Aging Parents Downsize Quickly and How You Can Help Them
Many senior citizens decide to downsize their homes, once all their children have flown the nest. It’s easier to maintain a smaller home, and it means that they can put their money into other ventures if they so wish. However, not all downsizing happen by choice. If your aging parents need to downsize quickly, here’s how to get the help you’ll need.
When your Aging Parents need Help Downsizing
When the downsizing process needs to happen quickly, it’s usually because of a family emergency. One of your parents may have passed away, or have been hospitalized for the foreseeable future. It could be that one or both of your parents are now in need of extra care that you may not be able to provide around the clock.
There are a few options available to your aging parents if this happens to them. Firstly, they could buy a smaller property in which to live in. They could choose to sell their home and rent a home instead, taking a lot of the responsibility for the home off them. They could also decide to go into San Diego senior housing, where they can get the care they need, when they need it.
As you can see, luckily there are options available. If anything happens to your parents, you know there are ways to help them out.
Who can Help When the Worst Happens
Traditionally, it has always been the children of senior citizens who have helped them when they’ve needed to move home. They can handle a lot of the practical details, such as selling off of furniture and other excess belongings, and helping with the move itself. Depending on circumstances though, it may be difficult for you to handle the entire moving process. This is especially the case if you live in different states, have young children, or a job you can’t take time off from.
If you need help physically moving your aging parents into their new home, there are now companies you can hire on who will help you with this. They can pack boxes, plan new layouts in the new home, and get the belongings from A to B. They can be there when you can’t be, and take a lot of responsibility off your parents’ shoulders. If they’re ill, or you have a parent who’s now on their own, that can be a huge help to them.
Before anything happens though, the best person who can help is a lawyer or legal expert. They can help your parents with their estate planning. This can include lots of things, but they will advise them on what is best for them as a couple. They can put a trust in place if they ever need assistance with their finances, and they can plan for the eventuality of one of them falling ill or passing away.
Tips for Going through the Process Smoothly
– Don’t wait for the worst to happen: Have plans put into trust before anything happens to your parents. Discuss with them what they want if they need to down size quickly. You may find that they would be happier in San Diego senior housing, when you hadn’t even considered it, for example.
– Pare down belongings: While your parents are still both fit and well, help them begin to pare down all their belongings. It could well be that they’ve collected them over a lifetime together, but now no longer need them. Dealing with them now means you won’t be frantically trying to deal with them when the time comes.
– Get legal affairs in order: Ask your parents to visit a legal expert to get help with their estate planning, and have a trust set up is needs be. Having their wants legally noted means that when they need you, it will be a lot easier for you to help them out.
– Digitize the memories: Your parents may well have a lot of old photos and other documents that are taking up space in their current home. When they move, they may not have the space to keep them. You can scan their photos for them and keep them on a disc or cloud storage file. Alternately, you can make a poster out of their favorite snaps.
– Know what to sell and what to donate: When it comes to having the clear out of your parents’ home, you’ll first think of selling some of their items. Think carefully before you do put something up for sale. It will take time and effort to list and ship something, so is it worth it for each item? The money could come in useful, but it may just be simpler to donate it to a worthy cause.
The Benefits of Downsizing
If your parents aren’t convinced that they want to down size, it’s understandable. After all, they may well have lived in their home for decades, having raised their children there. Here’s a few reasons why your aging parents downsize quickly.
– It’s easier to care for a smaller home: Your parents may well be able to care for their home now, but as they get older, it may be more difficult to get around. Having a smaller home means there’s much less housework to be done.
– It can decrease bills: Your parents could also be concerned about their outgoings if they’re retired. A smaller home is much cheaper when it comes to bills, so it’s sensible to downsize now and save that extra cash.
– Your parents can move closer to loved ones: If your family has become spread out over the years, they can feel very isolated where they are currently. Downsizing means they can pick a home that’s much closer to you.
Downsizing in a crisis can be a stressful time, so it’s sensible to take precautions before that happens. Ask your parents what they want to happen, and put steps in place. When the time comes, you’ll be glad you did. More elderly parents downsize quickly because of health reasons more than any other reason.
Call me or send me an email, I’ll be happy to help you sell your home when you are ready.
Call 726-999-0566