Sabrinas Organizing

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home Organization
  • Healthy Recipes
  • DIY Home Projects
  • Browse Gift Ideas
  • Donate Stuff
  • Recycling Events 2025
  • Solution Consultations
  • Virtual Organizing
  • Disclosure Policy and Cookies
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home Organization
  • Healthy Recipes
  • DIY Home Projects
  • Browse Gift Ideas
  • Donate Stuff
  • Recycling Events 2025
  • Solution Consultations
  • Virtual Organizing
  • Disclosure Policy and Cookies
×
Home » Home Organization » Paper Management » Setting up Paper Management with Aging Parents

Setting up Paper Management with Aging Parents

Last Modified: January 12, 2023 Sabrina Quairoli This blog uses cookies. It also has affiliate links. We earn sponsored content income.

Setting up Paper Management with Aging Parents featured image

Now that we have started helping downsize our parents, we will need to help them with paper management. Paper management for aging parents is much more helpful when they are healthy, but it helps when they are not. So, this paper management process is critical for everyone involved, including your aging parents. This task can be difficult for a parent to manage, so here are tips to help your parent with paper management.

Jump to:
  • Create an in-bin system for mail that comes into the home.
  • Make a Bill-Paying Area.
  • Make filing papers an easy process.
  • Create a Tax Accordion Folder.
  • Create a vital document filing system.
  • Why is it important to make effective paper management systems?
  • Visit our other posts on the topic of paper management!

Create an in-bin system for mail that comes into the home.

If your parent has issues keeping track of the mail coming into the home, create an area that will hold mail. You can make it easy or as complicated as needed. Be sure to ask your parent what they do when they pick up the mail.

Do they place it on a chair (Affiliate Link)?

Is there a place next to the door to store incoming mail?

Do they place it in their office?

Where is there filing cabinet (Affiliate Link)? Is it in the basement? Can they get to it easily?

Whatever process they use, making a new system that is close to that process will help them apply the further steps easily. Making sure their filing cabinet (Affiliate Link) is near where they will be doing bills helps keep papers from getting lost or misfiled.

We found that because my inlaw did her bills near the kitchen table, having a place to file papers nearby helped her greatly.

Visit our other posts about incoming mail tips and entryway organizing below.

4 WAYS TO ORGANIZE INCOMING PAPER MAIL

WHAT TO KEEP IN YOUR ORGANIZED ENTRYWAY LANDING ZONE

Make a Bill-Paying Area.

Having all the items, they need in a bill-paying area will help them pay the bills quickly and easily. Organizing the pens, papers, checks, etc... will help remind them what to do. Setting up auto payments for credit cards, auto, and mortgage, works excellently, and they don't have to do a thing about it. Contact their banks to see what they offer to make your parent's life easier. Here's a checklist (Affiliate Link) I created to help you set up a bill-paying station for your parent. Feel Free to visit the post for more details.

what to keep in your bill paying station checklist

Make filing papers an easy process.

Subdividing and making a filing system too detailed may be an issue for your parent. So, try having them put all their bills in one folder that says, "paid bills." Then, have another folder that says "charitable contributions." And one that says, "Medical." Making the folders contained and with a lid works great too. It can also be portable if you want. Like the ones below from Amazon (Affiliate Link). (affiliate links)

Create a Tax Accordion Folder.

Create a tax accordion folder (Affiliate Link) using tabs (Affiliate Link) that relate to their situation. Keeping the system the same each year will help them find things more accessible as the years go by. Visit our post called "HOW LONG TO KEEP TAX RECORDS AND HOW TO ORGANIZE THEM" for step-by-step instructions to help you set one up for them.

Create a vital document filing system.

Make a system that will hold all their essential documents. Here is a list of necessary documents to help you. Storing these documents in a fireproof safe (Affiliate Link) at home or in a safe (Affiliate Link)-deposit box at the bank works excellent. Note: if you use a safe (Affiliate Link) deposit box, make sure you (as the child) have your signature on file at the bank allowing access to your parent's account. If you are not a signer on the safe (Affiliate Link) deposit account and your parent passes, you will not have access to any papers in the safe (Affiliate Link) deposit box. Read more about what happens here. Click on the image below to visit this image's post.

IMPORTANT Documents To Keep In A Safe Place infographic

Why is it important to make effective paper management systems?

