Suzanne Newman joins Kelley Smith at CarePartners Senior Living to provide a plan for starting the decluttering process for a transition to senior living. Once you’ve got Mom settled in her new senior living community, you still have to go back and sort through the rest of her things. This segment talks about three piles you need to make while sorting through her things: sell, donate, trash.
For selling things, first check online. Is her china selling? If those coffee cups from 1962 are worth $10 each, sell them on eBay or save them for an estate sale. For jewelry, try an estate jewelry organization or store and get it appraised. Go to an antique jeweler who will be honest about what it’s worth.
For donations, will your feelings be hurt if you see it at the salvation army priced at $100? If you’re not going to make money on it, there are many charities to donate items which others would be grateful to have, such as immigrants or refugees who have very little. Also, bring close friends and family over (or FaceTime) to see if they’d like any of these items.
Throwing things away: be sustainable. Make sure in the final stages to recycle what you can. Shred old paperwork to protect identity information.
Kelley suggests to talk with your community coordinator first. Don’t get rid of anything that you assume can’t be brought. You may be pleasantly surprised and be able to accommodate your loved one.
SASH Services and Bee Organized can help with these processes.
The infographic below provides some decluttering tips.
