When organizing gets personal

Help with personal organizing for families.

I try to keep a balance in the decision making process between sentiment and objectivity, which is not always easily when it comes to family sentiment. This past week though I wore both personal organizing and “client” hats. My grandparents have been in an assisted living facility for almost 20 years , great planning on their part! But the time finally came for them to be moved into more skilled nursing and personalized assistance. I joined my family in helping make this transition more comfortable for them by lending my organizing expertise. My mother is an interior designer and my two aunts are nurses so together we were quite a team!

I took my basic personal organizing kit along, which includes a tape measure, label maker, inventory sheets (or tablet for creating one digitally), camera, post it notes, permanent marker etc. We went through contents of their apartment determining what they would need in their room and what could go to storage. The nurses in the family knew what practical requirements were needed and my mother lent her design expertise. I learned a few things beyond the basic organizing skills I already posses to add to my knowledge base.

Tips to help organize a loved one in a senior living facility.

Many of these tips could be used in a home healthcare setting as well.

• Included your loved one’s in this process (if possible). Ask them to select personal items they wanted to have surrounding them, such as artwork, accessories and other items.
• Take photo’s or make copies of valuables, financial documents, vital documents and medical information (including ID’s, credit cards etc).
• Create a detailed inventory of all contents of the living space. State regulations will differ but most facilities require a copy to be kept with the facility (for liability purposes).
• Take photo’s of all inventory items.

• Create a binder or folder with all the inventory lists and photo’s and give access to necessary family.
• Be sure that vital documents are in place and up to date -such as Will’s, Trust, Living Will, DNR and other medical, legal and financial documents (copies where needed-accessible but safe).
• Keep valuables locked and out of plain sight but accessible to family members (things like ID’s, will’s medical info, credit cards etc-see storage below), alternately use a lock box or safety deposit box.

• Think about accessibility and ease of use for certain items. Store in open, flat bins, baskets or boxes to make items easy to use (like makeup and hair care).

• Keep it familiar, if certain habits or systems have always worked, don’t change them (modify slightly if needed).
• Label items-keep it simple but specific (ex. Long Sleeve, Short Sleeve, Pants, Personal Care etc). Often clothing must be labeled too (use fabric markers and iron on labels). If more than one person is living in the space, label or designate shelves, closets or drawers by person.
• Consider nursing needs and housekeeping, speak to staff to be sure they can understand and maintain the system you set up.

• Keep everything off floors, no rugs, UN-necessary small objects or furniture for safety and maneuverability of wheelchairs, walkers, canes etc.
• Create an inventory of items going to storage, number boxes, list contents and make notes of family members who may be willed certain items (keep with binder of items in use).

• Check insurance policy to be sure everything is properly insured (both on site and in storage).
• Consider creating a “Caring Bridge” or other private forum to communicate with family and friends any updates on medical status.

Create personal organizing and creative touches by hanging favorite art, photographs and a few accessories. Your goal in organizing the contents is to make it easier for staff or family to care for your loved one, while keeping the space neat, uncluttered, calm, safe and comforting. By the time we completed setting up their room the nurses and staff were ecstatic about how thorough and clearly everything was laid out. Hopefully this translates to more time and attention being spent on your loved ones!