Showing posts with label retirement community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retirement community. Show all posts

Monday, November 12, 2012

Industry says Move Manager....Real life says Go To Resource!


In the few months since starting A Stress-Less Transition, LLC, I have met so many amazing people, and have received tremendous support, creating new referral partners, new clients, and new friendships.

Unfortunately, the families I’ve helped over the past few months, came to know of A Stress-Less Transition relatively late in the process. Their loved one passed away, they resolved all the legal and financial details, some returned to their out-of-state home but were at a loss for how to deal with “the stuff” left behind. Helping families sooner rather than later can save money, time and stress when a life event happens. Here are a few examples:
Older Adult Joe:  Joe, a widower with several medical conditions, moved to Florida from New York, narrowly escaping the wrath of Sandy.  He arrived before his furniture and representatives at the community he was moving into called to ask for help.  Joe's belongings were hastily (but carefully) packed by the movers.  How we helped:   Designed a floor plan/furniture layout based on the items Joe remembered being packed.  Guided the movers for furniture placement and unpacked nearly 40 boxes of his belongings.  Shopped for basic kitchen items since his new apartment had a kitchen.  Sorted and boxed up for donation many of Joe's beautiful suits, ties and shirts - all of which made the move and most would not be worn again.  Had Joe worked with a move manager before his move, the move would have been much less expensive and he could have enjoyed life in his new community sooner.  

Family A: Father passed away a year ago. Furniture and belongings were hastily put into storage causing damage to many of the pieces. Executors lived out of state and overseas. Had A Stress-Less Transition been contacted early on, arrangements would have been made for the items to be picked up, handled with care and sold for a profit. How we helped: Saved the family money by not having to make a trip to Tampa. Facilitated emptying of storeroom (thus ending the storage fees) with contents going to an auctioneer and furniture consignment shop, where items were repaired and sold. Also included data retrieval from computer. (Proceeds from sale of belongings covered expenses and with a small profit being returned to the estate.)

Family B: Mother passed away a few months ago. Daughter immediately listed the condo for sale but was left to clear it out since siblings lived up north. Daughter with medical condition made numerous trips to the dumpster and charitable organizations…and still had more to do. Emotionally overwhelmed and physically exhausted, she contacted A Stress-Less Transition. How we helped: Coordinated donation of clothes to Dress for Success, arranged for profitable sale of her mother’s treasures
(some of which daughter was ready to pitch), thus readying the property for showing much sooner. (Proceeds from the sale of belongings covered a portion of the unplanned death-related expenses.)


As you can see, we do more than just move seniors into retirement communities….We help alleviate the stress by handling all the details of a later-in-life transition. We are the go-to resource for the adult children who don’t know where to begin, aren't sure how to help their elderly loved ones or what to do with a houseful of belongings.

My hope is to continue educating others about how A Stress-Less Transition can help with whatever need an older adult or their family might have, including connecting them with professionals like attorneys, realtors, movers, insurance agents, bankers, etc.  

I am humbled by the support and grateful for the opportunities to help older adults and families.  Thank you!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

"But I might need that!"

I recently completed a major transition of a three person household.  They were moving 300 miles away to be closer to family.

While the discussions about moving had taken place over four years, they were finally ready to make the move. Once the decision was made, it was full steam ahead to get their belongings identified, sorted, packed and/or donated or pitched.  (They lived in their single family home for about 12 years.)

Thankfully the extended family was very involved in the sorting/packing process.  But throughout our time together, the phrase "But I might need that!" was heard...frequently.

Adults of the GI generation are hesitant to part with things. They are a product of the Depression Era where everything was used, nothing gone to waste and things were kept, "just in case".  (There was no need to spend hard earned money if you had whatever that thing was around.)

Do you have things you're keeping around???  Here's an article/list to ponder:

(From Business Insider by Emily Co.)

