Whether we want to get older or not, it's not an option — we're all aging. National aging-in-place expert Dr. Jill Bjerke of Silver Spaces LLC joins Suzanne to talk about aging in place questions. If you're getting close to 65 or retirement, it's important to consider downsizing and decluttering. What if you're not able medically or physically to stay in your current home. What are your options?

Dr. Bjerke says, "Let's say I can't stand my home. What are my options? Where am I'm gonna go? Can I move in with a relative? There are things called "tiny homes" that you can put on your own property. There's something now, our current newsletter talks about, which is accessory dwelling units, where you can remodel a basement in a relative's home and you can live there instead.

"What if I can't stay here because it's not a safe place for me to be? Or maybe you have a huge home, and modifications just don't make sense. You have a four-bedroom, three-bath home, and there's two of you. Sometimes people can remodel a garage and then rent out their home to cover the cost. You may have a person with dementia that needs care, but can live somewhat independently — you can remodel a garage for that person.

"The SilverSpaces.com assessment is not only just for older adults, but we also look at the pictures of dementia, muscular dystrophy, people who are in wheelchairs, people who are in walkers, things that need to think about when you're ambulating around the home clutter elimination. Big huge one. We all have way too much clutter and we don't realize how dangerous it is for us.

"We just seem to accumulate things for whatever reason. We don't realize how many things we have, and when I talk to people, their fear, it was like, oh my gosh, how am I going to move all this stuff? This is the time to start thinking about downsizing. I've had clients who have said, 'I don't want to leave all this stuff for my kids to go through. I want to get rid of it now.' Now gives you the perfect opportunity to make a list, or put labels on the back of things of where you want some of your things to go when you're no longer here. Because once you are no longer here, no one knows you wanted your niece to have that emerald bracelet."

 

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