Helping an elderly parent get organized can be difficult for the caregiver for a variety of reasons. It can be painful on an emotional level watching parents lose track of things. The time demands placed on caregivers can put stress on other areas of their lives such as work or other family matters. It also can be difficult if caregivers don’t live particularly close to their parents.
A.B. Richards Can Help You Get Organized
But being a caregiver isn’t something you can say no to. And as parents get older, you’ll find that helping to organize their belongings, important papers and their home will become more of a challenge. Fortunately, A.B. Richards is the place to turn when you need help organizing. We have portable storage units that can give you a place to store your parents’ belongings if they need to move in with you or are planning to go to an assisted living facility or even if you just need extra storage space while you figure things out.
Storing your Parents Important Documents
When helping to organize your parents’ documents, AARP recommends keeping them “in a safe accessible place.” Copies of vital documents should be given to the person who is designated as a health care agent or has power of attorney.
Among the important documents you need to keep close to you are:
- your parents’ will
- a living will
- durable power of attorney
- healthcare power of attorney
- insurance policies
- birth and marriage certificates
- divorce papers
- military records
- death certificate if a spouse is deceased
- keys and information about safety deposit boxes
Having all of those important papers together in the same place gives you the chance to organize all of the details of your parent’s estate. If you’re looking to store filing cabinets for your parents, A.B. Richards has 20ft storage containers that are ideal for residential use.
Reorganizing Your Parent’s Home
While organizing papers are important, organizing your parents’ living space can be a daunting task. According to the Home Helpers website, it’s a good idea to begin by assessing the environment around your parents’ home. Look for things that might present a problem, for example, look for areas of the home that might be a mess, like cluttered desks or filing cabinets. Is the food in the refrigerator organized? Check the food expiration dates in the cabinets.
Make sure the clothing in their closets match the season we’re in. Also, make sure that your parents have access to what they need. Can they reach essential items on high shelves? It’s important to keep the house free from clutter so your parents have easy, safe access to all of their rooms and to be certain that living areas don’t become fire hazards.
In order to help your parents, you need to communicate with them over what you’re doing. Going into their home, rearranging furniture and throwing stuff out without warning is a recipe for resistance. Talk your parents, tell them why you want to take the actions you wish to take. Identify problems and try to come up with solutions together.
If you’re moving a parent to a new home or an assisted living facility, there’s a good chance you’re going to have to pare down their belongings. You might want to consider donating things to charity. If you’re looking to put a lot of items into storage in anticipation of a move, consider a 40ft storage container from A.B. Richards or one of our 40ft Jumbo storage containers.
Let A.B. Richards Help You Organize
It’s never easy watching your parents age, but you can make the transition into their senior years more comfortable with an organizational plan for their storage needs. A.B. Richards can help you with any of your organizational needs. We’ll deliver your portable storage container to wherever you need it, and we’ll pick it up at no extra charge. Contact A.B. Richards today.
