34 APRIL 2020 WOMANSDAY
Home / TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR STUFF
Mom
Moves In
As your parents age, you
may make the decision to
have them live with you
and your family, including any
kids still at home. Here’s
how to make a full house
a happy one.PREPARE FOR CHANGE
It may be hard to create space in
your home, but it will also be difficult
for your parents to leave the life
and independence they’ve been used
to. Be patient as people deal with
the transition in their own ways.DEFINE THE SPACE
An extra person or two can make a
house feel claustrophobic, but every
member of the family deserves a
special spot, whether it’s a comfy chair,
a private closet, or a basement nook.
Make sure each person feels ownership
of a particular area.KEEP SHARED AREAS
IN ORDER
With everyone’s input, create
house rules about using shared items
like dishes or the coffeemaker. The
gist should be that every object has
a place and should be returned
there when not in use.ORGANIZING CHALLENGE #2
▲ (^) Command Hooks
These are perfect for displaying bags
of all sizes or hanging clothes to photograph.
($13 for two, amazon.com)
the bed near a window to free up space and brought
in additional shelving units to store and display
the bags and shoes Anna loved most. Patty also
carved out space in Anna’s closet for a dedicated
“outbox”—a place to drop items she planned to sell.
“Everyone should have one in the closet,” says Patty.
“Even an oversize shopping bag or a collapsible
laundry basket will work.”
These days, before Anna brings a new item into
her home, she evaluates what will go out. “Now
that every thing is visible, I know exactly what I
own and I’m not as tempted to buy more,” she says.
Ed has noticed a change too. “Anna has found
Anna again,” he says. “Once again she has a smile
on her face and a bounce in her step.”
Not everything needs to be
visible, but when the doors
are open, what’s inside the
unit is neat and tidy so Anna
always knows what she has
and where it’s stored.
Clear-the-Clutter
Everyone needs a designated
outbox in the closet.
Hidden
storage!
After