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Transitioning to a new home can induce stress across all ages, but it often amplifies for seniors who have gathered possessions over many years. Anna Novak, a specialist in downsizing, helps older adults in simplifying their living conditions. VOA's Faiza Elmasry brings us the story from Alexandria, Virginia.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptCONNECT Senior Move Manager (TV)
HEADLINE: Senior Move Manager Assists Elderly with Stress of Downsizing
TEASER: Downsizing expert eases transitions for elderly, relieving stress
PUBLISHED AT: 12/04/2023
BYLINE: Faiza Elmasry
DATELINE: Alexandria, Virginia
VIDEOGRAPHER: June Soh
PRODUCER: June Soh, Zdenko Novacki
COURTESIES:
SCRIPT EDITORS: AK, MJ
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:59
VID APPROVED BY: AK, MJ
TYPE: VPKGF
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((Eds: This is a self-narrated feature.))
((INTRO))
[[Transitioning to a new home can induce stress across all ages, but it often amplifies for seniors who have gathered possessions over many years. Anna Novak, a specialist in downsizing, helps older adults in simplifying their living conditions. VOA's Faiza Elmasry brings us the story from Alexandria, Virginia.]]
((NATS))
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
Hi, come on in.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
Do you want to go over the plan?
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
Yeah.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
Okay.
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
It would be good.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
I brought you your own copy.
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
Yeah.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
You can look at it while we're talking. Starting today, we have less than three weeks to go. So, today is Wednesday and we're going to look at the kitchen kind of briefly.
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
Okay.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
We're going to take a peek into your storage room downstairs. And then we're also going to go around the house and look at all the furniture that you're taking with you to your apartment. And we're going to put a piece of green tape. So, we're going to start that process and…
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
It’s just to identify the pieces that the movers will take.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
Right, and we have a floor plan that we're working from, but we're going to compare the floor plan with the furniture you have. And we're going to agree that we agree with the floor plan.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
Ready?
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
Yeah.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
All right.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
My name is Anna Novak. I'm a senior move manager and I specialize in helping seniors and older people downsize.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
It's just going to be too big.
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
It’s too big.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
Yeah, it's going to be too big for your space. And we'll have to just allocate space for the things that you choose off of here. So, we'll sort through this, and we'll take what you
want from it. But this is not going to go to the apartment, but this is going to go to the apartment.
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
And the four chairs.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
And the four chairs. Okay, so I'm going to put tape on the table and all four chairs. And then what about the rug?
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
Yes.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
Okay.
((Leonard Johnson, Client))
I'm a retired government scientist. I am living at the present time in a four-bedroom house in Alexandria, Virginia. My wife recently died, six months ago, and I have to downsize.
When I realized how much stuff I had accumulated over 35 years and that I was moving to a two-bedroom apartment, I panicked. I really realized this is a near impossible task without some help. And it was great relief that I was able to find someone who was an expert in downsizing.
((Anna Novak, Senior Move Manager))
The number of people requiring these services is really growing because a lot of people are coming into this age of, you know, over 60, over 70, and a lot of them want to downsize or they need to downsize for health reasons or economic reasons. And they need help.
((NATS))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Alexandria, Virginia
Embargo DateDecember 4, 2023 17:38 EST
Byline
Faiza Elmasry, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
