“I may need this someday.” We all have items we hold onto with this thought in mind. But in reality, the old stacks of National Geographic magazines, boxes of loose photographs, old tools, heirloom silver teapots and other memorabilia end up stashed in our garages, attics and closets without another thought given to them.

So what happens when “someday” never arrives, and those piles of items are actually more of a burden than a benefit? For seniors who’ve amassed a lifetime of keepsakes, organizing can feel overwhelming. How do you determine what to do with everything in the downsizing process?

When trying to determine what to keep, repurpose, give away or throw away, ask yourself this simple question for each item: “Does it spark joy?” This plan, according to the approach in Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” makes it possible for significant decluttering along with a chance to revisit the past and come to peace with it. Even though the process of decluttering can be emotional, at the end of the day, it can also feel very liberating.

A change in perspective may make a big difference between the drudgery of downsizing and the convenience of making certain an older adult’s home is well organized. An expression has even been coined to get rid of the negative connotations of “downsizing”: “rightsizing”. It encompasses making the living environment perfectly suited for the next phase of life, and celebrating that change. It places the emphasis on treasuring the items being kept, instead of on the loss of items that may, in point of fact, have basically been accumulating dust.

Home Sweet Home In-Home Care’s St. Joseph home care experts are available to assist with home organization jobs, and can coordinate larger scale work such as removal of furniture as well as other large items. Our warm and friendly aides are also on hand to share in reminiscing over beloved treasures, going through picture albums, and listening as the senior shares life memories, in addition to hands-on assistance with the “rightsizing” project itself. Call us at 269-849-9252 for assistance.