Photo Organizing-Help, I need a system!!

Dear Abbey,

Today in Chicago, in my childhood home, I must tackle (inherited) 10+ file size boxes of family photos. Some are in albums, some in frames, and some are lose. It’s just me left in the family-(no siblings or future generations). At least ½ of the photos are of my parents over the past 20 years (or so).

Do you have any ideas on how to approach this task?
I will not scan them all nor do I want to pay $1000s to store them. I am leaving here for good (after the house is sold) and need to say all my goodbyes—even to these important family mementos.

BTW, I must have more than 20 boxes of neatly organized, scrapbooked photos of my own in Miami.

Sincerely, Overwhelmed from Miami

REPLY

Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 7:35 PM
To: Karla Scott
Subject: Re: Photo Organizing-I need a system

As you know Karla, I need help organizing myself but my gut feeling is that since you already have 20 boxes of neatly organized scrapbooks of your own, you might have photos of your parents and family already.
Can you just reduce those twenty boxes to maybe one scrapbook for yourself of the most important photos and get rid of the rest. After all, if you are the only one left, who is going to want to see those photos besides you?
It might feel painful at first but what choices do you have?

Hope this helps.

As ever,
Betty (Abbey)

New Cell Phone For Seniors

To the youth: ask your grandparents how this works!!

Advice for a caregiver from "an expert"

Here is a great letter and response from Gary Barg, of caregiver.com

A Caregiver's Friends and Family Plan

My column in last week’s newsletter about my friend who moved home to help take care of his father brought a flood of responses. In my friend’s case, his previously healthy mother died suddenly while taking care of his father (not an unusual occurrence for the primary caregiver in any family). I know how difficult it can be to take a break from the stress of caregiving, even when we know it is the best thing we possibly can do for ourselves and the loved one for whom we care. The obvious answer is getting our friends and family to help us more, but that is trickier than it seems.

Florence’s email is a case in point.

Hi Gary,

I am drowning in stress due to caring for my mother who has cancer. I am single and an only child, so I feel that I have no one to talk to about what I am going through.

I am a healthcare professional (nurse) as well, which makes it worse sometimes because I know all too well what she is doing wrong when she is noncompliant.
It seems lately that all I do is work and take care of her. I do not have anyone to go do something fun with from time to time, which makes it really hard.

I just feel trapped and alone in this situation. I love my mother very much, but I just need relief from all of this constant responsibility and care for her. She does not have the money for me to bring in a hired person, nor does she really need it as of yet. She is so finicky that no one but me can do things right for her. What I would not give for a sister at this time.

OK, I'm through venting :-). I feel better having put all this onto you (ha!). I'm actually going to sit down and watch a TV program all the way through tonight!!

Thanks for listening,
Florence

Florence,

Your mom is quite lucky to have a daughter like you. Actually, I think the first best step is reaching out and just putting your feelings on paper (or a computer screen). I don’t know where you live or if your mom has any friends or you have any other relatives who could step in and lend a hand. Many times the challenge is that people don’t know how to help until we give them specific duties. Please see link below.

The other thing I would recommend is a support group (I know what you might be thinking), but support groups become our families of choice and great friends are made from the time spent together. I think it would be a great idea to see if your mom may have any activities that she really enjoys, in which she can spend some time so you can also get some time off. As a care professional, you know that the awful truth is that if you cannot find a way to create an informal support team or make some space for you to have some relief, your mom's best support is at risk—you.

Besides, you certainly do deserve it.

http://www.caregiver.com//articles/general/reverse_gift_list.htm


How do you get your friends and family to help you?




Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com

Warning Signs of a Possible Need for Help

Here is a great article and list of warning signs your elder needs help. (See source below)

The real challenge facing elders and their loved ones, is the ability to differentiate normal aging, from the warning signs that something may be wrong, requiring some form of intervention. It is important to note that we all have a bad day - our hair in uncombed, we forget an appointment, or we feel depressed; however a recurrent pattern may indicate a problem.

We are providing a list of some questions that may help you evaluate if there is a potential problem, but this list is only meant to serve as a guide. If a problem is suspected, the elder needs to be seen by a professional who can conduct a complete medical evaluation and a geriatric assessment, and help determine the best way to proceed.

1. Is the person experiencing any significant vision, hearing, or memory loss?

2. Is the person experiencing any anxiety, depression, or phobias?

3. Is the person oriented to time, place, and person?

4. Is the person able to read, write, and use the telephone without difficulty?

5. Is the person able to use public transportation, or arrange to take a cab?

6. Is the person able to perform routine housekeeping tasks (e.g. laundry, cooking, cleaning)

7. Is the person able to handle maintenance needs?

8. Is the person able to prepare meals and eat regularly?

9. Is the person able to bath independently?

10. Is the person able to dress appropriately?

11. Is the person able to manage their own finances?

12. Is the person able to handle their own banking and financial needs?

13. Is the person able to write checks & balance their checkbook?

14. Is the person able to exercise good judgment, and make sound decisions?

15. Is the person able to manage their own medications?

16. Is the person able to go shopping for groceries?

17. Is the person able to maintain relationships with family and friends?

18. Is the person able to walk, climb stairs, and remain standing?

19. Is the person able to easily and safely get up and down from a chair?

20. Is the person able to fall asleep and stay asleep?

21. Is the person able to remember family names, and appointments?

22. Is the person able to safely see & operate appliances?

23. Is the person able to drive?

24. Is the person able to hear the phone ring, and understand a conversation?

25. Is the person able to participate in leisure activities?

26. Is the person expressing any issues or concerns?

27. Is the person experiencing a sudden weight loss or gain?

28. Is the person experiencing any health concerns?

29. Is the person experiencing any bruises or cuts?

30. Is there any evidence that the person is the victim of fraud or abuse?

from caregiverresourcecenter.com

Some Of The Best Exercise I’ve Ever Had

De-cluttering my childhood home and staging it for sale has given me some of the best exercise I’ve had in a long time.

As we have emptied more than equivalent of 12 closets full of clothing, de-cluttered 12 rooms, and staged the entire house, I’ve been exercising constantly because the house is two stories and there’s also a large basement so I’ve been climbing up and down two different flights of stairs for four days – nonstop!!

Removal of Family Photos Is The Hardest

The hardest part of decluttering my childhood home in preparation for listing it for sale is the removal of all the family photos. Each time someone took down a photo I felt as though I was dying or that I was being killed.

Although the house is nice and neat and cluttered now, I feel it has no soul.

There’s no evidence that the Scott family ever existed. It’s a very dark feeling.

Using a dumpster for clearing the clutter is not always a good idea

As I evaluate it options for decluttering my childhood home, I considered renting a dumpster that would sit outside in front of the house. Many of those whom I consulted cautioned me on the downside of selecting this option now. What they explained is that typically when someone rents a dumpster, anyone who lives within an 8 mile radius we’ll add their junk to the bin. I never even considered that reality.

What we have decided to do is to temporarily convert the garage into a storage area for all the junk. Once the house is free of all that junk that is in the garage, and then I will hire a dumpster company to bring a dumpster into the alley right next to the garage.

Hiring a dumpster is very expensive; I want to make sure that I get the full use of this service.