One of the best presents Mom gave our family was making the decision she was ready to share a patio home with her sister. The process of downsizing and moving helped the family be able to divide everything according to her wishes.
Most in this generation don't want to think about their own death while their health is good and minds are clear - much less have a conversation about their affairs with their boomer children. Consider these statistics:
Up to $41 trillion will be left by parents of boomers to their children.
80 percent of what we have we never use.
55 percent of Americans have not bothered to see an attorney to prepare a will.
Author Julie Hall became "The Estate Lady" after witnessing a tragic event: friends and neighbors taking possessions from the home of an Alzheimer's-afflicted elderly woman while she passively watched. It became a life-changing experience that guided her to help others to pass down their possessions.
Acknowledging "the hearse doesn't have a trailer hitch," this guide helps adult children with questions and situations that arise when possessions are left behind: establishing a will, naming an executor and dividing an estate fairly. There are also tips on finding an appraiser or liquidator, if necessary. For parents, occasional notes of encouragement are sprinkled throughout.
There are many potential complications. Consider parents who hoard as their health slips, who refuse to downsize or sometimes "let the children fight over" their possessions once they are gone. Others may have stopped paying bills, don't gather important papers or face financial exploitation.
Hall's experiences help families avoid these situations. By proposing ideas to add food, happy memories and a sense of celebration to cleaning and dividing property, she stays mindful of existing relationships and personal self-care.
Children don't escape the spotlight either. With one in 10 households renting storage space a decade ago, suggestions for de-cluttering are included to benefit the next generation.
"The Boomer Burden: Dealing with Your Parents' Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff" is a wide-ranging manual of helpful suggestions based upon years of avoidable experiences. And, for those just looking for essentials, a master checklist and plenty of resources are included.
Ken Satterfield is a graduate student in the University of Missouri's Library Science program and is taking his practicum at the Missouri River Regional Library.