Whether whittling down to the essentials for a parent moving into a room or two or downsizing for ourselves, ignoring the spirit and basing decisions on health and safety alone could have devastating results.

In this hope filled book you will learn how to
Identify needs and desires to create a quality new life
Cope with the Depression Era mind-set
Create emotionally sustaining environments to nurture the soul
Ready and sell the family home
Ask the RIGHT questions to help divest of treasures
Manage your energy and spirit throughout the process
Determine when it’s time to consider alternative placement
Perform the ordinary in a non-ordinary way—allowing you to preserve and heal family relationships.

REVIEW

“We are the aging parents who needed to move! We sold our house, every corner and crevice overflowing with forty years of our family's life, and moved to an apartment. The overflow filled two storage garages and a storage room (and that was after we gave away some large items).

Author Nancy Wesson covers practical, soulful, and medical needs in a variety of thoughtful settings. She makes a compelling case for being sensitive to the emotions of someone who is downsizing, as well as looking out for the physical requirements. She includes a section on how to meet the special needs of elders who have low vision or hearing, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease with specific details known to experienced caretakers.

As I read Nancy's admonishments for caretakers to remember to be kind to themselves too, I was amused to realize that I needed that advice. I had been rather hard on me, demanding too much of myself at times during our move.

This guide goes so far beyond downsizing or even helping elders downsize, that it surprises me that I also found it easy to read, and easy to implement her ideas. I'm so glad to have received this particular book, because I have made room in our new place, in my new life, in my heart, for things I would have put aside without Nancy's wisdom. Nancy shows how to put the joy back into the Golden Years.

I cannot recommend this handy collection of practical wisdom and nurturing encouragement too strongly. Even people who are not moving could benefit from reading Nancy's book, as many of us could benefit by sorting out our lives, belongings and activities to get a fresh start on the tangle of possessions and frenetic scheduling we call home.

Reviewed by: Pandababy Reviews

EXCERPT

“Rain is slamming against the windshield and I can’t see the edge of I-10 that runs through the swamp west of Lake Charles. I’m only an hour out so it seems a waste to find a hotel. I can’t even call mom to let her know I’ll be late because I can’t risk the distraction. It‘s all I can do to keep my little Subaru WRX on the road; even the all- wheel drive is being challenged by the wall of water shoving me sideways—delivered by an eighteen-wheeler that just barreled by. There is a sense of urgency about this trip as mom has finally made the decision to consider a move nearer to me. My sister and I have decided to alternate trips to her home to start the inevitable process of clearing things out in an effort to be ready to move and this is the first foray into that unknown territory. Her agreement to move to a retirement complex near me (sometime in the next six months or so are her terms) has been nothing if not miraculous, but as luck would have it, her unit has become available early⎯four months early actually. The decision to take the unit had to be made now or wait another year, so we are beginning the process and my trip over represents the first step into the reality that she can a no longer manage on her own. How has it come to this so quickly? It seems that only last year she was talking about another rigorous trip to Costa Rica. I am struggling to stay on the road while I wonder what stormy weather lies ahead in terms of this new stage. Further, I don’t have time for this week away…”