Should Empty Nesters Who Like Collecting Downsize, Upsize Or Stay The Same Size When Buying a New Home

Are You Ready To Downsize ?

Empy Nesters Should You Downsize. Upsize Or Stay in The Same Square Feet? 

Many couples labor over whether they should "downsize" , "upsize" or stay the same size when changing homes after the kids are grown up.  To help you decide what to do I need to ask you (and others you might live with) a critical question.... Are you a hopeless collector/saver? Additonally, do you (or mate) go to Tag sales and Flea Markets regularly?

Time To Let Go And Move On...Maybe 

STOP right here if you you are indeed a shopper, collector and bona fide saver. Unless you are ready to throw out your kid's report cards from kindergarten (your kids are married with children) or dump old appliance parts...you are not truly downsize ready. The leap to a truly smaller home or apartment needs to happen gradually...when you are serious!

This is not to discourage you from moving to the Condo/cottage /apartment etc of your dreams, but to realize that downsizing takes time.

Downsizing A Home Is A Process

Downsizing is a process.  Stage one is to begin to de-clutter the family home you are living in while you are exploring new home options. You will never be totally ready for the move, so give up on the idea of getting the purging all done in time for a move. STUFF will come with you no matter what. Accept the fact that you will be revisiting your junk (the stuff you didnt get to) in your new place.

Stage two is sorting out things in your new home and thinking about a smaller place the next time you are thinking about smaller places.  

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Packing Up Mom (or Dad) For A Smaller Apartment: Describing Types of Parents

Helping Mom and Dad Live Safely in A Smaller Apartment  
The art of moving forward lies in understanding what to leave behind.-Seth Godin

I can really weigh in on the topic of packing up mom (or dad) for a smaller apartment because as they say, "been there, done that". My experience with family members and parents of friends is that

you can divide older parents into three categories: (1) Absolute Clutterbugs (2) Minimalists (3) Flexible Flyers (don't know too many in this group).  Those in the Clutterbug category of course present the most challenge because these folks generally have great difficulty with what I'll call spacial matters. These overzealous collectors want to take everything they have previously owned and cram their stuff into smaller quarters. They have no concept of SPACE. They stack tables on top of tables, have six lamps in a room, shove boxes under tables etc. No amount of reasoning is going to help to convince a borderline hoarder to give up their belongings.

So How Do You Help Convince A Parent to Downsize 

You can try to suggest to an older parent that they have too much stuff and that they need to thin out their load....but those words generally do not penetrate. Many parents in their eighties and nineties want to be surrounded by the objects and furnishings they built a lifetime around. You can try to liquidate items behind their back, but that will backfire if your parent(s) are still quite alert and engaged in the world around them.

Use SAFETY As A Way To Encourage De-Cluttering

What sometimes works is to frame the conversation around
SAFETY.  Try saying..."the doctor (nurse, social worker, aide) is worried that your living room has too many pieces of furniture and that your walker (wheel chair, cane, etc.) will not have an easy path to the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom etc." Or you might say... "many people trip over rugs, boxes, clutter and your doctor (nurse, aide etc) wants to be sure you do not break a hip, so lets clear this room out a bit. Rooms cluttered with lots small ineffective lights, fragile items, suitcases etc. can be all be viewed in terms of safety risks. You may have a little luck getting through to a stubborn parent by playing the catastrophe card. Good luc

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Getting Advice On How Much Mom and Dad's Collectibles Are Worth

Figuring Out What To Do With Antiques and Vintage Collectibles From Mom and Dad's Home 

Selling mom or dad's collectibles, art and antiques can be quite the challenge for adult children who are not familiar with vintage.  Just because parents were collectors of "STUFF", doesn't mean that somehow by osmosis their kids know the difference between bric a brac and true collectible vintage treasures.

Take Photographs of Mom and Dad's Vintage Collectibles and Post on I Antique Online.com 

Before you contact a professional (i.e. antique dealer, appraiser, shop owner etc, take pictures with your cell phone or camera. Next, I might suggest that you Visit I Antique Online.com (my site) and post these pictures of what you have in the group "Whadja Find"  as well as in the relevant topic groups i.e. "Depression glass", "pottery" etc. Starting with the general group forum Whadja Find,  you will have an opportunity to discuss what you have with many very knowledgeable members of our site. We now have almost 18,000 members in our antiques and collectibles community. Our revised Whadja Find group has close to 1000 members.

