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Now that we started the process of helping downsize our parents, we will need to help them with paper management. This task can be difficult for a parent to manage so here are tips to help your parent with paper management.
Tips to help your parents with 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 do they do when they pick up the mail? Do they place it on a chair? Do they place it next to the door with the other papers? Do they place it in their office? Whatever process they use, making a new system that is close to that process will help them apply the new steps easily.
Make a bill paying area. Having all the items they would need in a bill paying area will help them do the bills quickly and easily. Organizing the pens, papers, checks, etc... will help remind them of what they need to do. Setting up auto payments for credit cards, auto, mortgage, works great 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 I created to help you set up a bill paying station for your parent. Feel Free to click on the image to visit the post.
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 links)
Create an important documents filing system. Make a system that will hold all their important documents. Here is a list of important documents to help you. Storing these documents in a fireproof safe at home or in a safe-deposit box at the bank works great. Note: if you use a safe 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 deposit account, and your parent passes, you will not have access to any papers in the safe deposit box. Read more about what happens, here. Click on the image below to visit this image's post.
Setting up an effective paper management system for your parents can be frustrating but wouldn't you want to be safe than sorry. Here are tips to work with your parent.
- 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.
- Do the steps above over time. Making it a smooth process works best for them. Keep in mind this may not be their most favorite area to work in. So go at their pace.
- 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 parents documents? Do you have any tips to share? Or any questions? Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
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Krystyna Lagowski
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.
Sabrina
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.
Erica
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.
Sushmita
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.
William Rusho
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.
RoseMary Griffith
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.
Phoenicia
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.
Ken Dowell
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.
Sabrina
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.
Catarina
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.
Sabrina
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.
Donna Janke
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.