• About
  • Contact
  • Courses
  • Binder Kits
  • Collaborate
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafting
  • Seasonal
  • Courses
  • Binder Kits
  • Media and Press
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Organized-ish

Organized-ish

Progress > Perfection

  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafting
  • Seasonal
helping aging parents declutter their house

Helping Aging Parents Purge Their Stuff

April 29, 2019 · In: Lifestyle

These three tips will help adult children of aging parents and seniors declutter their belongings, purge overstock, and prepare their home and family for the future. (Updated October 2020)

A while back, I received this email from someone who genuinely wanted to help her aging parents begin to declutter their home. She asked for advice, and I spent a lot of time considering how to reply to her. Her message reads:

“Dear Lela,

My parents are in their 70’s and they have a LOT of “stuff” in their house. Most of it is clutter, old worn items, and broken things they keep around ‘just in case.’ I’ve mentioned to them that maybe it’s time to start downsizing their belongings in case they ever decide to move to a retirement facility, but they’re overwhelmed, don’t know where to start, and I honestly don’t think they really want to do it at all. I’m worried that I’ll end up having to deal with it all myself later. Do you have any tips for me?”

Helping Aging Parents & Grandparents With Purging

Here’s the deal, working with Seniors is challenging sometimes because they definitely have a harder time letting go of their belongings than younger generations. They grew up in a time where belongings were scarcer than they are now.

They were more careful with spending, and place sentimental value on every single thing they have. Older generations seem to worry about needing the items later, so just as the writer said, they hold onto things “just in case.”

But I also understand where the writer of the letter is coming from, because there will come a time that these items will have to be sorted through, whether it’s due to a move or a natural cause.

It’s such a touchy subject to discuss, and I know a lot of people have this same concern for their own parents and grandparents, so I’m pushing aside the awkwardness and digging into the steps you can take to help seniors purge their stuff.

help senior parents purge excess stuff

3 Tips To Help Aging Parents Downsize Belongings

1. Be extra kind and gentle, respecting the fact that they were raised differently than you were. They grew up in a different time, with different circumstances. What seems like a useless torn pillow cover or overabundance of mixing bowls to you may be a sign of comfort, nostalgia, and financial stability to them.

2. Suggest ‘overstock’ be donated to help others. Seniors rarely care about selling things, and they dislike throwing things away. But nine times out of ten, they find so much joy in sharing with others. Suggest donating to shelters, nursing homes, and community benefit programs.

3. Take it slow. Only do a little at a time so you don’t overwhelm them. A full purge-session with a dramatic before-and-after may seem great to you and your siblings, but to your parents, they see it as losing things they worked hard to acquire.

Bonus Tip: Know when to bring in a pro. If you feel that things are borderline hoarder-situation or it’s getting too emotional, you’re not going to be able to do this on your own. After a long discussion with your parents, it may be time to agree that some professional help is needed.

Don’t feel like you’re taking the easy way out or letting your family down, because that isn’t what’s happening at all. Professional organizers know how to deal with these situations and they can be a huge asset to helping your parents (and you) feel good about their future.

Related Blog Post:

Is Your Spouse Sabotaging Your Organization Efforts?

-and-

Helping Kids Learn To Let Go Of Old Toys

By: Lela Burris · In: Lifestyle · Tagged: family, future, helping others, parents, planning, real talk

more posts you'll love

kitchen cup cabinet organizationIs Your Spouse Sabotaging Your Organization Efforts?
Finding Time To Get Organized With Young Kids At Home
How Alexa Can Make You More Organized

Get Blog Posts In Your Inbox

Every Saturday morning I send out a weekly recap of all the new blog posts. Want in?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynn says

    May 16, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    How do you deal with parents who have a SEVERE bed bug problem and refuse to do what’s needed to take of situation and just live with it, meanwhile no one can or will visit because of situation

    Reply
    • Lela Burris says

      May 17, 2021 at 7:59 am

      Hi Lynn, you’ll need to speak with a professional about that. I’m not really sure what the best route would be, but either a doctor or therapist might be able to help.

      Reply
    • Anonymous says

      June 28, 2021 at 9:40 pm

      My parents have been having this bed bug problem for a good year. One of dad’s friends ‘share’ them when dad meets and helps him. We have done multiple bug aerosol booms and used spray for the truck, clothes (removed right when he comes home) & furniture in-between booms. They hide in carpet, furniture, molding. It’s also hard as they don’t clean up the ‘piles’ in the livingroom or bedroom. Let them know the scientific reason to get rid of them. They take the iron and other nutriments from our systems and yes, people have died from sever loss. Dad is now helping his friend to do booms but his place is a worse mess.

