“She walks on water.” Todd, a retired schoolteacher in his sixties, had nothing but gratitude and awe for Karin. “She is amazing.” He wasn’t speaking of his wife or daughter, or of a colleague. Todd was speaking of the woman who helped his aging parents move out of their family home and into assisted living. In their late eighties, they had reached the decision to sell and needed to downsize into assisted living to get daily care and assistance.
What was their main obstacle? They had a house full of belongings, dating back 35 years, and it was going to be a monumental task to help them transition from 1,800 square feet to a 400 square foot studio apartment. The staff at the assisted living community recommended Karin, who owns a downsizing service for seniors. These professionals are also called “Senior Move Managers”.
Karin came to meet Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, Todd’s parents, and spent time getting to know them in their home. She walked through each room with them, listening to them share about their favorite household items and décor, and asking questions about what furniture they’d like to have in their new place. She was clearly dialed in to hear what their needs and wishes were, and how she could ease their transition into the assisted living community.
During the next week, Karin visited the room that Mr. and Mrs. Sherman had reserved at the assisted living community. She measured wall space, and took notes on the layout, location of the windows and heating vents, and size of the closets. From experience, Karin knows that she can assess how much a senior homeowner can take with them once she has seen the new apartment with her own eyes.
Karin proceeded to schedule several visits with Mr. and Mrs. Sherman, keeping each visit to four hours or less so that they would not become exhausted by the sorting and decision-making process. However, they looked forward to each visit, and were not at all exhausted, because they enjoyed her company. Karin zipped through each room with ease and efficiency, helping the aging couple to sort items into several piles: donate to charity, sell in an estate sale, give away to family members, take to the new apartment at the assisted living community, or dispose.
The hours flew by, as they shared memories with her, triggered by the household items that were being sorted. She gently guided their decisions of “keep or give away”, based on her understanding of the size of the new space they were moving into. As they talked and laughed from the comfort of their recliner chairs, Karin moved quickly, wrapping, boxing, piling, sorting, lifting, and asking questions.
Moving day came when the house was completely organized, packed, and labeled. The movers loaded up the recliners into their truck, as well as the TV, dressers, boxes of clothes, and carefully wrapped wall hangings. They disassembled the Shermans’ bed, loading it as well. Much was left behind that would not fit into the Shermans’ new room, but Karin would take care of moving those labeled piles after moving day.
Once everything had loaded up, the Shermans went to their favorite restaurant to enjoy a leisurely lunch. In mid-afternoon, they went for an easy stroll at the mall, and arrived at the assisted living community in time to join a game of bridge. Upstairs in their room, Karin and her team had been working quickly, unpacking, hanging, assembling, moving furniture into position, and making the bed with fresh linens. Todd went back and forth between observing the downsizers’ progress, and enjoying the humor around his parents’ bridge table.
Around 5:00, the word came that the room was ready. Filled with anticipation, Mr. and Mrs. Sherman rode the elevator to their new apartment on the third floor. When they stepped into the apartment, their faces were beaming. On every wall hung the pictures they had always loved in their old home. The recliners were set up side by side, facing the TV, and even Mrs. Sherman’s favorite quilt was carefully folded over the back of her chair. The closet was well organized, with clothing hung on hangers and ready to go. In their bathroom, Mr. Sherman’s shaving kit was on the right side of the sink, just as it had been at home. Even the trinkets and teacups were carefully arranged in the corner china cabinet just as they had been back at the old house.
This was home.
Mr. and Mrs. Sherman had glided through their move into the assisted living community without lifting a single box. They were rested, relaxed, and delighted with the new surroundings. Karin’s professional assistance and guidance prevented unnecessary stress, physical strain, and exhaustion.
Hugs were passed all around, and Karin and her team gathered their boxes and tools and headed to the door. Karin promised to return after the estate sale, and when everything had been successfully distributed from the home. When she and the movers left, Todd and his parents looked around in appreciation and wonder at the new surroundings. One could hardly believe that this room was empty just ten hours earlier.
After years of dreading a difficult downsizing experience, Mr. and Mrs. Sherman were amazed that it went so smoothly and effortlessly. Todd had been intimidated by the sheer size of the project, and as an only child, he doubted whether he could have pulled this off alone. But there was no need to stew on what could have been. This was a miracle, and the move was done. “Amazing,” Todd murmured again.
With a quick glance at their watches, the Sherman family knew that dinner was being served down in the dining room. Their carefree life had begun, they said with a laugh, since meal preparation was now provided by the community. And off they went together, to celebrate the miracle of downsizing professionals over a hot dinner.
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