The Stuff of Life

See Sept. 16, 2010 New York Times blog: When Possessions Lead to Paralysis

The first study of its kind into how older Americans downsize their possessions is revealing how complex a process it is. David Ekerdt leads the study at KU with assistance from sociology graduate students Gabriella Smith and Aislinn Addington.

Are older Americans prisoners of their stuff? They are, says KU Gerontologist David J. Ekerdt, if it keeps them from living as independently, safely and healthily as possible.

Ekerdt is studying what he calls household disbandment for the National Institute on Aging with colleagues Mark Luborsky and Cathy Lysack at Wayne State University in Detroit. The Household Moves Project is following 150 individuals and couples 65 years and older in Greater Kansas City, Lawrence, Kan. and Detroit from the decision to move to a smaller living space, during and after the move.

We lose the ability to manage our thousands of household possessions
—as well as our households themselves
—and this can stop us from to moving to a safer neighborhood, nearer to family members, or into assisted living, Ekerdt explained.

“Geriatricians, social workers, retirement community directors and family members firmly believe this,” Ekerdt said. The project has even garnered interest from national retirement community owners Erickson Living and Brookdale Senior Living.

One of the most intriguing findings so far is that even though releasing things that define and express us can be emotional wrenching, the process can be ultimately very gratifying, Ekerdt reports. “You are choosing who you are next going to be.”

The study, the first of its kind, will help inform public policy, practice and businesses that serve older Americans.

Want to participate? www.lsi.ku.edu/household_moves.shtml