It started with my father, who downsized in stages over a number of years — a smaller, more manageable home, then a home in a retirement community, and eventually into a senior living facility with managed care. Each move allowed him the freedom to live life as he wanted with the progressive care he needed. Each move meant sifting through decades of accumulated life along the way — the small things that had lost their usefulness. We didn't rush things, just moved at a pace that felt right.

Then came my mother's turn — a longer, harder road. After her first stroke, we spent a year going through caregiver after caregiver, trying to find the right fit, with me making the drive to her home several times a week. Eventually it became clear she needed more consistent, professional care than any of us could keep piecing together. Her home of over 40 years meant a lot, but it no longer matched what she actually needed. We sold it, and today, eleven years and several health setbacks later, she's in her 90s and still going strong.

If you're weighing something similar, I get it — it's more about the pace and the weight of the changes than the decision to sell the family home. That's part of why I pursued my SRES® credential — so I could help families move through this at the pace that's right for them, whatever path they choose.

What came after was the best part — for both of my parents, it wasn't just less to manage, it was more room for the things they'd always wanted to do. Time they hadn't had. Trips they hadn't taken. The outcome is easy to lose sight of in the middle of sorting through boxes, but it's worth every bit of it.