Skip to page content
Home — The Osborn — Options for Living
  • Independent LivingExpand Independent Living section
  • Assisted LivingExpand Assisted Living section
  • Skilled NursingExpand Skilled Nursing section
  • Memory CareExpand Memory Care section
  • RehabilitationExpand Rehabilitation section
  • Home CareExpand Home Care section
  • About
  • News
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Residents
  • Show Phone Menu 888-967-2676 888-9-OSBORN
  • Contact
  • Donate
Menu
  • About
  • News
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Residents
  • Show Phone Menu 888-967-2676 888-9-OSBORN
  • Contact
  • Donate
Show Phone Menu 888-967-2676 888-9-OSBORN
Contact
Donate
Menu
Home
  • Independent Living
  • Assisted Living
  • Skilled Nursing
  • Memory Care
  • Rehabilitation
  • Home Care
  • About
  • News
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Residents
  • Show Phone Menu 888-967-2676 888-9-OSBORN
  • Contact
  • Donate
Show Form
Call Us
  • Main number
    914-925-8000
  • Toll-free
    888-9-OSBORN
    or 888-967-2676
  • Independent Living
    888-392-7058
  • Assisted Living
    888-458-2403
  • Skilled Nursing / Short-Term Rehab
    888-618-1101
  • Long Term Care
    888-735-8524
  • Memory Care
    888-794-2644
  • Home Care Westchester County
    888-813-6782
  • Home Care Fairfield County
    888-594-0957
  • Miriam's Attic Shop
    914-925-8626
Independent Living
  • Overview
  • Garden Homes
  • Apartments
  • Amenities
  • WellSpring
Assisted Living
  • Overview
  • Studio, 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
Skilled Nursing
  • Overview
  • Long-Term Care
  • Respite Care
Memory Care
  • Overview
  • H.O.P.E. Center
Rehabilitation
  • Overview
  • Short-Term Rehabilitation
  • Outpatient Rehabilitation
Home Care
  • Overview
  • 5-Star Care
  • Westchester County, NY
  • Fairfield County, CT
  • FAQ
  • Resources
About
  • Overview
  • Welcome Letter from our CEO
  • Leadership
  • Board of Trustees
  • Schedule a Tour
  • History & Mission
  • Accreditations
  • Community Map
  • FAQ
  • Virtual Tour
News
  • Overview
  • Photo Galleries
  • Media Inquiries
Residents
  • Overview
  • Free Entertainment / Streaming
  • Dining
  • Testimonials
  • Wellspring Cafe Store
  • Visitor Information
Donate
  • Overview
  • Make a Donation
  • Miriam's Attic
  • Overview
  • Garden Homes
  • Apartments
  • Amenities
  • WellSpring
  • Overview
  • Studio, 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
  • Overview
  • Long-Term Care
  • Respite Care
  • Overview
  • H.O.P.E. Center
  • Overview
  • Short-Term Rehabilitation
  • Outpatient Rehabilitation
  • Overview
  • 5-Star Care
  • Westchester County, NY
  • Fairfield County, CT
  • FAQ
  • Resources
Contact Us Today! Phone Directory
Page Content
Back to Blog
Previous Post Next Post

Tips for Downsizing

April 15, 2019

~ by Carol Vartulli

You’re headed for fresh, new surroundings, where you’ll be free from the care of a house and yard.  Yet, the transition can be bittersweet: You’ll need to shed belongings, and the task may seem overwhelming.

Downsizing is more manageable when you tap professionals to help.

The process is more manageable when you divide it into stages; here are some tips to guide you through it:

The De-clutter Stage

  • Even if you haven’t made a final decision on where you’ll be living, you can begin planning for your move as early as a year before. Start de-cluttering your current home well before you think about furnishings and cherished possessions.
  • Ask your grown children to remove belongings they have been storing in your basement or attic. This includes childhood treasures, as well as large items, like bicycles, sporting equipment and furniture.
  • Aggregate all your important papers (passports, wills, deeds, medical records, etc.) in one place, and tell a close family member where they are. Discard unnecessary paperwork, but ask an accountant or attorney if you are unsure about what you must keep.
  • Cull through your closets and drawers, because a smaller home may have less closet space. Move items that you have not worn in six months or longer to a separate space. Periodically donate what’s in good condition to donation centers, like Goodwill or charity thrift stores.
  • Determine which accumulated household items you don’t actually use. Since you’ll no longer be doing home repairs and yard work, lawn mowers are obviously “no need” items; they and other tools can be given away or donated. Put kitchen tools and gadgets in a box and return them to their normal places only after you’ve used them. Use the same ‘test’ for small appliances, like waffle irons and ice cream makers.