Evaluating The Advice You Get When Asking About Mom and Dad's Vintage and  Antique Treasures

You will discover that I Antique Online.com is a friendly welcoming site with a mixture of members from all backgrounds. We have experts in many areas as well as seasoned collectors who are not afraid to tell you what the bottom line is. Of course this is a social network which means the content is user generated, so you will have to decide if the answers you get make sense. But I think you will find that we are a good place to begin to figure out whether what you have is something special or tag sale or charity bric a brac.

Photos taken by C. Dianne Zweig at the Sandwich Antique Center, Sandwich, Mass.
   
C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Tips When Determining If Grandma's Antiques and Collectibles Are Worth Anything?

How To Begin To Sort Through Grandma's Antiques and Collections


As the editor of I Antique Online.com, I am often sent photos of antiques, collectibles and trinkets and asked "Is this worth anything?". Or "What should I do with my mom's collection of salt and pepper shakers?". Usually when I get an email with these types of questions I ask the sender first if they have a photo or two for me to look at. To be honest, I'm curious myself. I want to see a preview of what they are talking about.

Finding The Special Collectibles

Can you imagine if the person who is contacting me had a HUGE collection of  McKee or Tipp range set shakers? Or if the shoe box of old jewelry they found in a dresser drawer was packed with beautiful highly collectible Bakelite pieces ?

Usually after I get a chance to see a few photos, I write the sender back and suggest to them that they visit my site "I Antique Online.com" and post their question in the group "Whadja Find" as well as in any of the many collectible groups on the site such as "Furniture" "cookie jars" , "Depression Glassware", "Bakelite" etc. Our Depression Glass group is moderated by famed author Barbra E. Mauzy  who has written many books on Depression Glass.

I Antique Online.com Is A FREE Social Network To Help You Figure Out What You Have 

I Antique Online.com is a social network made up off over 14, 000 members who bring to the community a lot of both personal and business expertise. There is no fee to be part of this community and there always is so much to learn from so many members of IAO who enjoy helping out new members. I like the idea of using I Antique Online.com for feedback because, you will get lot's of advice and the community will self monitor the responses.

Many people will advise you to seek out an appraiser or auction house, which is also a good idea, but how do you know who to go to? On I Antique Online. Com we can help with that process as well. Be sure to visit the group "Estate Liquidation" on I Antique Online.com.

Tips When Determining If Grandma's Antiques and Collectibles Are Worth Anything?

1. Look at the item. To your eye does the item look old or new?
2. Is the item attractive?
3. How is it made? Does it look well made? Is it plain, ornate, stylish? Is there a lot of detail and workmanship?
4. Are their any markings, labels, signatures, numbers?
5. Is anything chipped or broken or repaired?
6. If you had to guess what era the item was, could you? Do you remember what years grandma had the item?
7. What is the item used for?
8. Is the item common or  quite unique?
9. Does it look like a fake or does it show signs of age and use?
10. Where did grandma keep it in the house? Was it cared for? Was it on display? Was it used?

Photos are from I Antiqe Online.com  

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Before You Liquidate: Where Elderly Parents Hide Money and Valuables

Where Do Elderly People Hide Money and Valuables In Their Home: Tips For Helping Parents Downsize and Move 

Recently it was reported that a New Haven, CT rabbi found $98,000 hidden in an old desk that he bought on Craigslist. This story reminded me of how often older adults hide money and valuables in secret places. Afraid of banks and hearing family stories about living through the stock market crash in the 1920s and Great Depression in the decades before World War II, many older adults grew up in times when hiding possessions was common.

Helping Parents Pack Up Their Home

If you are a baby boomer, you are probably dealing with helping older parents pack up homes to downsize or move into other residences. I can only tell you from both personal experience and stories I hear all the time that it is not unusual to find money and other valuables hidden in some really quirky places. It would be nice for older adults to share these "secrets" with their children, but that ususally does not happen for many reasons, death of a parent, dementia, mistrust etc.

