As I manned our Downsizing Resource Group (DRG, for short –www.theupsidetodownsizing.com) table at Camden County’s 11th Annual Women’s Health Conference on September 25, 2010, I really got to thinking, not only what I was going to do for myself at some point, but what my father wants to do about downsizing. He is a very healthy 94-year old and still lives in the house in which I grew up. He drives very short distances in the day only, arranges for transportation for longer distances or at night, plays bridge 4 days a week, shops for his own food (he loves Stouffer’s frozen meals), has someone clean his house and do his laundry once a week, reads, listens to music, watches golf on TV, goes on his computer (in fact, he even pays some of his bills on-line), and takes a daily walk, albeit short. And to top it off, he has a drink every night while watching the news.
My first article gave an overview of downsizing, and the other two articles covered topics such as the steps to getting started and making decisions on what to keep and not to keep. My father may not be ready to move, if ever, but at least we are talking about having some kind of plan. I started to think of all the services that the DRG group has to offer, and someone like my father may or may at some point need all or some of them. I know I am very lucky having a father as healthy as he is now, but at least I’ve started taking my own advice.
This last blog in the series lists several benefits to downsizing. I am sure you can think of many more so feel free to post them. Comments are always welcome.
• If you want to move, you are not just moving to a new location – you are moving to a new stage of life.
• The less you keep or take with you, the less you’ll have to worry about and take care of.
• You’ll have more time and energy for those interests and activities that mean the most to you. You’ll even have the opportunity to learn something new. It’s never too late.
• If you need additional care, it is available.
Depending on your age and health, there are many options available – active over-55 communities, independent living, assisted living, staying in your own home with home health services. Just remember, downsizing does not have to be scary. There are many resources out there to help you.
BB’s Clutter Solutions is located in Cherry Hill, NJ and serves New Jersey (north and south), Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs, and New York City. Contact information: www.bb-clutter-solutions.com, info@bb-clutter-solutions.com, 856-912-0077.
