Lutheran Sunset Ministries

Inspired retirement living options in Bosque County, Texas

  • About Us
    • Our Location
    • Our History and Heritage
    • Our Future
    • Mission & Values
  • Our Residences
    • Retirement Living
      • Retirement Living Floor Plans
    • Assisted Living
      • Assisted Living Floor Plans
    • Long-Term Care
      • Rehab/Therapy
    • Memory Support
  • Other Programs
    • Hospice
    • Companion Services
    • Volunteerism
      • Pot O’ Gold Thrift Store
  • News
    • Sunset Senior Guide Blog
    • Newsletter & Blog Sign-up
    • Read Our Newsletter
    • Sunset Lifelong Learning
  • Contact
    • Spirit of Giving
    • Campus Map
  • Careers
  • COVID-19 Information
You are here: Home / news / What Stays and What Goes?

What Stays and What Goes?

January 4, 2015 by lutheransunset Leave a Comment

Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Boxes2Moving can be a daunting task. Not only are you having to pack your entire life into a 20-foot U-Haul (or possibly several trips in a Ford pickup), but your home, routine and possibly your city will be completely changed. Maybe you are looking forward to the change, but the actual process can shake up even the most organized, easygoing mover. For most of us, packing can conjure up memories and emotions with each piece of our life that we carefully blanket in bubble wrap. However, for seniors who are transitioning to a retirement community, downsizing their possessions is a major concern. How do you part with a lifetime of possessions?

Storage options are typically quite limited in senior housing, forcing new residents to sort through years of memories to accommodate their new lifestyle. Fortunately however, with a bit of help from their loved ones, there is hope for making this monumental task manageable – for everyone.

Commit to Downsizing Before the Move

It’s hard enough for seniors – or anyone for that matter – to familiarize themselves with new surroundings; but also having to decide which things to part with in order to fit a smaller living area can be frustrating, stressful and exhausting. Having the distribution of belongings settled before the move will help your loved one adjust quicker and more easily – it also prevents having to move items more than once. “Include family and friends when planning and organizing your loved one’s move,” said Rodney Rueter, CEO/president of Lutheran Sunset Ministries. “Offer support and encouragement and let them know they are ultimately in control of what stays and what goes.”

One helpful tip in gracefully downsizing would be to take accurate measurements of their new living space – this should also include any available storage area. Knowing their limitations will help in the decision making process of packing. Consider drawing out a floor plan so that your loved one can more easily visualize the space.

Allow Ample Time for Sorting

Although it may be hard, do your best to accept and understand how difficult this is emotionally for your loved one. If they’ve lived in the same home for the last two decades – or maybe more – it’s going to be difficult to accept this kind of change. “Many of our elders grew up during the depression, or other financially hard times, and are afraid to throw anything away in case they’ll need it someday,” said Mr. Rueter. “It’s important not to discount their feelings in this process. They are having to part with a home and belongings and some are adjusting to the reality that they are now in a vulnerable position with their health.”

When searching online for sorting tips, many sites recommend four categories in which to organize belongings: Keep, Discard, Family and Charity. Other categories such as “Undecided” seem to prolong this already complicated process; however, in order to keep compassion above your need to get the process over with, this can be utilized. “Gently remind your loved one that they will not have as much room as they have at their house, but understand they may need to go through belongings more than once,” said Mr. Rueter.

A good place to start might be with discarding chipped, worn, stained and broken items. It may also be helpful to begin sorting in lesser used and less cluttered rooms. In theory, rooms used less frequently should be easier to sort and will help set the tone for more challenging areas of the home.

Finding a Compromise

Letting go of certain belongings doesn’t have to be a negative thing. If your loved one is fond of helping others, do some research on local thrift stores – many of them are run by charities or nonprofits. “Here in Clifton, the Pot O’ Gold Thrift Store has served as one of the primary fundraising projects of the Sunset Volunteer Auxiliary,” said Mr. Rueter. “Through the sale of donated items, Pot O’ Gold has provided funding for numerous projects and pieces of equipment for the residents of Lutheran Sunset Ministries.” Let your loved one know what cause their donated items will be helping to validate their decision.

Nothing says home like family photos. With this in mind, your loved ones are probably going to want to bring every photo, painting and precious knick knack with them to the retirement community. Consider taking photos of these keepsakes and either compiling a photo book or loading the images into a digital photo frame. This will take up less space, but allow them to look at the items whenever they want. If possible, offer to store family heirlooms – it may be adding to your own storage, but it will mean a lot to your loved one if they know the items are safe. It’s also important for them to keep items that have significant meaning with them in the retirement community – photos, books, etc. Just try to help them stay focused on the goal and to have realistic expectations.

The Move

Labeling and documenting accurately is very important. Mark boxes clearly to account for what has been sorted and packed and to help the move-in go smoothly. If certain items are going to various family members, those boxes should be clearly marked as well. It may also be a good idea to organize a list of items and where they will be stored. It will make trying to find them later much easier.

“When it’s all said and done, the ultimate goal is to help your loved one decide which possessions will make their new place feel like home,” said Mr. Rueter. “It can be a challenging process, but your love and guidance will help to provide a smooth transition.”

Facebooktwitterpinterestmailby feather

Filed Under: news Tagged With: caregiver support, family and relationships, home and garden, Living and learning, Lutheran Sunset Ministries

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Answering the Call
  • It’s All in the Hands
  • Do Longevity Supplements Work and Are They Safe?
  • Lessons From the Resilience of Older Adults in 2020
  • Alex Trebek: In His Own Words

Recent Comments

  • Joyce Symank on Lessons From the Resilience of Older Adults in 2020
  • Joyce Symank on Loving our Loved Ones from Afar
  • Charlotte Carpentr on Loving our Loved Ones from Afar
  • Joyce Symank on Life in Assisted Living
  • Joyce Symank on Life in Assisted Living

Archives

  • July 2022
  • December 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • July 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • May 2014

Categories

  • news
  • slider
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Celebrating 65 years of ministry and service to the seniors of Clifton and Bosque County, Lutheran Sunset Ministries offers inspired retirement living options at every life stage. Our 32-acre campus is designed as an intimate setting of neighborhoods that accommodate residents at various levels of care. In addition to quality health and wellness opportunities, Lutheran Sunset Ministries provides an enriched lifestyle through innovative programs, interdisciplinary activities, and a focus on physical, intellectual, social and spiritual growth.

Providing the only full continuum of care available in Bosque County—including independent living, assisted living, long-term care, rehabilitation and therapy, memory support, hospice services and companion services—Lutheran Sunset Ministries is a cornerstone of the region. With a state-of-the-art healthcare building, an increase in services and amenities, and a rededication to providing services that allow people to live full and enriched lives, Lutheran Sunset Ministries has created a quality of life unparalleled in the region.

Call us at 254.675.8637 to learn more about becoming a resident at Lutheran Sunset Ministries.

 


The Spirit of Sunset

Hear from residents why they love living in a community of culture, faith and natural beauty.

Newsletter & Blog Sign Up

  • Donate
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • FAQ
  • Frequently Used Terms
  • Our Residences
  • Other Programs
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • COVID-19 Information

Corporate Office
P.O. Box 71
413 Sunset Avenue
Clifton, Texas 76634
Phone: 254-675-8637
Fax: 254-675-3044
Corporate Compliance Hotline:
254-675-4725

Lutheran Sunset Ministries is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Section 1557 Grievance Procedure

Copyright © 2023 Lutheran Sunset Ministries · Login