So if you are involved in helping mom and or dad downsize their belongings it may be wise to review the list below:

Common Places Older Adults Hide Money And Valuables

1. Back of drawers
2. pockets of clothing (jcakets, pants)
3. socks, underwear or junk drawer
4. coffee cans, cookie jars, cereal boxes and canisters
5. cigar boxes
6. shoe boxes, old jewelry boxes, trinket boxes, old tins
7. freezer (ice cube trays, plastic containers)
8. refrigerator
9. medicine bottles
10. artificial plants, planters, flower pots


11. secret pillow pockets
12. file cabinet drawers

  
13. behind pictures/artwork (between backing and picture )
14. mattresses
15. toilet tank in a waterproof bag or bottle
16. buried in the backyard, garage, attic, under flooring
17. pages of books, newspapers
18. hem of curtains
19. lining of a suit

Readers please add your ideas to this list, I will update as I hear from you, thanks.

Visit: http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/group/estatemavenshelpwithestateliquidation

See: http://articles.courant.com/2013-11-23/news/hc-simsbury-millionaires-nextdoor-20131122_1_war-bonds-law-firm-estate

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists
C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of

Helping Mom And Dad Price Collectibles To Sell: What Not To Throw Out

Do You Know If Mom And Dad's "Junk" Are Really Collectibles?

If you are the adult child of  parents who are getting on in years, you may find yourself in the position of helping mom and dad sell collectibles. But do you know what is currently hot and what is not? This article is to help you think more carefully before you toss out some really great collectible items unintentionally.

Defining Collectibles

First I will start with a clarification of what is a collectible.
You will get a variety of answers to the question: what is a collectible?  The simpliest response for our purposes is that a collectible is an item of interest to others that has gained popularity. It can be 40, 60, 70, 80 years old or even five years old. While some experts in the field think of collectibles as items that are from the 50's and 60s up unitl the 80s, I am categorizing collectibles more broadly. To me a collectible is a item that has gained interest by others in the marketplace.

Beanie Babies: Collectibles That Are Collecting Dust

Remember when everyone was collecting Beanie Babies? At the time of the Beanie Baby madness these plush toys were hot in demand. Now they appear to be fur ball clutter in most closets. So "collectibles" have a time related significance. Collectibles can come into importance or become old news.

A collectible like an antique may have significant monetary value(or not), sentimental value or collecting interest to a specific group of loyal collectors. Many "collectibles" are buried in basements and attics and are ignored by owners who are not familiar with collecting trends.

Finding A Jar Of Swizzle Sticks    

For example, dad may have a jar filled with swizzle sticks in his basment that are of considerable interest to the many swizzle stick collectors out there. You may think of this collection as worthless junk but hold on...swizzle sticks are collectible.  Now let us suppose you discovered a cache of swizzle sticks, how would you know if you had common ones or a stash of goodies?

How To Evaluate Collectibles You Discover In The House

 You might visit online auction sites (ebay), selling venues (Etsy.com) , antique stores, markets and social networks such as my site I Antique Online.com to find out what particular collectibles are fetching and which ones seem popular.You can also search the internet for a particular collecting group such as "Emphemera society" for old paper items  or "swizzle stick collectors" for your barware.  Of course you can visit the library and read up so many different collectible topics.  Keep in mind that books get outdated very quickly, but you will still be able to learn quite a bit from expereinced collectors who have written about their collectibles.

What You May Find In The Basement, Attic, Garage, Closets, Drawers That Could Be Collectible  DONT THROW OUT

OLD   =  1960s and earlier  (for the list below)

1. old sewing buttons
2. old advertisng tins i.e. coffee, powder, talc
3. old wooden boxes
4. old wrapping paper (especially Christmas)
5. swizzle sticks

6. old children's books
7. old garden tools(even rusty ones)
8. decks of playing cards
9. corkscrews
10. post cards
11. old greeting cards especially Valentines
12. old letters and correspondance
13. old linens, tablecloths, curtains, aprons
14. old kitchen utensils
15. old razors, barber, beauty items
16. old 45 records with jackets
17. old games and toys

18. old books
19. old Christmas, Easter, Halloween and holiday decorations and ornaments
20. old school related items
21. old office supplies i.e. staplers, sharpeners...even pencils
22. typewriter ribbon tins
23. unused painting sets and coloring books and other art supplies
24. sequined fruit
25. war and military related  items
26. boy scout and girl scout memorabilia
27  souvenir glasses
28. political memorabilia
29. marbles
30. old recipe booklets
31. old catalogs
32. old birthday candles in orginal box

Readers please add to this list, it will be great to hear your experiences.

