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Seniors decluttering11/18/2023 “The biggest challenge we all face is underestimating just how much stuff we have,” Spata said. And for a good reason: Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall, according to the National Council on Aging.Įileen Spata, area director with TAD Relocation, an organization that provides older adults with downsizing and relocating services, said the first step was sorting belongings. The therapist provides expert advice that includes tips for decluttering and other changes that will create a safer home environment, one that reduces risks, especially risks for falls. Goodwin House at Home, a program for active, healthy adults ages 55 and older who want to stay at home as they age, engages an occupational therapist to visit and assess each member’s home. “The benefit of choosing to declutter sooner rather than later meant I would thoughtfully donate the books to several college libraries, and that has given me enormous satisfaction.”įor older adults who want to age in place in their homes, decluttering takes on even more significance: safety. “Ann and I started our decluttering by focusing on what we would need in our next season of life, not what we would donate or give away, and it was clear we did not need 100 cartons of my books,” Bradley said. While his home in the Rosemont neighborhood of Alexandria could accommodate the books, he knew they could not make the journey to a smaller home and then to Goodwin House Alexandria in July 2017. At the end of the evening, they disposed of the items – but not before honoring their memory.Īnother resident, Don Bradley, faced the challenge of decluttering a lifetime’s worth of books, accumulated during his years as a professor and later as the principal economist at Freddie Mac. “Of course, younger generations do not want everything you have, so it’s important to find a way to dispose of items that may have belonged to your parents or grandparents in a way that’s honoring,” Bryan said.įor Bryan, the answer came through spending an evening going through old photos and letters with her daughter and sharing stories about those prior generations that had passed away. Bryan moved into Goodwin House Alexandria last year with her husband, Jonathan. “You come to the point in life where you are happy to pass things on to the next generation so they have a sense of continuity and history and things that have been important to you,” long-time Alexandria resident Judy Bryan said. Many Alexandrians, both those who have decided to age in place and those who have moved to a senior living community, concur. Various studies by psychology experts have proven these and other benefits of decluttering. And as we reorganize what we keep, we get a sense of calm from restoring order to our home. As we work through our belongings, we often come across items that might bring back happy memories. It need not be, and there are many benefits derived not only from the results but also from the process.ĭecluttering can stimulate cognition and reduce anxiety, including anxiety that stems from family tensions. Ask an adult age 55 or older what the key steps to healthy aging are, and you likely will hear responses such as, “Exercise more,” “Drink more water” and “Eat brain-boosting foods.” Few people will respond with one of the more significant steps to healthy aging: decluttering.Īfter decades collecting memories, mementos and material items, even minimalists can find the process of clearing out their homes daunting.
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