Why you should downsize, even if you don’t move

I recently attended a networking event held by the Grass Roots Organization for the Well-Being of Seniors (GROWS). At the event I listened to a presentation on a new movement called “Villages.” The purpose of Villages is to help seniors age in place by having neighbors provide volunteer services such as rides to doctors appointments or replacing light bulbs.

Villages is a growing national movement whose time has come. After all, who wouldn’t want to age in place knowing that your neighbors will come over to help you when you need it? However, as a professional organizer, I find one drawback to this movement.

When you prepare for a move, regardless of your age, you must de-clutter. Nobody wants to pack-up and take all the stuff you haven’t seen, used or thought of, in years. De-cluttering takes time and patience. It is also an emotional process with many memories tied to your possessions. However, once the de-cluttering is done, you feel satisfied and your spirit feels lighter.

Sometimes de-cluttering will happen even if you decide to age in place. But, there is also a very good chance that it won’t. If de-cluttering isn’t something you’ve done in the past, then it probably isn’t something you will do now. And, that’s the problem.

What will happen to your things if you become incapacitated? Would your family or friends know where to find your important documents? What will happen to your belongings if you need to be moved to an assisted-living facility? If your children and their spouses are both working, who will help you de-clutter?

These are questions we would rather not think about, but are forced to address when we downsize. Even if we plan to age in place, we should pretend we are downsizing and start de-cluttering. And, better to start sooner rather than later.