1.   The other side of a pair of lost earrings
2.     Scraps of wrapping paper
3.      Cards people have given you with no sentimental value
4.      Receipts you don't need
5.      Ticket stubs
6.      Socks with holes
7.      Old t-shirts
8.      Leftover change
9.      Dried flowers
10.   Magazines
11.    CDs
12.   Hair elastics that have lost stretchiness
13.   Hair accessories you don't use
14.   Shoes that don't fit or that you don't wear
15.   Extra photo prints
16.   Little knickknacks (designate a bowl and fill it)
17.   Kitchen things you don't use
18.   Cooking utensils you have two of
19.   Tired bras
20.   Scarves you never wear
21.   Clothes that don't fit
22.  Gifts you don't like
23.  Old towels
24.  Old makeup
25.  Old toiletries
26.  Old or unused hangers
27.  Expired or sample-sized toiletries
28.  Extra buttons
29.  Expired sauces
30.  Toys your pets don't play with
31.   Expired medication
32.  Dried-up nail polish
33.  Bills you don't need to keep
34.  Expired coupons
35.  Old paperwork
36.  DVDs you don't watch
37.  Snacks your pets don't eat
38.  Damaged clothing you can't mend
39.  Stained clothing you can't clean
40. Old prom dresses
41.   Scratched nonstick cookware
42.  Old underwear or swimwear that's losing its stretch
43.  Outdated electronics
44. Rusty jewelry
45.  Stockings with runs
46. Pens that don't work
47.  Clothing you've outgrown
48. Necklaces and bracelets with broken clasps
49. Cables and wires you don't use
50.  Worn-out sheets and bedding
51.   Empty or near-empty bottles of cleaning products
52.  Old mending buttons for clothing you no longer have
53.  Worn-out bath mats
54.  Broken electronics
55.  Purses you never use
56.  Flatware, plates, and glasses that don't match the rest of your collection, plus dingy children's plates you no longer use
57.  Old pillows
58.  Worn-out shoes
59.  Wedding invites
60. Save-the-dates
61.   Wedding favors you don't use
62.  Old wallets that you don't use
63.  Broken kitchen equipment
64. Spare furniture parts you don't need
65.  Furniture manuals
66. Boxes
67.  Unused vases
68. Extra tupperware you don't need
69. Old mail
70.  Junk mail
71.   Travel brochures
72.  Bobby pins
73.  Old crayons or art supplies, plus markers that have run out of ink
74.  Random containers and jars
75.  Unused stationary, stickers, and sticky notes
76.  Ripped denim
77.  Old artwork or old children's artwork
78.  Used and ripped envelopes
79.  Broken or old iphone cases
80. Old unused batteries
81.   Extra and unused coffee mugs
82.  Old spices
83.  Address labels for your old house
84. Wrinkled ribbon and bows for gift wrap
85.  Cards or gifts from exes
86. Frequent shopper cards you never use
87.  Matchbooks
88. Old shopping bags
89. Old calendars
90. Old folders
91.   Magnets
92.  Clothes that are outdated or from college
93.  Broken Christmas decorations
94. Christmas lights that don't work
95.  Frayed towels
96. Expired food
97.  Computer cords, firewire cord, etc. that you don't use
98. Old and outdated software
99. CDs for old computer programs
100.  Old cell phones
101.  Hand-me-downs that you're guilt-tripped into  keeping
102.   Freebie or promotional t-shirts you never wear
103.  Old fortune cookie fortunes
104.  Old bank statements
105.  Old planners
106. Delete email subscriptions from sites
107.  Delete emails you don't need
108.  Delete unwanted music from your iTunes
109.  Extra buttons that come with newly purchased clothes
110. Games that are missing pieces
111. Old schoolbooks you'll never use again
112. Papers you have backed up on the computer
113.Books you've already read and don't want to display
114. Cell phone covers you're over
115.Old manuals to electronics
116.  Cell phone accessories you don't use anymore


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

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Slow decision-making can be costly!



"Slow and steady" may win the race, but taking too long to make decisions can be costly!

Older adults especially, have a difficult time making decisions.  Dealing with overwhelming emotions of leaving their home of many years, the health and care of a loved one, and all the details associated with a move can leave some "paralyzed".  

These delays in decision making can be costly - not only financially but also missed opportunities.

A family found a retirement community, close to relatives, that would welcome their unique situation.  But "it just wasn't the right time" and they did not commit when they had the opportunity.  

When the family got serious about looking for a place, they picked up where they left off, with the community that would welcome them.  Unfortunately, the retirement community had been sold!   And the new owners had different restrictions/requirements; thus the whole family would no longer be welcome.  

By working with A Stress-Less Transition, this family is back 
on track.  Through our network of researched resources, the family will have a new home very soon.  

Hopefully.

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