Why Seniors Can’t Let Go Of Clutter (Their Stuff)

For many seniors, letting go of their clutter is like asking the impossible…a couple of months ago, I wrote a blog post on “How to Help a Senior Hoarder”, today I’d like to talk about why they become hoarders…why they just can’t let their stuff go. Hopefully, understanding their reasons might help you help them to let go.

Would it surprise you to know that a study showed that people who have reached the “ripe old” age of 50 years (actually not old by today’s standard) or older have a difficult time decluttering and disposing of their unnecessary, unneeded things, which makes it more difficult for them to downsize and relocate when and if the time comes. And it makes it hard for family or friends who are trying to help them in this process.

Why is it so difficult for seniors to declutter?

Let’s face it, most of us have clutter in our lives, and tossing it out or donating it is kind of therapeutic. But for an aging senior, it’s more traumatic, it’s like discarding part of their life.

• Oh the memories! Things can take on a very sentimental feeling, they are memories of days gone by, days they aren’t ready to forget…their keepsakes are very important to them.
• Waste not! Many of today’s older seniors lived through the depression, a time when everything they owned had great value, and very little was thrown away. Others may have grown up less fortunate, so they feel the same way. It’s their way of conserving, preserving and being prepared…and don’t forget, you may be able to use that one day.
  • One senior man, we’ll call Bob, (who passed away a few years ago), used to use those little purple inhalers. When his family was cleaning out his garage, they found 2-3 good sized boxes full of empty inhalers; because Bob couldn’t throw away anything he might be able to use some day.
• That’s Important! Many seniors are afraid to throw away such stuff as old bank statements or tax reports for fear they might need them someday, so the paper piles up.
• I just might! Many seniors keep all their old clothes, and fill up spare closets with them…they might come back into style, I might lose enough weight to wear them again, maybe someone in the family might need them, or you can never have too many warm coats.
• We might have company!  Many seniors have many more sets of sheets than they do beds and many more bath towels than they have bathrooms. While it is a good idea to have a little extra, excess like that is unnecessary.
• Feeding the multitudes! As with the excess linens, many seniors can’t get rid of excess pots, pans or dishes for fear they won’t have enough if they have company.
• It was on sale! Shopping can be a great passtime for seniors…today, shopping on line is a favorite pass time. Oftentimes the new purchases don’t replace anything, they just add to the clutter.

As you work with your senior parents or friends to help them declutter and downsize, remember, they usually have a good reason why they can’t get rid of stuff…stay calm, don’t get frustrated, be understanding, and whenever possible use good reasoning to help them understand why downsizing is a good thing. In my next post, I’ll be talking about some strategies to help your senior “let go”.

We are Certified Senior Move Managers recognized by our National Association of Senior Move Managers, NASSM! We are committed to serving our seniors with a high standard of ethics, best business practices and continuing education to help make whatever transition they are going through a Smooth Transition.

Contact us to learn how we can help you and/or your family cope with a senior  downsizing anywhere in the Phoenix East Valley area. We would love to serve you.