Often poor health and failing eyesight result in housekeeping practices that are less stringent than they once were. Tactfully offer to clean things as you sort through or pack, but avoid making your parents feel badly about the home they are leaving. Focus on sorting, not packing. Preparing for a senior move is a major organizational challenge. It is not uncommon to have items going to your parents' new home, to an adult son in Bucks County, a daughter in the Main Line, a granddaughter in Boston, a niece in Dallas, the church bazaar, the Salvation Army, the neighborhood consignment shop, and the township dump.
Many people feel overwhelmed.
It's here, more than anywhere else, that you are needed. Helping your parents sort through and organize their belongings is the single most important thing you can do to reduce the stress of moving, ensure a smooth move, and save money in the long run. Let your parents say good-bye. Constant decision-making is emotionally exhausting. Accept that some days you will accomplish less than you had hoped.