10 Reasons Seniors Hang On To Stuff | Caregiver Stress

And What To Do About It

Following, from the Home Instead Senior Care® network and Vickie Dellaquila, certified professional organizer and author of Don't Toss My Memories in the Trash, are 10 reasons seniors can't or won't give up their stuff and what to do about it.

1. The Sentimental Attachment
   The beloved prom dress represents the history and memories of the event; it's not the dress itself. Save only a piece of the dress to make a quilt or display in a shadow box. Scrapbooking and converting photos to DVDs are other ways to save treasured keepsakes without all the extra mess.
2. The Sense Of Loyalty
   Older adults who've received gifts from family and friends may be reluctant to part with them. Encourage your loved one to give unused gifts back to the giver or grandchildren.
3. The Need To Conserve
   Seniors are the original green people. Appeal to a senior's desire to help others. "You went through the Great Depression, now it's time for you to let go and help someone else." Counter a senior's inclination to conserve by appealing to their desire to give back.
4. The Fatigue 
   A home with a lifetime of memories can easily become too much for an older adult to handle. Help seniors manage clutter by establishing online bill paying. Also, get your senior off junk mail lists, which can put them at risk for identity theft, and buy them a shredder.
5. The Change In Health
   Seniors who have suffered a brain trauma or stroke, who are wheelchair bound or who are experiencing dementia may no longer be able to manage household duties, which could contribute to clutter. If you see a health change, encourage your senior to visit his or her doctor and consider a professional organizer and caregiver to help your loved one.
6. The Fear
   Seniors often fear what will happen if they give up their stuff, like the older adult who saved three generations of bank statements. Use logic and information to help seniors understand it's O.K. to let go.
7. The Dream of the Future
   Those clothes in the closet don't fit anymore, but your loved one is sure that some day she'll lose enough weight to get into them. Ask seniors to fill a box with clothing they don't wear much and make a list of the items in the box. Agree that if they have not gone back to the box in six months to wear the item, they will donate that to charity.

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Neal Paskvan is a full time Realtor specializing in Downers grove, Darien,Woodridge, Westmont and Du page county Real Estate