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)

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

Selling My Childhood House is Hard

I knew that selling my childhood home would be hard work but doing this from long distance is especially challenging.

I am reading books on clearing out parents’ estates, de-cluttering, and how to keep my asthma at bay while dealing with all the dust and molds, there.

I am engaging the help of:

A Chicago realtor who works in that part of town
Estate attorney there(who is slow and unresponsive)
My lawyer here
A professional organizer who is one of my childhood best friends
Someone to clean the house, especially my room that is full of allergens
A contractor/mover/handyman/strong guy
Insurance company
Friends of Mom (challenging because the few left are over 90) and charities to come take certain items

I will go to Chicago next week, for a week, with the goal of preparing the house for staging---To list it for sale!

I have been reading Boomer Burden by Julie Hall—The subtitle is Dealing With Your Parents’ Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff. I find it extremely informative, chock full of helpful tips.

I will talk more about my journey and this book in my next post.

Tips for checking on your Mom or Grandmom during your Mother’s Day Visit

Gary Barg, founder of Caregiver.com, offers great advice for your visit to Mom:

To Grandmother’s (and Mom’s) house we go this weekend all across the country to visit our dear moms and grandmas. If you are a long-distance caregiver, this trip offers an opportunity to spend time with loved ones and take stock of how well they are doing on their own.

Some of the things you may want to check on while in the house:
• Is there a good variety of food in the refrigerator?
• That are the expiration dates on the perishables?
• Are the medications being utilized and up to date?
• Is there an emergency medical kit in easy reach of the occupants?
• Are there any safety hazards in the bathroom (are rails needed, are mats slippery?)
• Are bills being paid or are they piled up unpaid in a corner?
• If they have a pet, is there plenty of fresh water and food available? (You may want to contact Meals on Wheels and inquire about the “We All Love Our Pets" program or WALOP; www.mowaa.org)

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