New Jersey - Bergen and Passaic Counties

Spring is a great time for cleaning and organizing. As the trees show their leaves and flowers bloom, it feels good to refresh your home by working on decluttering, organizing and cleaning. Because spring is also a time when people are starting to think about putting their home on the market, now is the perfect opportunity to start downsizing. Lets get started!  Plan ahead This job isnt something for a spontaneous weekend. Planning your cleaning and organizing takes a little bit of work to make it worthwhile. First, decide what your goal is. Do you want to clear clutter from every room? Are you trying to downsize for a smaller home or get the basement organized? Do you want to deep clean your entire home? Whatever your goal is, make sure youve considered all options. Clutter-busting in your bedroom is very different from cleaning out your garage. Second, pick your process. While some people like to concentrate on a room or section of the house, others like to sort like with like. For example, some people gather all the books in the house in one central place and start from there. Others like to start with the messiest place in the house. Use whatever works best for you. Third, decide where unwanted items will go. Can you sell a collection or gift it to a friend? Will you donate to a favorite organization? If you need to trash some things, do you know your citys pick-up dates and rules? It helps to know this in advance so you can work effectively. Finally, gather any supplies you might need. If you are cleaning, make sure to have enough rags, paper towels, cleaning solutions, furniture spray, etc. If you are downsizing, you will want to stock up on boxes, tape and markers. You can also ask for some help from family or friends. To make sure you stick to your goal, take breaks and reward yourself when you get a big chore done.   Tackle one area at a time If youve decided to take on one room or area of your house at a time, choose the one that is the most in need of help. Getting the biggest chore off your plate and finished will spur you on to keep moving to other rooms. One method is to start in one corner and move around the room. This gives your cleaning and organizing a focus so you dont get overwhelmed. You can pay attention to each section of the room, whether youre cleaning, organizing or downsizing. Another method is to actually take everything out of the room and then sort, purge and clean as you put things back. This forces you to see how much is in the room and touch almost every single item.   Try sorting by categories  You can tackle this seasonal chore by item as well. Choose a category and go through it thoroughly and toss, sell or donate what you dont need. This can include things such as: Clothing you havent worn in the last two yearsPaperwork that isnt needed any longer Office or school items such as empty folders or old notebooksUnused electronics that no longer work or are not usedMismatched items including  single socks, storage bins without a lid, etc. Kitchen supplies such as expired spices or long-forgotten freezer items Books that have already been read Old make-up, nail polish or creams that are dated or dried out Use the 4-pile method  The professionals at WayForth often recommend four separate piles to help you sort and organize. These include: KEEP, SELL, DONATE and TRASH and what they like to refer to as The 4-Pile Method. The KEEP pile includes things that you are currently using, are going to take with you in a move or give to a family member or friend.  The SELL pile can be items that are designated for a yard sale or through an Internet sale site such as Ebay. Think about consignment shops or even online auction houses if you have a lot of items.  The DONATE group includes things that will go to charity organizations. Make sure you are realistic about what you are donating; items that are broken or stained will eventually be thrown away by the group.  TRASH is just what the name implies. This is the pile that is going to be thrown out. If you are disposing of electronics, old paint or other household materials that may include chemicals, be sure to know what guidelines you must follow in your area.   Helpful resources for donations If you have a list of organizations that take donations, it can be a lot easier to move things out. Make a list of places in your city that will be happy to make use of your donations. Weve gathered a few national organizations and other ideas to get you started. Habitat For Humanity Appreciates donations of gently used furniture, appliances, housewares, building materials and more. Global Literacy Project Accepts donated books in order to foster community-based literacy initiatives throughout the world. Project Smile Donated baby and childrens items are provided to emergency responders to help ease the pain and fear of children in their care.For those who are giving away items for free in their own towns and neighborhoods,Freecycleis all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Or try your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook.  Dress for Success Provides interview suits, confidence boosts, and career development to low-income women in over 75 cities worldwide. Lions Clubs Eyeglass Recycling Recycled glasses are distributed to people in need in low- and middle-income communities. Cell Phones for Soldiers This non-profit helps connect our troops around the world with their families. Browse the internet for your local animal shelter. They are always in need of blankets, towels, sheets, and soft bedding to provide their rescues with warmth and a comfortable place to sleep during their stay. 