Setting up an effective paper management system for your parents can be frustrating but wouldn't you want to be safe (Affiliate Link) than sorry? Here are additional tips for helping your parents with their paper management system.

  1. Speak calmly with your parent about setting up a new system. No judgment about how they have managed their bills. Reach out and say you are willing to help.
  2. Do the steps above over time. Six months to a year works well without getting frustrated and tired. Making the paper management system a smooth process works best for them and you. Keep in mind this may not be their favorite area to work in. So go at their pace.
  3. There may be documents in various parts of the home. Make a temporary file so as you gather the paperwork, you will have a place to store them until you find them all.

I hope this helps keep your parent's papers organized. Have you organized your parent's documents? Do you have any tips to share? Or any questions? Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.

The Complete Series:

Feel free to visit the rest of the posts in this series:

THE DOWNSIZING TALK WITH AGING PARENTS

TIPS TO HELP YOUR PARENTS DOWNSIZE THEIR STUFF

HELPING YOUR PARENTS WITH MONEY MATTERS

TIPS TO HELP YOUR PARENTS WITH PAPER MANAGEMENT <<THIS POST!!!!

HELPING YOUR PARENTS WITH ONLINE ACCOUNTS

TIPS TO HELP YOUR PARENTS WITH LEGAL DOCUMENTS

Visit our other posts on the topic of paper management!

  • How to Use a Color Coding System to Organize Your Home or Office - square image
    How to use a color coding system to organize your home or office
  • 14 Easy Tips for Organizing Long Term Files in Your Home and Business - Square image
    14 Easy Tips for Organizing Long Term Files in your home and business
  • 7 Ways to Manage Papers Clutter Free - square image
    7 Ways to Manage Papers Clutter-Free
  • Easy Ways to Organize Warranties and Manuals
    Easy Ways to Organize Manuals and Warranties
Setting up Paper Management with Aging Parents square image
(Visited 1,491 times, 13 visits today)

More Paper Management Tips

  • The Best Way to Organize School Papers at Home - square image
    The best way to organize school papers at home
  • How to Keep a Family Command Station Organized - square imag
    How To Keep A Family Command Station Organized
  • Effective Ways to Organize Incoming Paper Mail
    Effective Ways to Organize Incoming Paper Mail
  • How to Organize Important Documents in a Fireproof Safe
    How to Organize Important Documents in a Fireproof Safe

About Sabrina Quairoli

I love sharing my passion for organizing life and home. I hope you get inspired when visiting my home organizing tips, quick weeknight recipes, party planning ideas, and DIY organizing projects. Visit the About Me page to read my story.

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Krystyna Lagowski says

    August 10, 2016 at 4:16 pm

    What a great idea for a blog post! When my mother became elderly and somewhat forgetful, she knew it and tried to organize her bills and papers. But she was very secretive about some of them. I respected her privacy and only rounded up the ones she needed help with, which made a huge difference.

    Reply
    • Sabrina says

      August 10, 2016 at 4:27 pm

      Thanks for sharing, Krystyna. You did great. Being sensitive to your parent is the best choice. You don't want to upset them in such a touchy situation.

      Reply
  2. Erica says

    August 10, 2016 at 10:33 am

    I think this is good advice for almost anyone. Most of us could probably use some help in being more organized. Some years ago, I had a short-lived job helping an older woman organize her papers. She was a very vibrant and active woman, but she saw the value in getting things organized.

    Reply
  3. Sushmita says

    August 10, 2016 at 3:19 am

    Sabrina my parents are the ones from whom i inherited the quality of being planned and organized. But the above article needs to be shared with my husband he's the most messiest of all.

    Reply
  4. William Rusho says

    August 09, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    This is so important. Bills can be easily missed, and if they are then things like insurance etc can, and will be cancelled.
    Having an area just set up for them, can be a life saver.

    Reply
  5. RoseMary Griffith says

    August 09, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    I'm with Donna--my husband needs these tips. I'm neurotically organized with this stuff. He? Not so much. I'm still wondering where he put our marriage certificate!

    Good tips.

    Reply
  6. Phoenicia says

    August 09, 2016 at 2:55 am

    My mum is still relatively young so manages her own paperwork with ease. I would encourage her to shred documents going back several years. For some reason she feels she has to keep hold of them just in case.