Photo Credits

Playing card image  http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/vintagejunque/3320985/golfing_scotty_scottie_dog_mini_deck_of_vintage_playing_cards/vintage/ephemera/cards

Birthday candles:http://pinterest.com/turtlelovebug/vintage-birthday/

For more information  

Read :
CARING FOR AGING PARENTS VINTAGE MOM AND DAD http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/older%20adults

If you need help regarding Senior Care Services and Eldercare contact my friend Sheri Morris MSW, ACSW, LCSW a very experienced Geriatric Social Worker. Her website is My Senior Care Connection. 

and http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/group/estatemavenshelpwithestateliquidation

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Helping Mom And Dad Sell Antiques, Collectibles, Art When There Are Beginning Signs of Dementia

Helping Older Adults Downsize When There Are Early Signs of Dementia 

A few years ago, my dad was beginning to liquidate the contents of his home. He began by trying to sell his paintings which he had acquired in his more prosperous years. With a turn in the economy he was hoping to sell off some of his paintings to help pay the bills.

Saying Good Bye To Art And Collections

It was indeed a very sad state of affairs when dad had to part with the paintings he had collected for many years. At that time dad still had his memory and cognitive abilities. He knew how to evaluate who he was getting advice from and he was still actively engaged in the world at large.

Helping Parents Sell Antiques And Collections: Estate Liquidation

But what happens when a parent begins to develop early dementia and slowly begins to slip away from the world at large.  Should they be selling anything on their own? This post is to open up the conversation about helping older adults participate in downsizing before they are having progressed symptoms of dementia. And by all means, keep mom and dad always in the loop, gently helping them with the process.

Keeping An Eye On What Parfents Are Sellng And When

If you are the adult child of a parent who is an Octogenarian or even older you will probaly find yourself involved sooner or later in the care of that parent and the liquidation of  heirlooms, collectibles and valuables. It is best to keep on eye on the situration as early as possible. If you suspect that a parent is starting  to have trouble with memory, activities of  daily living  or managing their household and finances etc. they will certainly need help in dealing with  Auction houses, galleries, Antique stores etc. Even if your parent(s) has modest collections, you still want to evaluate what you have before you accept any offers.

Intervening Early When A Parent Starts Showing Signs of Dementia

The time to step into the situtation is before the symptoms of dementia as described below are observed. However if you find yourself already in the middle of Mom or dad's dementia, you may want to take a more active role in deciding what goes where and when.

You will also need to get legal authority, so be sure to consult an attorney to establish a Power of Attorney so you can advocate for a parent who needs your help.

How I Antique Online.com Can Help With Resources And  Information

If you do not have a background in antiques, collectibles or art you may want to join my free site I Antique Online.com. This is the largest social network on antiques and  collectibles. With over two hundred group forums on every imaginable topic related  to  antiques, you will find lots of helpful information and resources. We welcome new members and you wil find a very congenial atmosphere . This is a great community to help you learn more about the collectibles you are evaluating and the options available to you for liquidation.

I especially urge you to visit a group on the site I Antique Online.com called "Estate Mavens: Help With Estate Liquidation" . I co-moderate this group along with Julie Hasll aka The Estate Lady.

Signs Of Early Dementia

Some of the signs that a parent might show when there are early signs of  dementia are :

1. Confusion about what bills to pay.
2. Paying the same bill several times.
3. Unopened mail.
4. Disorganized workspace.
5. Comfusion on how to use computer and send and receive emails.
6. Pulloing away form uusal activities i.e. reading the newspaper, going food shopping.
7. Not eating and drinking properly, getting dehyddrated.
8. Poor grooming, not shaving, not bathing.
9. Mixing up the names of children, forgetting important events and milestones.
10. Change in personality

Photos were taken at Antiques On The Farmington, Collinsville, CT

Read :
CARING FOR AGING PARENTS VINTAGE MOM AND DAD http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/older%20adults


If you need help regarding Senior Care Services and Eldercare contact my friend Sheri Morris MSW, ACSW, LCSW a very experienced Geriatric Social Worker. Her website is My Senior Care Connection. 