Sometimes its easy to know when a family member needs care and assistance. For instance, maybe he or she has a major disability or requires additional help following a hospital stay. In other cases, however, it isnt immediately obvious that your senior is in need of help with the activities of daily life.As people who have had to wrestle with our own family decisions, we thought it useful to provide early guidance, so other families might know when a more careful assessment of their seniors needs is required.Below is a list of questions to consider when determining if a loved one is in need of additional care: Pay Attention to How They Look Appearance can be a sign that they are being limited either physically or mentally from completing normal daily tasks. Are they wearing dirty or stained clothing? Have they brushed their teeth? Listen to the Senior Listening to how seniors speak can tell you a lot about their current mental status. Dont assume that old age is causing these problems. Have they forgotten to refill prescriptions or take their medicine? Have they missed doctors appointments? View the Seniors Surroundings Looking at their food and medications can help you determine if they are eating healthy or even worse, taking expired medicine. Do they have fresh and stocked pantry items? Are there piles of unopened bills? Use Your Nose Using your nose as an indicator can help you determine if your family member is bathing properly or participating in otherwise normal activities. Does their living environment possess any unpleasant odors? Are they bathing regularly? If you sense a problem based on the above indictors, you and other family members should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps. As difficult as the process might be, keep reminding yourself that by being proactive you will not only provide safety for your family member, but will also keep them happy and healthy for years to come. Editors note: This article was submitted by Patricia Preztunik (201-483-8490) and Rich Fracaro (201-773-4900), local owners of BrightStar, a full-service in-home medical and non-medical agency offering caregiving to seniors and disabled adults. They would gladly provide assistance in these matters.

If youve ever moved, you know its a huge job. Sorting, packing, organizing and dealing with a mover and other vendors takes large amounts of time and energy. But, what about the emotional challenge of moving?  To help you make the most of your experience and lower your stress levels, check out some of our most valuable tips for coping with emotions associated with moving: Acknowledge your feelings and emotions Allow yourself to feel your emotions, to avoid a breakdown. Ask for help Moving is a big deal. Ask friends and family to help you pack and deal with the emotionality of moving. Be thoughtful as you go through your possessions Take the time upfront to sort your items and determine whether to save, donate, or toss to avoid any frustrations later. Take time to really see your surroundings Your home is full of memories. Take time from your organizing and moving to remember all the important things that happened there.  Look ahead Take a trip to your new neighborhood or community and visit local spots. Your move is a new opportunity for discovery and growth.  Speak up During a move, its easy to feel overwhelmed and be swayed by others opinions. Remember to communicate your needs clearly.  Reserve some time for yourself Make sure that you schedule some down time. Breaks can keep your emotional and physical energy going through the moving process.   If youd like to learn how the professionals at WayForth can help with all the aspects of moving such as floor planning, packing and unpacking, downsizing, storage solutions, and more. Contact our experts at 817-697-4478 or go to our website to get started! 

Understanding Transfer Trauma  Moving to a new place is usually filled with a mix of excitement, apprehension and stress. But for those living with Alzheimers disease or dementia, a transition to a new community can trigger a huge range of reactions.  What is transfer trauma? Those facing Alzheimers or dementia who are in the early stages of the disease may encounter this type of trauma especially if they are leaving a familiar home and moving to a new community. Symptoms may be mild or severe and can include sadness, anger, anxiety and depression. There can be more confusion than normal, sleeplessness, poor appetite and even nausea. Family and friends may see the transfer trauma last for a few days or several weeks.  How to Plan the Move You can help mitigate transfer trauma by working with the persons family members, caregivers and healthcare team. Finding the right community for the person and making sure they have the appropriate level of care should also be considered.  Using a professional move management company that specializes in senior moving services can also help. The team at WayForth understands the emotional and physical challenges of a move like this and can help with several services such as downsizing, packing and unpacking, and space planning to lessen the stress on the person moving as well as their family.  Making a Loved One Feel Comfortable Encouraging them to do familiar chores such as making coffee or watching a movie in their new space can help them feel at home.  Joining an Alzheimers support group where you can talk with other families who are experiencing similar things that you are going through can help.  WayForth is a certified senior move management company here to make your transition stress and hassle-free. Our moving professionals handle everything from downsizing, packing and unpacking, to storage. Contact us today at 817-697-4478 or go to our website to learn more!