Limit de-cluttering efforts to monthly or weekly sessions, working no more than two hours at a time. Dividing these tasks into small chunks makes them less onerous.

The Planning Stage

Once you have chosen a new independent living home, you can decide which major household items to take with you.

  • Know exactly how much space you have in your new domain, whether it’s one room, or five.  Measure accurately, noting windows, doors, shelving, and closets, and make a floor plan. Visit your new place several times, so you can envision which pieces of furniture are essential.  Some furniture may serve multiple purposes, such as a decorative chest that doubles as a TV stand.
  • Measure larger pieces to determine how they might fit into your new floor plan.  Furniture for apartments and small homes is designed on a smaller scale. So, if your current sofa is too wide or bulky, you may want to shop for a new look and some just-right pieces.
  • Find new homes for furniture that you cannot keep. Give it to friends or family, donate it to charity, or try selling it locally through ads or websites. Even the priciest furniture is worth only pennies on the dollar once it’s used. If you have valuable antiques or artwork, consult with an appraiser, or an estate auction house.

The Sorting Stage

Sorting your remaining belongings and personal mementos may be the most difficult stage of transitioning to your new home.

  • Photograph large items you must part with, like grandmother’s big brass clock. You can retain memories of the place these items had in your life.
  • Eliminate items you definitely do not want, but don’t sort exhaustively through remaining photographs and small collectibles. These are easily stored, and you may choose to display some of them once you are in your new home.
  • Invite family and friends to participate in sorting and sharing sessions. Mementos evoke memories, and memories are most precious when shared.

If you have a brief time to complete all these stages before your move, and finances permit, you may want to consider hiring a move manager or professional organizer. Senior residences, senior centers and certain realty companies can refer you to experts in downsizing. Click here to learn more about The Osborn's Easy Move program

The Osborn offers a continuum of care on its 56-acre of campus.

Our Continuum of Care

The Osborn is a private, non-profit continuum of care community that offers choices of residents in Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing, Short-term Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation. For more information, or to schedule a tour, contact Georgia Woodbine (914-925-8243) or gwoodbine@theosborn.org.

Osborn Home Care provides home care services in Westchester and Fairfield Counties. For more information, call 914-925-8221 (Westchester) or 203-641-7683 (Fairfield).

More Posts

  • Thyroid Awareness Month

    January 15, 2021

    ~ by Carol Vartuli

    Each year during the month of January, the medical community seeks to enlighten the public about thyroid issues. Millions of people live with them, but remain undiagnosed and untreated.

  • New Year, New Resolution

    January 1, 2021

    ~ by Carol Vartuli

    After 11 months of a ravaging pandemic, a plummeting economy, and political discord, who isn’t ready to usher in hope for a “normal” 2021?

  • The Holidays and Seasonal Sadness

    December 15, 2020

    ~ by Richard Sgaglio

    The holiday season usually offers many opportunities to spend quality time with family and friends. However, with the current COVID-19 public health crisis, it has become difficult (and in some cases...

More From the Blog
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Independent Living
  • Assisted Living
  • Skilled Nursing
  • Memory Care
  • Rehabilitation
  • Home Care
  • About
  • News
  • Events
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Residents
  • Show Phone Menu 888-967-2676 888-9-OSBORN
  • Contact
  • Donate
US News Best Nursing Homes - Long-Term Care 2020-21 US News Best Nursing Homes - Short-Term Rehabilitation 2020-21 Digital Health Awards Winner - Spring 2020
The Osborn 101 Theall Rd Rye, NY 10580 914-925-8000
© 2021 The Osborn All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy
The Osborn is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
ADA
EHO
CARF-CCAC
Site by Piszko