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Getting Help With Estate Liquidation For Elderly Parents

Introducing Estate Mavens: Help With Liquidation A New Group On I Antique Online.com

As the editor of I Antique Online.com, I hear from a lot of people who want to know how to go about selling their parent's stuff. Everyone always asks "who should they call". Antique dealers who have been in the business for a long time and who may own their own store, are quite familiar with the customer who strolls into the shop with a box of "goodies " that they may have found while cleaning out mom's house.

Is Your Stuff Of Interest To An Antique Dealer?

Many shop owners enjoy digging through boxes of "stuff" brought to them by "walk-ins". It's always amusing to me to watch a seemingly sincere customer drag in a box of JUNK trying to convince the shop owner that valuable treasures are to be had!


Who Can You Trust When Trying To Sell Mom And Dads Antiques And Collectibles?

On the other hand, there are those times when a customer arrives to their neighborhood antique shop after dumping out the contents of mom's dresser drawer into a shoe box, and the shop owner realizes that there are indeed valuable pieces of jewelry amongst the junk. A trustworthy dealer will be straight up with their valued customers, but how do you know who you can trust? And let's face it, as the Reality T.V. Shows have demonstrated, you can't be an expert on everything. Some people know documents, others are more familiar with furniture, while others are specialists on jewelry.

Introducing Estate Mavens: A Group Forum

When you are trying to sell off mom and dad's stuff, you need to know more about who you are consulting. I have just added a new feature on my site I Antique Online.com called Estate Mavens: Help With Liquidation a group forum to offer tips and resources with the liquidation of an estate. Here you will learn more about how to deal with mom and dad's stuff.

Co-moderating this new group with me is The Estate Lady, Julie Hall. Please come visit us at Estate Mavens for help when you are coping with downsizing, soriting and selling an estate.
Read More:

How To Divide Your Family's Estate And Heirlooms by Julie Hall

Boomer Burden: Dealing With Your Parents Lifetime Accumulations by Julie Hall

Photos taken at http://www.millerscrossingct.com/

Read :
CARING FOR AGING PARENTS VINTAGE MOM AND DAD http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/older%20adults


If you need help regarding Senior Care Services and Eldercare contact my friend Sheri Morris MSW, ACSW, LCSW a very experienced Geriatric Social Worker. Her website is My Senior Care Connection. 
C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

What To Do With Your Parents Furniture When It's Not Too Old Or Collectible?

What To Do With Your Parent's Old Furniture?

I know you have heard this line before from elderly parents...."I gotta a lot of good stuff and it's worth something".  Oh boy, now this is a topic that needs some discussion. Let's take a visit to Miami,  Ft. Lauderdale, Delray Beach Florida (or other retirement spots  where a lot of our seniors migrated over the years. What do you do with mom and dad's furniture and collections when they are ready to change their residence and move into a smaller apartment, assisted living,  nursing home, return North or move closer to children?

How Do  You Know If Mom Or Dad's Furniture Is Valuable?

What do you do with rooms of old furniture that family does not want? Follow along here. If mom and or dad  are now frail and perhaps also struggling with dementia guess who now has to figure out how to unload decades of furniture and belongings.  While your parent's may still be able to insist that their furniture is "valuable"  you  (and your folks ) may be surprised to learn about  what is and what is not valuable. And if you thought you would just donate what's left after friends and relatives cherry picked the better things .. here is a wake up call.....even if you wanted to give it away.....it isn't that easy..SURPRISE

Vintage Mid Century Furniture Is Very Marketable

So how do you know if indeed you are sitting with some GOOD Stuff. Here is what I would like you to know. MID CENTURY is hot! If your parents still have couches, chairs, accessories from the 50s -60s you may be sitting with some great collectible pieces. But you need to be able to distinguish grandma  looking  things from desirable designs and manufacturers. I would suggest you spend some time online and take a look at reputable Mid Century Furniture dealers. Does what your parents have resemble what you see online ? Do they have Danish furniture? What condition is their furniture in?  Is their furniture stylish or boring?
Do some homework. Also visit my site http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/ and post photos for our community of members to discuss. Don't be bashful....we  like offering help.

You may also do well with Victorian and Art Deco styles.

