Sorting Through Mom and Dad’s Belongings
Flickr image by net_efekt
In the fall of 2006, when my Mother moved from her home into assisted living, I was faced with the monumental task of finding a home for 70+ years worth of her belongings. Both of my parents were incredibly sentimental people. They were well traveled and collected souvenirs on most vacations. They were frugal so they didn’t believe in throwing much away. On top of that, they found it very difficult to sort through my grandparents’ belongings when they passed away – -so they stored those possessions in their home rather than finding new homes for them.
In this Sunday’s Detroit Free Press, I learned that I am not alone. Many, many grown children are faced with this overwhelming task. In an article entitled, “Sorting Parents’ Belongings is Often a Bittersweet Task” a Detroit Free Press staff writer named Cassandra Spratling writes about the emotional and physical struggles associated with purging the belongings of loved ones.
She encourages adult children to help their parents purge items while they are still well to do so. She also encourages the seniors to bequeath cherished belongings to loved ones when they are still able to do so.
I really encourage those of you with aging parents, to read Spratling’s article online.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Absolutely with you it agree. In it something is also idea good, agree with you.Completely I share your opinion. In it something is also to me it seems it is excellent idea. Completely with you I will agree.It not absolutely approaches me. Perhaps there are still variants?The valuable informationI consider, that you are not right. I can prove it. Write to me in PM, we will discuss.dedicated server hosting
Hi Laura,
I had mentioned during a conversation a few months back that a gentleman in the metro Detroit area who had opened a business to assist families sort through and dispose of their parents belongings. He had years of experience supervising assisted care facilities and had witnessed the stress of the adult children of sorting through and closing their parents homes. While I had spoken with this man as a cousin was attempting to dispose of his mother’s belongings, I have never used his services.
I’ll look up the name and verify the company is still in business and pass it along. He evaluated the contents of the home to determine valuable items which could be kept or sold (antiques, collectibles, etc.), what could be given to charities, what could be sold in an estate or tag sale and what should be disposed of.
Ken