Helpful Advice
Let us take the sting out of the moving process !!
As a former RN, and real estate broker/appraiser for over 20 years,
I have seen the needs of the senior population and the needs of
the elders in my own family increase, especially in the case of downsizing,
moving and relocation. I formed Senior Options Services, LLC to bring
my business and people skills along with my maturity and patience to service
industry that is very needed by seniors and their families. The following
list of questions and answers that may help seniors and families approach
the downsizing, moving and relocation process.
— Marianne
I see my mother and father needing assistance but they have so much stuff in their home and I am not a collector. Where do I start?
A good place to start is gentle honesty about possessions overtaking the home. If you live out of town you need to plan a short visit to start the discussion. If your parents need to move into something smaller then arrange some tours while you are visiting. You also need to plan to come back for a longer trip and help your parents start dealing with accumulated stuff. Sometimes elders will like the idea of giving items away while they can enjoy the gift giving. This can be a wonderful family bonding process for everyone.
How do I choose a mover?
Choosing a mover is something that Senior Options Services, LLC can assist with. We check references and use movers repeatedly so we tend to get extra care and attention because we are repeat customers to our movers. Also keep in mind that the least expensive mover is not always the most cost effective.
I see mom tripping and forgetting things. What should I do?
If you are seeing behavior that is endangering your mother, then you need to take action quickly but once again in a supportive manner. If you live out of town you need to visit for a long enough time to actually see what is happening and then bring up solutions. Many seniors can be resistant to change so you may have to come back for a few visits and keep suggesting options and gently move towards a safe housing solution.
I don't know anything about my mom and dad's financial situation. What should I know?
This can be a very difficult situation. In some cases parents may have some other trusted friend involved or they may be very private individuals. In any case, you should have a direct conversation and basically inquire if everything is okay with them financially and offer to help. It is quite appropriate to ask to know basic information so if something happens you know who has the important documents. In turn you should share your important documents and wishes so that they are prepared. Often this sharing of important documents between seniors and their adult children can get discussion started.
Mother has some fine collections of things that she is ready to part with. What are my options?
Sometimes a senior may surprise you and may be willing to part with some treasures if they can receive cash. Today it is almost always better to sell the items on ebay then to sell to private sellers. Many seniors can have an ebay account set up with a local ebay store and pay a commission to the ebay store to run the sale. When the items sells they receive a check in the mail. It is always wise to use a registered ebay store and check credentials with a Better Business Bureau before dropping off your items for auction.
Do people still run estate sales in homes?
There are companies that run estate sales and we have contacts for reputable estate sale companies. Keep in mind that you should only request an estate sale if there is a lot of finer items that would not be appropriate to an ebay auction such as a lot of furniture. In many cases after the senior decides what they want to keep and then gives items to family and friends, there is often not much left for an estate sale and it is more cost effective to give items to charity and take the charitable deduction.
Have a question?
Send your question and I will find the answer!
– Marianne Farrell