Forget About Selling Parent's Furniture From the 80s 

Now if what your parents have is depressing 70s or heavy glass furniture from the 80s...you are in trouble. That type of furniture is hard to get rid of. But you can try calling some local used furniture dealers where they live as well as Goodwill, The Salvation Army etc. Note, these places only take furniture in good condition. You may actually have to pay someone to remove your furniture. Make sure you know ahead of time, what their terms are.

For more help on this topic visit: http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/Caring%20For%20%20Aging%20Parents



C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Helping Aging Parents Move :Setting Up A New Residence

Tips For Setting Up A New Home For Aging Parents

If you are the "chosen" adult child who gets to supervise or manage the move of your older parent(s), I want to share some wisdom on the subject while it's still early in the game. You may find yourself moving your mom or dad into a smaller apartment, Assisted Living facility or Congregate Housing etc. .

Set The Apartment Up BEFORE Parent(s) Move In

There is a plus to being able to set the apartment  BEFORE mom or dad arrives. You get to sort through years of accumulation and weed out what is essential and what is not. Not everything needs to come to the new residence. This is the time to set priorities and  take into consideration  critical factors such as safety, practicality and organization.

Suggestions To Help You Move in Mom And Dad 

1. Set the apartment up completely before mom or dad arrives. Many frugal older adults will balk at seeing you bring in NEW things once they have moved in. Buy stuff before.

2. Donate excess dishes, pots, housewares.

3. If pictures, linens, clothing, household items are musty, moldy, soiled, torn, broken ...don't bring them with you unless they are cleaned first. If they do not clean up....toss or thrift them.

4. Make a list of what drugstore and household items are frequently used and buy them ahead of time and store in closet. Example....paper towels, napkins, baby wipes (yes they come in handy), bathroom essentials etc.Buy a few of each so you are not running to the store all the time.

5. Consider bringing some of the clothing to a dry cleaners or laundry before you hang up in new apartment. Many aging adults have not been able to keep cloths fresh.

6. Keep a list in your home of what your parents genera;;y buy for household, groceries, drugstore. Believe me, when their memory gets fuzzy they won't be able to tell you the brands they use.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

When You Clean Out Your Parent's House And No One Wants The Stuff

Tips About Cleaning Out Your Parent's House

I never thought I would get to the point during a "clean out" when I would call in The Salvation Army to retrieve the rest of my dad's furniture and STUFF....and even they wouldn't take it. Let me set the record  straight.....it's harder to donate goods than you think.  I mistakenly thought that I was being a good citizen and offering household items and furniture to a wonderful organization. Nope...they too like to "cherry pick"  the good stuff  from the  not such good stuff.


When You Are Not Allowed To Have  A Tag Sale

In case you are thinking why not just have a tag sale? That option was not available to me because dad's condo complex is in a gated community. Also, Craigslist was too cumbersome to try for the amount of items which remained.

After The Family Picks What They Want (Not Much)
Keeping you informed, I had  already gone through the regular steps most of us are familiar with when downsizing a loved one's home....offering things to family and friends; calling in Estate liquidators, consulting with antique dealers etc.  Now we were down to the STUFF which remained (soiled sofas, over sized silk trees, a rusty patio set, chipped chairs, wobbly kitchen table etc.) and all the loose  bric a brac. The Salvation Army (like other charities) wants all smalls packed. They also require beds, shelves etc. dismantled. The bottom line is that when they arrive they want to be  in and out and want the job to be seamless.

Did You Know The Salvation Army Is Picky?

The clincher is that The Salvation Army is picky. They do not want furnishings that are chipped, soiled, stained,  rusty etc. Nor do they want to spend too much time in your house shlepping out little things. Like any other business that deals in the re-sale of merchandise, The Salvation Army wants to buy what they can sell easily. They are not the Shabby Chic gals who see promise in everything they pick. The Salvation Army has a formula and they are first and foremost business oriented.


Calling In A Junk Dealer To Cart Away Your Parent's Stuff

What do you do when the salvation Army rejects your stuff? You call a JUNK dealer who you will have to pay to take your stuff.  Or you rent a truck and invite some friends to help you haul the stuff away.  To find a reputable junk dealer, ask the condo  association or management where your parents are vacating or look up junk dealers on-line. Many of these companies have names similar to 1-800 Got Junk. You need to do some homework before hiring anyone of course.

Be sure to visit my FREE site http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/  and join the group Estate Mavens (FREE).