      Reply
  2. Abby says

    September 24, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    My husband and I are retired and love the house we’re in, but a bout of health issues startled us into action. I have tried without success to hire help in the past, but it just didn’t work out. Now we have interviewed two different companies to help us undertake this next part of our lives, which will culminate in a move to “senior spa living.” Actually , that’s not the culmination. One of these companies also will act as estate trustee, pulling all your documents together for probate. Brian can handle EVERYTHING, including declutter, on-line or yard sale, painting, repairs, staging, storing, selling, moving – there’s even a counselor to help with the adjustment!
    We are so #blessed! We will be able to get through this with relative ease and spare our 3 grown children the burden and angst of dealing with not only mountains of stuff, but mountains of emotions.
    This is a burgeoning industry, so look for companies near you to provide these kinds of services. They can even break it down as a buffet of services for you, from the simplest to the most complex.
    Highly recommend!

    Reply
    • Lela Burris says

      September 25, 2020 at 9:43 am

      So glad you were able to find a company to help! It can definitely be overwhelming so getting assistance is such a smart move.

      Reply

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Next Post >

10 Things To Know Before Your First Cricut Maker Project

Primary Sidebar

Meet Lela Burris

Meet Lela Burris
hey-o!

My name is Lela, (say it like LEE-luh) and I'm so glad you stopped by my blog! Whether you're into organizing, home improvement, crafts, or you just think my pets are cute, you'll find all kinds of inspo here.

Tell Me More!

Connect

Get VIP Emails

Search

Shop My Planners

printable planners for home organization

Organize Your Craft Room

lela burris organiziedish

Hang With Me

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Follow Along

@lelaburris

Wait for the last one… 🤩 Sherry @younghousel Wait for the last one… 🤩
Sherry @younghouselove downsized quite a bit a few years ago and it proving that you CAN be organized in a small home with kids and pets. Didn’t she do an amazing job with all these spaces?
Pretty sure she was being modest with her grade prediction because I’d give her a definite A!
Which organized space of hers is your favorite? I’m in LOVE with her laundry closet! 🥰
She buys most of her organizers from Amazon and Ikea and you can tour her whole house on her blog, YouTube, and IG Story highlights. Sherry is one of my BFFs so if you aren’t already following her, do it now! Her Story content is the most entertaining part of my day. 🙌🏼
Do you pack minimally or overpack when you travel? Do you pack minimally or overpack when you travel?
I used to be that person that packed WAY more than I needed and was always overwhelmed with a messy suitcase halfway through my trip. When I started downsizing the clothes I packed to just what I needed, I spent less time picking out what to wear and cleaning up messy piles, and more time enjoying my trips.
But I’ll admit, if I could bring my whole sneaker collection with me so I’d have all the options, I totally would. 😂😂
#packwithme #packingtips #vacationplanning #monostravelcompanion #minimalistpacking
Have you tried this yet? I did not expect it to wo Have you tried this yet? I did not expect it to work this well the first time I did it but now I’ll never dust baseboards any other way.
It also works well on door panels, picture frame moulding, chair rails, and even gets those hairs off back of the toilet that tend to stick and slide around when cleaning. 🙌🏼
#cleaningmotivation #cleaninghacks #cleaningtips
Do you have a command center in your house? If you Do you have a command center in your house? If you’ve been planning on adding one, here are three tips for customizing it so it works for you:
1. Add a calendar so the whole family is on the same page about what’s going on that month.
2. Decide what needs to be stored in your command center and add storage based on those needs. Don’t worry about what other people use or keep in their own command center because we all live different lives and need different things.
3. Don’t try to make your family change their habits. If they’re used to dropping keys on the counter, a hook may not work for them. Instead, give them a bowl or tray to drop keys in. And if they’re used to sticking reminders on the fridge, add a bulletin or magnet board so they can put them there. Work *with* your family’s habits, not against them.
See the full project and get more command center setup tips in my newest YouTube video. All the product sources I used here are saved in the description of that video too. 🙌🏼
#commandcenter #organizationideas #homeorganization

Footer

Browse By Category

  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafting
  • Seasonal

Get Organized-ish

  • Courses
  • Printable Planners
  • Shop My House
  • Amazon Faves

Blog Info

  • Contact
  • Media and Press
  • Disclosures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Organized-ish LLC © 2023 · Theme by 17th Avenue