Her words said "No". Her voice said, "Yes".

A few weeks ago, I started working with a lovely woman who was moving out of state to live with one of her daughters.  As I'm helping clients with their decisions about what to move, what to give to family, what to sell and what to donate, I learn a lot about them....Their life history, things they like, items that are important to them, etc.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend a lot of time with her before she left as decisions were made and things happened very quickly.

But before her departure, we walked through every room of her home, including the garage and I asked her about some things that were in view.  We came to several trophies sitting on a shelf in the garage.  With the dust on them, it appeared they had been there for a few years.  I asked if she wanted them to move with her.  Her response was "No" (because she knew she wouldn't have space for them in her new room), but the look in her eye and the tone in her voice said, "Yes".

She and her daughters left a few days later and my job was to sort through the things in the garage and see what the family might want to have included when the movers came to pack.  While working through the boxes, I came across a box of costumes and tap dance shoes.  Putting two-and-two together (including the 1st Place blue ribbons on the trophies), I concluded she had been a part of a dance troupe and won several awards.  The wheels started turning and I had (what I thought) the perfect idea!  Set up a display and take a picture.

I framed it and shipped it off with her moving paperwork and donation receipts.  (If she didn't want it, she could easily replace the picture and use the frame.)  But a little voice told me she would probably like it.  And I had found a good home for the trophies and shoes.  

In the meantime, I had been invited by one of our local Memory Care Communities to re-do a couple of their rooms - transforming them from a fancy decorated model to a room that mom or dad would feel comfortable in.  I wanted to give the rooms some personality, a backstory if you will.

  

The 'fancy' model.

I told the family about my project and asked if Mom would be willing to let me use her items.  I got the thumbs up and was so excited to start putting things together!

In one room, the story of that resident was that she was a talented performer, played the clarinet, enjoyed plants and flowers as well as collecting fine things.

In the other room, the resident was an accomplished artist, amateur photographer and enjoyed golf.

While the rooms are awaiting a few final touches, the Marketing Director is over the moon with how a few changes made such a big difference, using many things they had available as well as giving a personality to each room!

Today I receive the most heartwarming message from one of the daughters.  Mom got the package and was so touched.  The shoes represented a time in her life when she and her husband moved to Florida.  New area, new people, new everything!  She joined a group of tap dancing ladies...without knowing anything about tap and hadn't made many friends at that point.  (Pretty brave lady in my book!)  She learned to tap.  Became quite good and competed in several big events. And met some wonderful ladies along the way!

Being a Move Manager is more than just packing/unpacking boxes, sorting and donating things.  It's about listening and really hearing what a client is saying, to determine what is meaningful to them.  It is an honor to help families and so rewarding!

For more information on how A Stress-Less Transition, LLC can help you or an older adult, please visit our website.

It takes a village....

They say it takes a village to raise a child.  

From recent experiences with clients and families, I say it also takes a village to move mom and/or dad!

Who are these village people?  The sales/marketing folks at the retirement communities.  The adult children and their spouses, significant others and their children.  The maintenance crew at the retirement communities.  The movers.  The care aides/home helpers.  The financial advisors and attorneys.

It is so rewarding when the older adult walks into his/her new residence, with a huge smile on his/her face - amazed how in just a few hours things from their home of 20+ years magically fits into their new space.  It's fascinating to watch skeptical adult children turn into your biggest fans.  It's a sigh of relief to get a message from the marketing director that the new resident slept well the first night in their new home.  It's humbling to get kudos and thanks from the mover who was able to get the job done quickly because of all the pre-planning and how organized things were.

But the story doesn't end there...there is still a houseful of belongings and possessions to deal with.  Whether it's making arrangements for things to be delivered to family members (locally or around the country), coordinating options for selling or finding the right charitable organization, there are many people who help in bringing a client's transition to closure.

I am so grateful for all the families and retirement communities that have put their trust and confidence in me to help their loved ones.  It is truly an honor!

For more information on how A Stress-Less Transition, LLC can help you or an older adult, please visit our website.