    Reply
  7. Ken Dowell says

    August 08, 2016 at 6:00 pm

    This is all really sound advice but I would question one thing. I'm not sure setting up automated bill paying for older persons is a good idea. They are very likely to be unsure about how to stop the automated payments and may also just simply forget that they are paying for something that maybe they don't use or want anymore. I know that in the past I have been surprised to find that I was still paying for something that I had long forgotten, like a subscription.

    Reply
    • Sabrina says

      August 08, 2016 at 6:23 pm

      Good point, Ken. I know several retirees that prefer doing automated payment for things like car payments or rent because they don't wish to write checks on a regular basis. But, of course, it should always be discussed with the parent to see what works best for them. Creating a list of automatic payment accounts including the bills name and the associated credit card will help keep the auto payment bills under control. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

      Reply
  8. Catarina says

    August 08, 2016 at 4:23 am

    Sounds like good suggestions for helping your parents with paper management, Sabrina. Unfortunately my parents passed away a long time ago so I cannot help them. When father died mummy didn't even know how to pay a bill. She was used to just giving them to daddy who took care of them. So we had to show her how a bill was paid.

    Reply
    • Sabrina says

      August 08, 2016 at 10:18 am

      Thanks for sharing, Catarina. It's not surprising that your mom didn't know what to do with the bills. I have heard many stories like yours.

      Reply
  9. Donna Janke says

    August 07, 2016 at 7:45 pm

    Some of us need this tips for ourselves, never mind our parents! My parents have been dead for well over ten years, but even if there were still alive I think it is I who needs these tips more than they do. My mother was very organized.

    Reply
Sabrina owner of Sabrina's Organizing and Admin Services

Hey, I'm Sabrina!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog, where you can find Home Organizing, Quick Weeknight Recipes, and DIY Craft Home Organizing Projects. Feel free to browse around to get motivated to improve your home life!

Learn More
Sabrina Morresi Quairoli Received the NAPO Certificate of Study for Essentials of Productivity - digital badge
Sabrina's Organizing Supporting individuals since 1997 BANNER 25 year banner
Ready to Streamline Your Home - Get this year's Declutter Challenge ebook for Free long image

Recent Posts

  • DIY Family Command Center Layout Idea - square image
    DIY Family Command Center Layout Idea

  • a woman looking up to a sunset - title of post at the top right corner - square image
    61 Positive Affirmations To Start Your Day

  • Bathroom sink with drawers and a title of the post at the top right corner - square image
    Powder Room Organization Challenge

  • a girl in cap and gown smiling and the title of this post at the top left corner of square image
    The Best Most Useful High School Graduation Gift Ideas for Her

Popular Posts

  • Yummy Curry Chicken Salad Recipe
  • Places To Donate Jewelry You Do Not Want
  • The Ultimate Cruise Packing List Everyone Needs
  • 43 Positive Mantra Sayings to Keep You on the…
  • This Year's Recycling and Shredder Events
  • 13 Ways to Make Your Bedroom An Oasis
  • Incredibly Easy Tips for Organizing An Older Adult's Home
  • Welcome to Sabrina's Organizing
  • 7 Book Storage Solutions For Small Spaces
  • Powerful Professional Organizer Advise For New Organizers
Get your free copy of our Home Management binder ebook
Get our Holiday Season Planner to help you save money and time with free checklists and Printables to make this season amazing

Amazon Disclosure

Sabrina's Organizing blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Sabrina’s Organizing Web Stories

Click on this badge to learn about what this badge means on NAPO.net

Sabrina's Organizing & Admin Services Registered & Insured through 2025

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy and Cookies
  • Google Analytics Privacy Statement and Opt-Out Option
Sabrina's Organizing Supporting individuals since 1997 BANNER 25 year banner

Newsletter and Certifications

  • Sign Up for emails and updates
  • 2024 NAPO Business Stamp of Approval
Sabrina Morresi-Quairoli received Essentials of Productivity Certificate of Study from NAPO.

Contact

  • Contact
  • Solution Consultations
  • Virtual Organizing Consults
  • Write for Us
Productivity and Organizing Blog Carnival Ultimate Star Blogger Member

Sabrina's Organizing,  Sabrina's Admin Services, Organizing on a Dime, and Recipes to Chew On blogs by Sabrina Morresi-Quairoli is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2011-2025. Sabrina's Organizing Blog content by Sabrina Morresi-Quairoli is licensed. Based on work at Sabrina’s Organizing blog, social media content, and newsletters shared, permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available when contacting me.

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}