Storage for Seniors Aging in Place
Storage for seniors can be overwhelming. Where should everything go? Who might like this, if considering downsizing? Am I going to be able to reach things? All of these questions and many more like it get asked of family caregivers helping a senior age in place.
Develop a plan for essential items that need to be accessed regularly and then pick the right storage option for the elderly persons needs. The best two options for a senior needing additional storage is a storage shed or a storage unit. Adding more boxes and tubs to the home is not wise as you are aging. Ultimately, these create hazards in the home, they get in the way of walking and cause a fall. On the other hand,when placed in an attic it encourages using a ladder, something all elderly individuals should avoid using due to fall injuries.
Storage Shed for Seniors
A storage shed for seniors is designed for easy access in the rear of the home. A well-planned installation will include a ramp with a soft incline with grip and a handrail. These kinds of at-home storage sheds can be configured in many different ways and styles to fit into your home. Match the color of your home and personalize the shed to fit your style and garden.
Freeing up the home of specific belongings by using a storage shed makes it easier for a senior to have a family member caregiver in the home on a semi or permanent basis. Install shelving or racks depending on your needs or keep the space an open floor like an open garage. As a result, using the shed as a dumping ground or staging area is more advantageous to leave things in the home during these kinds of transitions.
Storage Units for Seniors
A storage unit for seniors needs to have excellent accessibility, security, and future flexibility. For this reason, look for facilities that offer first-floor drive-up access. A storage unit on the inside of a building may be the only alternative and in that case seeking a unit that is in close proximity to an elevator is essential.
A perfect entry point for an elderly person looking for a storage unit is to get a small unit. This could be as small as a 5-foot by 7-foot unit or a 5-foot by 10-foot unit. This is enough to stack a series of boxes and Rubbermaid tubs. Talk with the storage company and understand what their policy is for moving units or short versus long-term arrangements. Seniors downsizing or considering moving to a senior living community need to plan ahead with their belongings and a storage unit is the best place away from home.
Seniors Downsizing and Storing a Household in Between Moving
Selling a home and moving to a new place to continue on always takes time so planning ahead and downsizing now will make any future changes better. Storage for seniors involves many methods and strategies. Here are a few ways to make storing things for aging in place or moving into a senior resident community a little easier.
Boxes
Banker boxes are excellent for all paperwork. These have a sold lid that is easy to take off and on. Label the boxes with the important paperwork, folders, documents, etc.
Walmart boxes for everything else. Any big box store will have a plethora of sizes of storage boxes that work putting anything you would want into it. Check out the extra strength versions if the content of the box will be heavy.
Rubber Maid Tubs
The Rubbermaid tub is standard storage for seniors option. Given that you can store all kinds of items from valuables, to clothes, to paper documents it is possible to create a very clean-looking storage shed for seniors. These kinds of tubs are easy to label or use in different colors for certain types of goods. Clear storage tubs are nice for quickly looking at the contents of the tub. As a result, these are helpful for family members or caregivers to go and fetch an item.
Garage Storage for Seniors
The garage for seniors should be clean and hazards on the floor removed. However, a garage is an excellent place to store important boxes and tubs. Individuals living in cold climates likely use the garage to store their vehicles which may limit the space for storage.
Storage Shed
During the downsizing phase of retirement using the storage shed for staging boxes that are coming and going is very useful.
Storage Unit
The number one storage solution seniors need when downsizing is a storage unit. Whether it is a small closet-size space or a full-size unit that can fit an entire house full of furniture and belongings from thirty years. Family caregivers that find themselves in an immediate need to move all of mom and dad’s belongings out of the house to sell the home need a secure storage unit to put everything in.
Label Label Label
The biggest tip I can give to anyone helping a senior downsize is to label all the boxes and tubs that are going to be saved. Make very clear markings on any boxes that are going to be donated to nonprofit organizations that can reuse or resell the items. Boxes or bags that will be thrown in the garbage or landfill should be labeled as well and placed in a separate place while going through everything.
Family Support
Storage for seniors often falls on the family caregiver and any additional family members that are able to lend a hand to help. This support is important. Seniors that plan ahead and begin the downsizing process before they have a health crisis are better off. Waiting until a problem that forces the elderly person to change in their living arrangements often benefits from the time spent with family going through belongings and finding the right homes for everything that is important to them that otherwise would need to go into a storage unit.
Love the Give
Need a cheap storage unit for a senior? Why not consider loving the give. Find the right person that can use that extra large dining set or living room sofa. It can bring a lot of joy to a senior to know that the things that they used and enjoyed are able to continue being used versus being thrown in the landfill.