Saturday, February 12, 2011

Downsizing? What Do You Do With Furniture?

Downsizing can be difficult enough; however, downsizing an aging parent can be absolutely painful. Much of the problem here lies with an emotional attachment ... something that shines clearly through when moving Mom or Dad to a smaller facility. With the tighter confines of limited space, there is less and less storage space for personal belongings; simply put, not all of the parental furniture can be moved into that single room in long-term care. What's the answer?

Often, family caregivers choose to inherit some of the parental pieces ... these may or may not go with their current decor, but there are strong sentiments involved with Mom's old rocker or Dad's old stereo stand. Family caregivers may typically feel a sense of responsibility to take over the furniture or a sense of loss if they choose to dispose of it too quickly.The other common option is for family caregivers to personally store such larger items in a basement or garage until some later date.

I'd like to suggest two other options which may work well for you. First, why not donate this furniture to a worthy cause? Know that that worn-in armchair will find a new home where it can be completely appreciated. Leaf through your local Yellow Pages and make some calls to non-profit associations to ask about this. Sometimes, pick-up of unneeded items can be arranged to save you the trouble. The second option worth considering is paid storage. Secured storage facilities are popping up more frequently these days; these offer a number of different-sized indoor (heated) and outdoor (non-heated) lockers where you can place furniture or other items you may not be ready to part with as yet. Fill out some quick paperwork, insure the contents (if desired) and you are set to go.

So, as you can see, you don't have to start parking your car on the front street because your garage has piled high with aging furniture. While it will be impossible for your parents to continue using this in long-term care, this does not mean that you have to become fully responsible for it either. Consider the options.
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