Deciding on what to take when moving your parents into a senior living community can be a daunting task, but what to do with everything else that is left behind can be even more overwhelming.
A move into a senior living community can be tied to many emotions... So how do you handle all of your parents' stuff that they can't take with them to the senior living facility?
How to Handle Your Parents’ Belongings
Remove clutter and save mementos
While you undergo the difficult task of cleaning up your parents' former home, it's okay to be sentimental. This may be a home that your entire family grew up in, so it's ok to get emotional. Although it is tough to do, you should draw a firm line in the sand for keeping only what is valuable and significant. Separate the junk from the heirlooms and consider the items that your family members or friends might want to keep.
Donate or sell items
For items that are still in good working order, you can choose to donate to charity. If you won't use them anymore, you can give away to local organizations that are in need of these items. You also have the option to do yard sales or try and sell on the online marketplaces. This will require additional work to figure out what each item should cost, but may be worth the time for more profitable belongings.
Decide what to do with the house
There are a few options to consider when it comes to what to do with your parents' house once they no longer live there. You could sell the house, rent it out, or even live in it yourself!
Here are a few things to think about when making your decision:
What is the current condition of the house? If it needs a lot of repairs, it may not be worth selling.
How much money do you stand to make from selling or renting the property? This will help you decide if it's worth keeping or not.
Do you have a sentimental attachment to the house? If so, you may want to keep it in the family by living in it yourself or renting it out.
Whatever you decide to do with your parents' house, make sure it's something you and your family members are comfortable with. There's no wrong answer, so do what feels right for you!
Track down and organize sensitive documents
You need to find and keep crucial legal, health, and financial documents for seniors. The importance cannot be overstated, given the multiple issues that often spring up after your parents have moved to the senior living facility.
When you're cleaning out a home, you'll find papers nearly everywhere. Before you toss any piece of paper, sift through the stack and look for any important documents:
The following are examples of documents that you may need:
Titles, deeds, and real estate deeds
Wills and trusts
Stock certificates
401(k) records
Recent bank statements
Don't do it alone
Remember that you're not just decluttering to get rid of the trash. You're also doing it to downsize your parents' belongings . So, as you go about this activity, you can have some family and friends to help you make the choices.
Another positive outcome from doing it with others is that you can have them around to provide emotional support. This is quite important because going through your parents' old things can be a nerve-wracking experience that is hard to manage.
There are over one thousand Independent and senior Assisted Living facilities in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Collier, and Lee Counties. These senior centers provide a broad spectrum of services and amenities to their residents. Our goal is to help make the transition as easy as possible. Let us help you choose the independent living community or assisted living facility that best suits your needs, lifestyle, and budget.
Welcome Home Senior Services and Placement Company provides a FREE consulting service that can help you find the senior living facility that best fits your needs. We strive to learn your priorities and help eliminate those facilities that do not fit with your personal goals.