Lessons from three decades of caring for aging loved ones from afar. It started in 1995 — following multiple ten-hour trips over four years after my mother-in-law’s stroke. My father-in-law was managing with a home health aide, and for a while, it worked. Family members all lived out of town and had jobs that didn’t allow for extended stays to check in.  We discovered the home health aide that was offering care, cleaning, driving to doctor appointments and helping with bills

If you're helping aging parents manage their finances, here's an uncomfortable truth: when you need to access funds from their life insurance policies, you may face unexpected delays and bureaucratic obstacles that test every ounce of your patience. I recently experienced this firsthand when my parents needed to access funds from their insurance policies they've held since 1963. What should have been straightforward turned into a nightmare of missed deadlines, system errors,

When I first began the slow, methodical process of cleaning out my parents' home, I'll admit I grumbled. A lot. Mom had saved everything—every card, every magazine, every scrap of paper that had crossed her path before Alzheimer's and dementia claimed her creative and curious mind. What had once seemed like an overwhelming mountain of clutter has become something entirely different: an unexpected treasure hunt that brings me exactly the encouragement I need, exactly when I ne

At Designing Moves LLC, we learn valuable lessons from our clients every day. Recently, one of our team members noticed an item...

There's something magical about finding that perfect addition to your collection. Whether it's vintage postcards, rare coins, ceramic...

Alzheimer’s and Dementia creep into so many families. Having helped families move their loved ones with memory loss, I know it takes a...

Don’t procrastinate! Do a little every day and ask for help along the way. Take time to eat, drink water, and get your rest. We’ve seen...

Sorting Today’s seniors are the greatest generation ever to downsize, so the market can be flooded with items for sale! We have learned...

As I have helped people with their moves, downsizing and estate clean outs I often ponder the role “stuff” has in our lives. We buy...

It's the holiday season and Christmas gift giving is just around the corner! I'd like to offer some solutions for you to downsize while...

In the many years we have helped people move and downsize we have a seen a variety of family dynamics. Thus, this article has been...

Designing Moves LLC is receiving more calls from children out of state with parents here in Iowa than ever before. There is a trend to...

It is the lightest and hardest move of all, especially for clients we have moved before. Creating yet a smaller nest with favorite...

I love the thrill of hanging a client’s artwork in their new home. Seeing a smile on their face and hearing “It looks like home now” is...

…..and I live out of state! This scenario is becoming more common with a growing trend of older adults who have lived in their homes for...

It seems that this long and very cold winter has brought on a season of uncertainty in my own life as well as in the lives of our...

I recently watched “Everybody’s Fine” with Robert De Niro and Drew Barrymore. It was a movie about the “kids” not coming home for the...

My thoughts on the emotional impact of senior moves. After settling Mr. and Mrs. Jones into their new home, we made our way back to their...