Nobody's buying. Can't donate it. Now what?

One of the most difficult parts of being a Senior Move Manager is telling a client (or their family) that their isn't much interest in their old furniture and heirlooms. 

A dining room set may have been the first pieces of 'good' furniture a couple purchased when they got married.  And they paid a lot of money for it.  

In today's world, big box furniture stores offer whole houses of furniture for mere pennies.  And people don't want to pay a lot of money for second hand furniture.

Current generations are more casual and people don't want to handwash china or polish silver.  Smaller homes don't accommodate china hutches, pianos or grandfather clocks.

Trying to sell items on consignment is challenging.  Many shops only want newer items.  Charitable organizations have become very selective about the items they will take.  

A recent article about the market for used furniture and collectibles offers some additional insight.    

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

Estate Planning - it's not just for the old or rich!!

The term "Estate Planning" is often times synonymous with parents, grandparents, families and rich people. 

Below is a great article that explains the importance of three estate planning documents young adults should have when they turn 18.

http://www.estateplanning.com/estate-planning-strategies-for-college-aged-child/

OCTOBER 25, 2013   ESTATE PLANNING

Three Vital Estate Planning Strategies for Your College-Aged Child

Graduating from high school and preparing for college is a very exciting time in a young adult’s life. With all the preparation that is necessary, most young adults overlook one of the most important things they should do upon turning age 18: estate planning. While most 18-year-olds do not have large estates or families to plan for, there are three estate planning documents that every 18-year-old needs.
 
1. Springing Power of Attorney
The first necessary part of a young adult’s plan is a springing power of attorney. Through a springing power of attorney, a person designates someone to make business and financial decisions if he or she becomes incapacitated. Importantly, the power of attorney does not “spring” into action until the person who drafted it becomes incapacitated.
 
2. Health Care Power of Attorney
Also necessary to a young person’s estate plan is a Health Care Power of Attorney. This document names a person to make medical decisions if the individual is unable to make these decisions. It will be the agent’s responsibility to work with doctors and various other health care providers to try to provide the incapacitated with the care that he or she would have wanted
 
3. HIPPA Release
A third vital part of your adult child’s estate plan should be a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPPA”) release. By signing a HIPPA release, a patient agrees that, in the event medical care is needed, medical personal may release information about his or her location and condition to specified individuals. Without such a release, parents may face obstacles to even determine whether their child has been admitted to the hospital.
 
 

End of the Year Resolution

As we wind down from 2013 and gear up for 2014, using the week between Christmas and the New Year is a great time to give those Resolutions a try!  

Wishing everyone near and far a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

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

Condo Cleanout - A before and after pictorial

This is a before and after pictorial of what is becoming a common situation for many of the families that contact A Stress-Less Transition, LLC for help**.

Scenario:

This is the story of an 89 year old woman who had been widowed for nearly 25 years and lived in this condo for 30+ years.  She surrounded herself with many fine things (art, decor, and furniture) and based on the clothes in her closet, would "dress to the nines" even if she was going to the grocery store.  Her only living relatives were out of state so she didn't seem them that often.  In recent years, she began to isolate herself from them.  During that time, "life happened" and her dementia progressed dramatically.  

After a stay in the hospital, the family decided she would be safer and would get the assistance she needed in a memory care community.  A Stress-Less Transition, LLC put a plan in place.  Upon departing the hospital, she went right to her new home where it was was ready and waiting with many of the lovely things she was used to having around her.   

Working with a senior move management company like A Stress-Less Transition, LLC to handle all the details of a loved one's move, reduces the stress that naturally comes with a later in life transition not only for the older adult but their family.  In addition, we are able to connect families with resources they might need (financial planner, care manager, realtor, CPA, etc.)

** How did A Stress-Less Transition, LLC help?  (Well, a good magician never reveals their secret and neither do we.)  But we got her things packed-up, moved and set up in her new space and found good homes for all the accumulations left behind.  :o)

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

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.

A case of the hiccups

Well, it wasn't exactly hiccups as we know them.  Rather it was a hiccup in communication among family members.

Several months ago, I had the honor of helping a family where the wife passed away and the husband was moving from the home they built together to a retirement community.  

Her children came from out of town a couple of times to help sort and pack up the things from her side of the family.  As we reached one of the closets, the daughter pulled out a beautiful dress and began to share the story.

Mom was a slender and striking woman with beautiful silver hair and always dressed impeccably.  In fact, she had been a model in her younger years.  And this was the dress she wore for her step-son's wedding.  A true beauty (both Mom and the dress)!

Unfortunately, her illness progressed.  But prior to her passing she shared her wishes that when the time came, it was THE dress she wanted to be buried in.  

Many details and emotions to juggle when a loved one passes away.  Message was relayed that Mom wanted to be buried in the "green dress".  Enter the HICCUPS.  (Obviously Mom wasn't buried in the dress because how would I have been able to post a picture.)  Oops...the wrong green dress was selected and sent to the funeral home.  The family thought "what's done is done.  Either we'll give it away or find a friend who wants it."

I had learned about a company called Without-End  that makes custom memorial pillows from a loved one's favorite article of clothing.   Deb Alexander is an amazing woman - passionate about helping, compassionate in her approach and creatively respectful of a loved one's belongings while transforming them into a beautiful living memorial that can be held, touched and cherished.

What a perfect way to give new life to a dress that was to be buried, never to be seen again!  And a wonderful way for her daughter to remember her mother.

Thank you Deb! 

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