My parents have done their best to stay in their home as long as they can but alas the time has come, they are letting my brother and I know they are now ready to move into a seniors living facility.
Due to my father having early onset of dementia, and serious mobility issues, there are only a few facilities the both can move into together. They are on a wait list and they are quite happy to stay the summer in their house and are preparing to potentially move in the fall.
This is both happy and sad, our entire family will miss their lovely home as it has been the site of so many amazing family gatherings. But this aside my real issue is the reality of moving them out of their home.
This past weekend their neighbours moved out and moved into a seniors facility. I watched in horror as their children came to their home after the parents left and had a huge rubbish bin brought in. I watch as all the parents goods were unceremoniously thrown away. 2 things came to my mind, 1 was these could have been donated (knowing this pair of seniors, everything in their home was in top condition and very well cared for, non smokers, and no pets). 2 I can't imagine doing this come the fall. I am terribly sentimental and am a bit of a collector with slight hoarding tendencies. My mother has been slowly prepping and calling me in and my children asking if anyone wants anything and if not she has been slowly donating small items. I am doing my best to accept the fact that I can't keep every little thing that I have attached a memory to.
I feel ill prepared to deal with this move. And I get inside my own head about it. I know the old cliche, "you have the memories" of course, but I know I can't keep all of those in my head either.
I'm not looking for much, just ideas on how to cope with this. How to make this not about me and my emotional state, but about my parents. They are both in their mid 80's, both are doing pretty well. I suppose the real issue this is another step closer to losing them. I have days when I can accept that, and days when I am just not even considering that.
I want the steps ahead of them to be with dignity, I don't ever want anyone to think they are only worth a rubbish bin full of "stuff". Thanks for letting me vent and shed a tear.
