Don't Wait to Start Downsizing

LIVING IN RETIREMENT

- Janet Bodnar

While I was working on a column about eldercare (see "Living in Retirement," May), one thing that struck me is that for many families, the caretaking role comes as a surprise. And so, apparently, does the role of clearing out the clutter from your parents' home-or yours.

"By far the majority of people fail to plan, not just for wills and advance directives but even downsizing," says Julie Hall, owner of The Estate Lady, in Charlotte, N.C., and director of the American Society of Estate Liquidators. "They underestimate the amount of time, energy, and resources it takes."

Even if you're not planning an immediate move, it makes sense to start now to make it easier on yourself, your parents, and your adult children when the time comes. The task of whittling down a lifetime of possessions can be paralyzing, but the key is to tackle it one drawer or closet at a time.