SAN JOSE, Calif. – At 80, Leni Siegel’s rich life is visible throughout the Berkeley, California, home she’s lived in for 20 years – in family photos, old theater programs from performances she attended and books she’s collected over the years. Now, feeling overwhelmed by it all, she’s facing the difficult task of deciding what to keep and what to let go.
“I still have a ways to go,” she said, “but I feel lighter.”
Too much stuff can lead to problems as people age. Increasingly older adults aim to stay in their homes – about 88%, according to research from the University of Michigan – and maintaining a space that is safe, clear and accessible becomes increasingly important. Too much stuff increases the risk of falls that undermine older adults’ ability to live independently, a 2023 study by researchers at Mississippi State University found…