Dealing with the loss of a beloved parent may be one of the most difficult things you will have to do in your life. The unfortunate truth is that many adult children will be responsible for cleaning out the deceased’s home after their loss. It can be utterly heartbreaking to have to spend hours or even days inside the home going through their personal belongings. These are belongings that may have special meaning or memories attached to them, and you may find yourself holding many in your hands for long moments reflecting on those memories. As you clear out a loved one’s belongings, you may find it helpful to follow these tips.
Seek Bereavement Assistance
At the most basic level, clearing out a home is much like preparing to move. You must go through each item to decide whether to keep it, give it to someone else, donate it to charity or toss it away. However, this monumental task is combined with the emotional weight of your loss to add to your challenge. Bereavement assistance is available to provide you with everything from errand running to clutter control and organizing help. Having an extra pair of helping hands from professionals can help you get through this difficult time.
Get Support From Family
While professional assistance is important to have when clearing out the home of a deceased parent, you may also need support from the rest of the family. Other family members are also experiencing this loss along with you. As you go through different items in the home, these are people who may help you remain focused on the task at hand, to reminisce fondly or to make decisions that you may have trouble making yourself.
Stay Organized
When clearing out a deceased parent’s home, you will need to pack boxes, sort and toss items. Some may be shipped to family members and others may be donated or tossed in the trash. You may have many different piles of items, each going in a different direction. Staying organized is imperative when clearing out an entire home.
Let Go
Though each item in your deceased parent’s home may have some memory attached to it, please remember you cannot keep everything. You may have space restrictions in your own home or you may not have a physical need for some things. Be prepared to let some things go by taking a photo of the item, donating to charity, or selling it.
Make Firm Decisions
The process of clearing out a home can take many days or even weeks in some cases. It can take much longer if you must revisit each item multiple times. As a good rule of thumb, touch each item only once if possible. If not possible, place it in the Revisit Pile for a later time. For everything else, make a firm decision about what to do with an item and move on.
It can be heartbreaking to go through a deceased parent’s home, but it can also be a physically exhausting and labor-intensive process. These tips can help you navigate through this challenging period a little easier and complete the task in front of you.
Image credit: Monica Prandoni
Connect With Me!