ARTICLES / General /
Senior Move Managers /
Other ArticlesBy Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
Running Interference
With the previous in mind, one of the biggest
obstacles an elderly loved one may face during
downsizing is the dreaded division of belongings
among family members. With the increasing number of
family feuds being caused by hurt feelings over a
deceased relative’s possessions, there is even a
niche industry developing to keep the peace.
“Who Gets Grandma’s Pie Plate?” is an initiative
aiding seniors in making just those tough decisions,
while keeping everyone happy along the way. A group
at the University of Minnesota Extension wrestled
with the questions families face and with research,
developed educational resources to help keep
families connected and not in court. The name
actually came from a researcher’s family baking dish
which was handed down from her great-grandmother and
is still used today at family gatherings. The next
generation hopes to inherit it someday.
The Wall Street Journal has sung praises for
these tools, saying, “It's harder to determine
what's fair when dividing personal items, because
it's tough to pin a value on a tattered Winnie the
Pooh book, for example, that three siblings all
treasure…. The decisions about dividing up objects
are often more emotional, because they have more
sentimental meaning.”
These worksheets offer a way for seniors to
gather family members and discuss what items may
have value to them. Certain belongings have
significant personal attachment for one relative
because of a specific memory, and mean nothing to
another.
Barbara H. Morris, of Smooth Transitions, has
developed a workbook entitled “Moving for Seniors”
which walks a person through each step of the
process. The 55-page guide helps seniors evaluate
their options, whether its time to downsize, how to
keep it simple and accomplish the move successfully.
“Most families only go through this process once
or twice in their lives and by the time they 'figure
it' all out, they will never do it again,” she says.
“Don't be afraid to ask for help from the experts.
This process is hard enough on all parties when
everyone lives in the same area, but when distances
add another level of anguish to the mix, it becomes
even harder.”