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Moving Mom Or Dad: Furnishing Their Smaller Apartment

What Elderly Parents Need When They Move 

What types of  accessories and housewares should you get when moving elderly parents into a smaller apartment or an Assisted Living facility? Many baby boomers are finding themselves re-locating parents  from cities quite a distance from where mom and or dad will be living. ( i.e. Floridians returning to live closer to adult  children up North).  It may not be practical to bring kitchen-wares,housewares and accessories from mom or dad's original apartment or house to  their new  residence.  Instead of moving up old stuff, BUY nice old stuff (nearby). 


Buy Vintage For Mom Or Dad

Elderly parents on a fixed income are usually on very small budgets. If you need to re-locate your parents to a smaller home or Assisted Living apartment you may not want to spend too much money for what may turn out to be a temporary or short term move. A prudent way to go is to to shop second hand.

What To Put On Your Shopping List For Elderly Parents

Let me suggest a few very good ideas about some great vintage items you should buy. When out shopping for mom and or dad think functional, safe and easy to handle.   Here are some items you can buy in a consignment store or Antique Mall or at a Flea Market

1.A nice older juice set from the 1940s or 1950s  (small pitcher and small glasses).
2. Formica table with chrome legs (nice and sturdy and easy to clean).
3. Vintage Tupperware....real easy to find in vintage thrift stores.
4. Older kitchen and bathroom appliances (visit Goodwill).
5. Small tin tip trays (great for putting a cup of tea on or near the bedside for eye glasses, watch etc).
6. Vintage tin serving trays great for serving meals on.
7. Smaller vanity lamps (reasonable and charming to light up dresser).
8. Floor lamps attached to a table.
9. Side tables with rounded corners.
10. Kitchen chairs with arms for support.


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Think Small, Comfy, Safe When Downsizing Parents:

Helping Older Parents Move 

What do you need to keep in mind when you are helping your parent's downsize into a smaller place. The key words here are SMALL and  temporary.  

I know it is a hard concept to swallow, but when you move a loved one into a small apartment whether it is in an Assisted Living facility or a private apartment complex...think  small, comfy and safe. It's important to take along sentimental items, but NOT everything. It's a tough time for
everyone. Sometimes an older person is comforted  
if they know that family members will hold onto some of their keepsakes.


Comfy But Not Cluttered

Those are the three words I would  emphasize...small, comfy and safe.  When you buy or bring furniture do not over do it. Older people

 Always bring a few of mom's favorite things.

who are unsteady on their feet are fall risks. So keep the setting open and airy but cozy. Do not clutter with lots of small tables, plant stands, floor decor, area rugs  etc. that an older frail person could TRIP OVER.

Buying Smaller Scale Furniture


Vintage  furniture is often of smaller scale than what you will find today inmost furniture stores.  If you start shopping around for furniture you  will see that everything tends to be oversized. This style is great if you have a big home, but most  apartments for downsizing seniors are SMALL. This is where it makes sense to visit a Second hand store, Antique shop or Consignment shop to look for  furnishings. Many people do very well buying items on Craigslist.com Some towns have weekly newspapers with classifieds as well. Look for comfortable and safe furnishings i.e. rounded corners on tables, solid wood pieces that do not wobble, kitchen chairs with arms.

Read all my articles about "Vintage Mom and Dad"

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Buying A Used Dinette Set For Elderly Parents

What To Look For When Buying Vintage Or Older Furniture For Mom Or Dad

What do you need to think about when you are out shopping for a second hand dinette set for an elderly family member?    Be sure that any table and chairs you are considering are really sturdy. You have to be very careful what you buy for this age group. Wobbly old seniors do not need wobbly old tables. You are probably already aware that many frail seniors steady themselves by holding onto a table or chair when lifting themselves up and away from the kitchen or dining table. With this in mind, look for used or vintage furniture in very good shape.

Inspect all tables and chairs carefully before buying them.
The photo shown here is of a  used Country style table with an easy to clean Formica top. The table top is easy to keep clean,   Make sure the legs on all the chairs and the table are SOLID and sturdy. When buying a kitchen or dining set for a frail elderly person, be sure to have at least one chair that has arms. Again, this is to help the person lift themselves up and away from the table. If you can not find a table set with this type of chair, consider buying one "orphaned" chair to use.

