By Lauren Keating
A group of relatives gathered around a table at a recent family function looking at photographs—memories throughout the years coming back to all like movie montages. Only recently retired with lots of life left to live, my uncle started organizing through family mementos, dividing belongings and keepsakes to give to his children and siblings. Was this necessary, I thought. However, experts say downsizing is important for seniors to start thinking about.
But where to begin? "Keep the best and let go of the rest," senior move manager and owner of Changing Spaces SRS, Jeannine Bryant, said. "So if we have to give up half of our stuff, let's keep our favorite half and get rid of the stuff that doesn't matter quite so muc. It's really just about setting priorities."
Bryant coined the term "rightsizing," which means finding the perfect place between too much and too little. "The righting process should help them identify the things they love so that they can get rid of things that don't matter as much."
Bryant isn't advocating minimalism; instead, the idea is that people can keep, see, and find the things they love most. Discussed in her books, Reason to Rightsize? and Keep the Memories Not the Stuff, Bryant details the five steps to rightsize effectively: decide what you're keeping, give to friends and family, sell what you can donate what is left, and remove the trash.The mistake most people make is starting with donating and selling before first inquiring what kids or family members are interested in taking.
In business for 16 years in Lincoln, Nebraska, Bryant said that she was very close to both sets of grandparents before their passing two years apart in her youth. After seeing her parents deal with the fallout and cleaning out their homes, she had first-hand insight into how much this weighed on them.This combined with her love for organization sparked her idea to help seniors as they prepare for the next chapter in their lives.
"They're downsizing, and it's overwhelming," she sympathized. Bryant works with people who are moving out of a home they've been in for decades and moving into a townhouse or an apartment in a retirement community. "They're giving up half or more of their square footage, so that means they've got to get rid of half or more of their stuff. The majority of the folks that I work with are in their last quarter of life," she said. "We can't take it with us. And so many of our clients are confronting these possessions they've accumulated throughout their life, and they're asking themselves, 'Well, now what? What do I do with all this stuff?"
Bryant recommends that the starting point be furniture when downsizing to a smaller living space.
Figure out useful furniture and what pieces are comfortable. This includes bringing along that favorite chair. For example, decisions need to be made, such as keeping a family piece of furniture but leaving behind the bookshelves.
If moving, think about the rooms in the new living space.
If decluttering in your own home, start in the places you live most, such as the living room or bedroom.
Older adults who lived in their homes for years may not use the second floor or basement as much. "And that's okay, but that also means that the items that are in those areas are probably not items that are super important or meaningful to them, because they are not seeing them on a regular basis," Bryant said. "So really concentrating your efforts on the rooms that you spend the most time in will net you the best benefit, and it might even open your eyes to realize that if you hadn't planned on moving, maybe it's time to think about downsizing."
"For most seniors, they can realize that in five years they might have more stuff
and less energy to deal with it, and so being proactive and doing it sooner is always better than later."
After the furniture comes sorting through clothing, knickknacks, kitchen items, holiday decor, and the like. "I always encourage my clients to figure out what they want to keep with them first," he said, reminding them that people should only keep the best. Then, identify that second layer or items that go into a pile that should passed along to the family. Remember, your child is not going to hold a truckload of items for you, but identifying those key valuable items takes less convincing for them to do. Bryant recommends explaining to the family members why that item is so important. Sharing an anecdote gives that item more value because of the story and memory now attached to it.
Seniors can make paperwork and important documents more manageable by decreasing the volume to fit into one filing cabinet. Downsize photos by discarding those that are blurry, scenery shots, or include people you don't know. For keepsakes, only keep those you can display instead of storing them in a box.
So when is the right time to rightsize?
"I try to get people to think down the road and have a plan for aging," said Bryant. "Try to think about what your life will look like in three years, in five years, and in seven years. And for most seniors, they can realize that in five years they might have more stuff and less energy to deal with it, and so being proactive and doing it sooner is always better than later."
The same is true when it comes to moving. "It's best to move before they have to, because if you do it before they have to, then the senior has more options," Bryant said. This includes taking a tour of a retirement community when healthy, as opposed to waiting until after a health crisis that leaves the family scrambling. Consider the care needed, and how much you can afford and then start touring. Independent living options provide options to be active without having the maintenance that comes with owning a home.
Rightsizing isn't just for the elderly. Bryant recommends everyone rightsizing a couple of times a year to stay clutter-free. This is a great way to earn some extra cash by selling things on Facebook Marketplace and teaching children the importance of giving to those less fortunate.
Jeannine Bryant is an expert at helping seniors and their families through times of transition. As the owner of Changing Spaces SRS, a senior move management company in Lincoln, Nebraska, she and her team are proud to provide a valuable service that helps take away the stress when clients are rightsizing, moving,
or clearing out an estate. For the last 15 years, Jeannine has found her passion helping seniors rightsize their belongings and their lives. Visit her company’s website at www.ChangingSpacesSRS.com or www.Easyrightsizing.com
