Age & Stage brings you practical guidance, expert help and inspiration to help navigate all aspects of elderly care and old age.
Presented by Age Space’s Annabel James and journalist & broadcaster Daisy McAndrew, we tackle a different subject every week in conversation with guest experts who each bring a wealth of experience and expertise.
Advising on everything from different kinds of care, funding care and legal things to consider, the practicalities of helping elderly parents and relatives remain living independently and safely at home, conversations about when to stop driving, getting a dementia diagnosis,the importance of a power of attorney; family dynamics, death and grief, and much more.
You can email the show at ageandstage@agespace.org, leave a WhatsApp message at 07982 360113 or record a voicenote here: https://www.speakpipe.com/ageandstage
Please share Age & Stage with a friend, or someone you know who would be helped by the information in this series. You can send them this link: https://pod.link/1798413657
Find out more about Age Space at www.agespace.org
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Age & Stage brings you practical guidance, expert help and inspiration to help navigate all aspects of elderly care and old age.
Presented by Age Space’s Annabel James and journalist & broadcaster Daisy McAndrew, we tackle a different subject every week in conversation with guest experts who each bring a wealth of experience and expertise.
Advising on everything from different kinds of care, funding care and legal things to consider, the practicalities of helping elderly parents and relatives remain living independently and safely at home, conversations about when to stop driving, getting a dementia diagnosis,the importance of a power of attorney; family dynamics, death and grief, and much more.
You can email the show at ageandstage@agespace.org, leave a WhatsApp message at 07982 360113 or record a voicenote here: https://www.speakpipe.com/ageandstage
Please share Age & Stage with a friend, or someone you know who would be helped by the information in this series. You can send them this link: https://pod.link/1798413657
Find out more about Age Space at www.agespace.org
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Meirion Shaw, founder of thehomemover.co.uk shares her experience and challenges of helping older clients downsize, including the emotional and logistical hurdles, the need for early planning and preparation, family dynamics, and the role of third-party support.
Get in touch with your comments & questions
Email: ageandstage@agespace.org
Voicenote: www.speakpipe.com/ageandstage
WhatsApp: 07982 360113
Share Age & Stage with friends & family: https://pod.link/1798413657
Age Space: www.agespace.org
From the conversation:
The decision to downsize can have multiple reasons; whether a move needs to be made to a care home, mobility issues making a larger house impractical, the need to raise funds for the cost of care and so on.
Plan ahead, preferably a number of years in advance. Often downsizing or moving occurs too late and is a more stressful experience for the older relative or friend.
If the house is being put on the market, do the first declutter before formally putting the house up for sale. 'Start with the sock drawer' or the cupboard under the stairs.
Never tackle something with anything that holds deep emotional value in that first declutter.
Make a list of all major items in the house and decide what to take to the new home.
Declutter in short, sharp bursts and perhaps invite a friend to talk to whilst you do it.
Bring in a valuer to assess the value of items. This can aid family negotiations and sibling rivalries.
Label all boxes clearly with the room they belong to, to make unpacking easier.
Research charities, organisations and local people in need, to make donations of unwanted furniture and other items.
Aim to recreate a familiar environment in the new home by reusing familiar furniture or the placing of items. This is especially important in cases of dementia.
Identify local organisations that can provide companionship and support for someone with dementia after they've moved.
Research removal firms and check their online reviews. It might be worth asking other people for their experiences or recommendations.
Moving a relative into the family home can be tricky. You're often moving them to an area where they don't know anyone. Meirion's recommendation is to bring them fully into family life, rather than them living in a separate 'annex'.
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