And don't buy a table that is too small either. Remember to leave room for visiting family
members and caretakers.

Be sure to read more articles about this topic at
http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/search/label/%22Vintage%20Mom%20And%20Dad%22

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

What A Good Nursing Home Looks Like When You Visit

How To Find The Best Nursing Home For Mom Or Dad

I know there a many articles on how to go about choosing a Nursing Home for a parent, but I just have to add my two cents into the resource literature. We need to talk.
Selecting Mom Or Dad's Long Term Care 

Often mom or dad  gets directly admitted to a local Nursing Home after some awful event like a bad fall or medical event.
Sixty per cent of admissions to Nursing Homes come from hospital transfers (By the way, you do know that you can always move mom or dad to  another facility after the urgent crisis is over).
Finding The Right Nursing Home

Now  let's talk about choosing a Nursing  Home (a long term facility) when the family has time to actually select the placement? This is the topic I want to discuss with my readers. I have just made the rounds on  many Nursing Homes and can speak from experience (I am also a retired Nurse Practitioner). I am looking for a placement for a family member who is in need of more care than what an Assisted Living placement can offer. This is one of the most difficult jobs you will have to take on.
Medicare Guidelines To Review 

You will find  plenty of important  published guidelines to consider when  reviewing Nursing Homes. For those facts, I urge you to visit:  http://www.medicare.gov/nursing/overview.asp a site that will allow you to check out and compare  Nursing Homes  based on such important categories as "staffing", "health inspections" etc. While this is a very valuable website to look at when choosing a Nursing Home for a family member, I strongly urge you not to base your opinion  entirely on this data. It is only a start. Read more about the limitations of these  guidelines at  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/health/20patient.html?ref=health


Visit Nursing Homes In Person

Those in the know will tell you that you must actually go and visit each and every Nursing Home you are considering. What I found in so many Nursing Homes is that even though the lobbies were attractive and the receptionist in each place appeared  efficient and courteous ... something key was missing! In home after home that I toured, after I got past the entance way the total picture seemed to change.

As I toured many long term facilities, going floor to floor, in a very short time, I felt a sense of sadness and depression (and I was only visiting, imagine the residents who llive there). Something very critical was absent.  That something was a sense of LIFE! Read more to see if you can get what I mean.

What A Good Nursing Home Should Have

The long term care facility that I  really liked the most had the following characteristics that I share with you. 

As soon as I walked into the facility (that I will consider a "model" for what a good Nursing Home should have,  I was made to feel at home. I felt like I was walking into a family setting where several administrative staff members were bantering with each other and also with some of the ambulatory residents who were in the main lobby area. Their conversations were warm and engaging. Most striking was that all the residents of this facility looked well cared for; cheerfully dressed and busy; whether in bed, in the various dining areas, activity programs, clinical areas, or  bright and charming  windowed sitting areas.  The place was lively. There were other indicators of "life"...lots of healthy green plants, current magazines and newspapers displayed on prominent racks throughout  the facility, lots of display boards with hourly  activities written in large letters so residents could see what is going on each hour.There was obvious evidence that an informed Geriatric staff was paying attention to the real and holistic needs of their residents.


In The Nursing Home: What Do The Clinical Areas Look Like? 

In the "clinical areas" the staff wore colorful  uniforms and were truly  interacting with patients in respectful ways. When I was taken around by the Admission's director, she introduced me to the residents that we met along the way. She made the other patients feel like they were part of the community and that they had something valuable to offer. Staff communicated to residents professionally and not like children. I was introduced to ALL staff (nursing, dietary, activities, maintenance etc). I sensed that everyone that worked in this residence was valued and respected.

My guess is that the reason the residents in this facility looked better and appeared stronger is because of the tremendous efforts this long term residence is making to keep their residents oriented, active and involved in their care. There were no patients slumped over meal trays or"vegetating" alone  in beds with no sign of life in site.

I am convinced that older adults even with multiple health concerns can  thrive in the right nurturing environment. Like the green plants I saw sitting on the windowsills, older adults need to be cared for with   lots of attention, sunshine, nutrition, water and love. Visit many Nursing Homes before you make  this critical decision. Your instincts will lead you in the right direction.

Read http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/20/health/20patient.html?ref=health

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists