Success StoryDownsizing: The Ins and Outs of Downsizing Your Home



Downsizing: The Ins and Outs of Downsizing Your Home

Author: Mary Hixson

Planning Unit: Garrard County CES

Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)

Plan of Work: Healthy Lifestyle and Life Skill Education

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the average person will move 11.7 times during his or her lifetime. There are many reasons why a person may consider downsizing to a smaller home. In recent years, downsizing has become increasingly common, especially among older adults. Older adults are often interested in downsizing to meet retirement goals, simplify their lifestyle, or to live closer to family. Occasionally, the decision to downsize is one that is based on necessity; notably, the loss of a spouse or an illness may prevent an older adult from being able to maintain a larger home. To increase consumer confidence and the ability to downsize, the Garrard County Family & Consumer Sciences Agent taught the financially focused program/Extension Homemaker Leader Training;  Downsizing: The Ins and Outs of Downsizing Your Home for the eight-county areaEducational emphasis was placed on understanding the steps of the downsizing process; identifying strategies for preparing a home for downsizing; and identifying strategies for preparing for the move into a new, smaller home.  Sixty-seven consumers participated in the workshops. Participants were surveyed following the class and 100% indicated that they learned and understood the steps of the downsizing process; 98% learned strategies for preparing a home for downsizing; and 100% learned strategies for preparing for the move into a new, smaller home. A statistically significant mean difference was calculated in knowledge gained for all three areas measured.  Fifty-four participants reported that they planned to pursue the downsizing process and 62 participants indicated that they planned to use the downsizing strategies learned.When asked the most relevant info learned at lesson some comments included: "there is a time to declutter", "just get started, that seems to hard", "start small", "I learned to let go of emotion attached to items and some steps to do that", "I learned a list of questions to ask myself or someone you are helping that can help with getting rid of something", "I learned how to understand the thought process when dealing with the emotion of 'stuff'".








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