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Downsizing is often a rite of passage as we age. Many of us will need to change our living situation, downsizing to a smaller space that better suits how we want to live. When our lives shift from full houses to empty nests and from commutes and careers to a life of pursuing interests and enjoying retirement, the benefits of downsizing start to shine.
If you’ve hit the point where your living situation isn’t working for you or your loved one anymore, you may be wondering about downsizing. How do you find the right place to live? How do you know when it’s time to downsize? What can make sorting, donating, selling, giving away, moving, and tossing a lifetime’s worth of memories easier?
Downsizing can be an emotional experience. Saying goodbye to your home while you look through and let go of some of your beloved possessions can be bittersweet.
That said, downsizing isn’t without its upsides. A fresh start in a new space can help rejuvenate your life! Looking through everything can bring up rich, happy memories that you can share with your loved ones.
Downsizing can lead to a safer living space, like a senior living community, where you will see friends and neighbors every day and spend your time on activities you truly enjoy. All while you receive the support in your daily life that will keep you healthy and help you retain your independence as you age.
It can be tough to know when it’s time to downsize, especially if you’re still living independently. Thankfully, there are some great decision-making tools, like this downsizing quiz from Tuscan Gardens of Palm Coast, that can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the downsizing process.
Planning your downsizing journey involves careful consideration. Take the time to reflect on what changes you’d like to see in your next living space.
Some common concerns that downsizing can help with include:
Alongside considering what you’d like to change, we encourage you to envision your ideal living situation. Where do you want to live, and how do you want to live your life when you get there?
Consider:
When you’ve already done the groundwork and you know what you want in life after a downsize, you can start looking for that new apartment, condo, senior living community, or assisted living community that will be the perfect fit.
Whether you start the search on your own or have help from your loved ones, when you locate places you’re interested in, get in touch and see if you can take a tour. Touring spaces like senior living communities can help you understand exactly what will be possible in your new home, offering an opportunity to ask questions and find out what kind of life is possible for you after you downsize.
You may feel like you should be able to handle all the downsizing work on your own, but downsizing is never a one-person job. Your loved ones are a great resource to tap into to help you downsize. You may be hesitant to ask for help; some people never like to ask for help, or they may be worried their loved ones will try to take over.
We’ve gathered some tips for those who help you downsize. These tips include making sure you and your belongings are treated with respect and that you’re included in all decision-making. Consider sharing them with your loved ones so downsizing can be a painless and even rewarding way to move forward in life.
When it comes to downsizing, there are two major things to consider: living space and furnishings. When your loved one downsizes, they’ll both say goodbye to their home, and they’ll have to let go of at least some of their possessions.
Even if it’s not quite time to downsize, it is time to talk to your loved ones about what downsizing will look like for them. The sooner you start an open dialogue about downsizing, the more you’ll know about what your loved ones want their lives to look like after downsizing, and the greater the chances are you’ll succeed in convincing them to downsize when the time comes.
These discussions can help your loved ones feel like their opinions and needs are being respected; even if you disagree, you can hear them out and look for compromise. This helps them understand that when they do downsize and move into a living arrangement that’s better equipped for them to age into, such as a senior living community, they’re still part of the conversation when it comes to life decisions.
One thing people fear as they age is that they will be forgotten or neglected. If you can bring people together to help your loved one downsize, they can see that they’re still loved and vital. They can share their memories and their worries with this extra company as the downsizing moves forward, making both the emotional and the physical effort of the process easier for everyone.
Sometimes, it’s tempting to rush through a difficult process to get to the result. But rushing doesn’t give your loved ones time to make deliberate decisions that will be in their best interests, and it can increase conflict that will make downsizing more stressful. Build as much time as you can into the downsizing process so everyone can wrap their heads around what’s happening and ease into the new normal.
There are many companies that specialize in downsizing; they can help your loved ones choose what to do with their things, facilitate estate sales, and, most importantly, reduce the tension that could arise between you and your loved ones during the downsizing process. Their suggestions will feel less personal than ones you might make, and their expertise is something your loved ones can lean on to have the best downsizing outcome.
Working with a realtor for the sale of any real estate is also worthwhile; they’ll have your parent’s best interests as their top priority, and they can track down buyers to help your parents make the sale, making the process much easier than attempting to do it yourself. A realtor may even be able to contribute to the process of finding new places to live, doubling their usefulness in your parents’ lives.
Your loved ones should keep possessions that make their house feel like home even as they downsize, but some possessions are very easy to condense, so they’re more portable and easily stored.
Photos in frames can be put in a single album or all scanned into a digital frame and enjoyed without taking up as much space. Mementos can be sorted, and a few special ones can be placed in shadow boxes to cut down on space while still enjoying them. Hobbies and their supplies can be sorted through and selected down to a few boxes, so your loved one can continue to enjoy while reducing the space needed for their pastime. Ask yourself, and even your loved ones: what other creative condensing options can you think of for your loved ones things?
When your loved one is downsizing, it can feel like their legacy in life is being pushed aside or just considered a pile of “stuff.” It can be hard for both you and your loved one to consider choosing between keeping and tossing a lifetime of little treasures, memories, and the things that make home feel like home. Is there another option?
Picture it; your loved one gets to have a special visit from their niece and nephew, or their grandkids, or even some neighbors they’ve known for years. They get to pull out some of their treasured things, tell everyone about them, and hand them off for another generation to enjoy.
Your loved one has a lifetime of memories and experiences to share, and you can help them overcome the hard emotions that can come with downsizing by turning it into a chance to feel more cherished and treasured than they had before.
Downsizing can offer you a chance to review the great moments of your life and share them with your loved ones. You’ll be able to move to a space that really suits both your needs and your wants, enabling you to live a life that is safe and supported. You’ll have new opportunities and a chance to live the vivid, enjoyable life you want.
It’s understandable if you’re hesitant, sad, or even angry at the need to downsize. We hear you and we understand. While downsizing is a major change, it’s also bigger than just a loss. It’s also a gain, of neighbors, life opportunities, fun, and togetherness in a space that helps meet your changing needs.
If you or your loved one are looking to downsize into a living situation that’s a better fit, we at Tuscan Gardens of Palm Coast invite you to tour our senior living community. We proudly offer a community that will allow your loved ones to live a vibrant, active life, with luxurious living spaces that are just the right fit for active seniors. Our community is one we’d be proud to have our own parents live in, and we welcome you to see how we support and engage the residents here.
Established in 2011, Tuscan Gardens of Palm Coast owns and operates luxury senior living communities throughout Florida. Their signature programs at the Assisted Living, Enhanced Assisted Living, and Memory Care levels of care offer a vibrant lifestyle complete with chef-prepared meals, engaging programs, and rewarding social events grounded by celebrating family, culture, and heritage. Located in sunny Palm Coast, Tuscan Gardens of Palm Coast is a place your loved one can call home, with all of the comforts you would expect from a luxury senior living community in Florida.
