Downsizing Tips for Columbia Seniors

It has been my experiences that when something goes into a box and then into some sort of storage, it is usually the last time that anyone originally connected with the item will ever see it again.  The person putting the item into the box should stop, take one last look, have a moment of silence, and maybe even hold a small memorial service for the item.

If you think about it logically, it sort of makes sense.  The object is going into the box because it is no longer needed, used or wanted. If the item is right in front of us and we cannot bother to pick it up, use it or get some enjoyment out of looking at it, what are the chances of someone crawling into a dark closet or under a bed with dust bunnies or, God forbid, going into a locked public storage area to open the box and to set the item free?

In the United States there are currently 2.35 billion square feet of storage space in the form of public storage facilities.  Do you ever wonder what people could possibly be storing in all of that space?  I am sure one day a socio-cultural anthropology student will have a field day with our nation’s need to store our over-accumulation of stuff.

If you do not want to be a victim held captive by having too much stuff, the tips below should help you get started on your road to freedom.


Tip 1. Rely on experts to help you sort the diamonds from the rough.        
There are services now that will help you with your downsizing dilemma. http://www.movingseniorsinsc.com is one such service.  Moving and down sizing is an overwhelming and emotional event; bring in a third-party professional who can look objectively at the situation.

Tip 2. Donate,donate, donate.
Most people have closets full of clothes that they have not worn in years.  Donating clothes is probably one of the easiest ways to produce instant results in your home.  There are people in need who could be putting your clothes to good use.  You will create a win-win with your donation by helping your fellow man and by reclaiming your closet space for the clothes you do wear.  Goodwill is an organization that will take clothing donations.  http://www.goodwillsc.org/

Tip 3. Consign.
Consigning household items and furniture is a great way to downsize.  Find a good consignment store, such as Agape Again in West Columbia.   You can make some money on the sale of your items or donate them outright.  Either way you will be contributing to a good cause that supports senior care in the Midlands. See Joe Pinner commercial for store.

Tip 4. Find out what the kids actually want and tag it.
Invite your children to tell you what, if anything, from your household they will want and then tag those items with their names to avoid conflict after you are gone.

Tip 5. Relax andenjoy life.
There is a certain freedom and peace of mind that comes from having fewer material things, especially as we age.  I have had many residents that downsized in to one of our Agape Senior patio homes who have told me what a relief it was to get rid of 50 years worth of accumulation. It is just less to worry about.

Agapé Senior’s mission is to provide integrated health services to meet the needs of senior adults in a faith-based atmosphere. The company’s philosophy is based upon its commitment to provide the best quality care possible for members of our senior adult community. We are committed to participating actively in and around the communities we serve.Call us at 800-411- 2427. Columbia, Forest Acres, Lexington, Irmo, Rock Hill, Laurens, Conway, Garden City, West Columbia

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South Carolina Health Care Company Hires Senior Vice President of Hospital Relations

From: Theresa Younis, COO Agape Senior
Date: January 3, 2012
Subject: Joseph Seel Joins Agape Senior Management

I am pleased to introduce and to welcome Joe Seel to Agape Senior Management’s team as Senior Vice-President of Hospital Relations. Joe comes to us from Receivables Management Company in Columbia, where he was Director of Business Development.

Joe has over 24 years of experience in hospital acute care; during 12 of those years he served as chief executive officer. His work experience includes Director of Healthcare Business Development for Mashburn Construction Company, CEO of Edgefield County Hospital, and CEO of Swain County Hospital in North Carolina.

Joe holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration (1989) and a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary studies (1986), both from the University of South Carolina. He has served as an officer for numerous service organizations over the years, including Rotary and Lions Club. Joe currently is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, South Carolina Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, and a board member for the South Carolina Healthcare Managers’ Association for the Midlands.

Agapé Senior’s mission is to provide integrated health services to meet the needs of senior adults in a faith-based atmosphere. The company’s philosophy is based upon its commitment to provide the best quality care possible for members of our senior adult community. We are committed to participating actively in and around the communities we serve. Call us at 800-411- 2427. Columbia, Forest Acres, Lexington, Irmo, Rock Hill, Laurens, Conway, Garden City, West Columbia

Rock Hill Assisted Living; Lessons Learned From my Grandmother

This year’s Christmas has had a different spin on it than any other year for me.
 
I’ve learned to appreciate the smaller things in life. I’ve learned that it’s not about the perfect gift or the extravagant decorations or how many holiday celebrations you can squeeze into a limited amount of time.

  Less is more. That’s what I enjoyed this year.
 
This brings me to the next big lesson I learned. My grandmother—I call her Nanny—has dementia. Each day is a new lesson to be learned from Nanny. You just never know what she is going to point out, what she notices or even what she will remember. So I’ve made a list of lessons that Nanny has taught me this Christmas.

Remember, if your loved one is in a certain stage of dementia, that doesn’t change just because you have put up a Christmas tree or have explained that it’s Christmas. She is still going to get upset over going out to eat in a bustling restaurant just as easily now as she did a month ago. Now is the time to keep things peaceful and at ease for her. Order take-out from her favorite restaurant and share it with her at home.

If the children and grandchildren have been “stuck” at a certain age in her mind, chances are she still thinks they are that age now. So enjoy the spirit of Christmas on the level where she is now. Whether she loves the singing snowman or a photo frame with Bugs Bunny on it, give it to her. She isn’t going to remember the gifts tomorrow anyway. So share that moment of pure laughter and joy with her. My nanny loves the singing figures. This year she got a singing sock monkey, and she laughed with pure joy and happiness for that brief time. Sure, she’ll have a warm nightgown, new slippers and socks, but, ultimately, I want to see that light in her eye.

  We are a society of blended families and fragmented schedules. The most important thing you can do as a family is come together and be united in time with your loved one. Let me tell you a story: One part of my family went to the assisted living facility to visit with Nanny on the morning of Christmas Eve. That same afternoon the rest of the family showed up to spend Christmas with Nanny. The problem was that Nanny opened presents that morning and thought Christmas was already over. So she had already taken down her tree and begun to unpack her kitchen dishes and to stack them on the counter as if she was cleaning up following the big meal she had hosted for the last 40 years at her house.

  My mom became distraught and didn’t understand when she walked in to see a bare tree and a confused mother who wasn’t ready to open presents. Sometimes you have to put away the family dynamics which come into play the rest of the year; sometimes you have to do the right thing for your loved one.
 
When you plan a visit, remember you are on your loved one’s schedule and are operating under her rules of reality. One of the most difficult times for a loved one with dementia is when family members leave all at once after a joyful visit. Now she has old memories running around in her mind, strange decorations surrounding her, and she doesn’t understand why she’s not at home with her husband from 20 years ago.

Don’t leave her in a sudden shocking manner. I always encourage my mom to visit Nanny one hour before lunch or supper. This way, she can help Nanny prepare for the meal, can walk with her to the dining room, and can leave her surrounded by her table mates and the workers who are familiar to her. By the time she finishes her meal, she has forgotten that she had a visitor and she is settled happily back into the routine.
 
Jennifer Peay
Regional Marketing Director Agape Senior Piedmont

Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000