re not moving imminently. You can also donate many of the things you’re getting rid of, especially old clothes, linens, or books.
#3 Don’t Force Your Stuff on Your Family
If your children or grandkids are happy to take some of the stuff you don’t want or need, that’s great – but don’t force it on them. While your kids may have homes of their own and plenty of room, be mindful that your grandkids live in a different world, where rents are high, apartments are getting smaller, and they move more often.
It may be impractical for them to take something like a large dining room table or a china cabinet. Don’t take it personally when they refuse to take antiques or heirlooms that you have loved, especially if it’s furniture.
Downsizing can be a great way to give you perspective on your stuff. It can feel liberating to get rid of things that have been weighing down your home, and by giving it to charity, you can feel good helping others out as well.
