Don't do this to your children

We went through this 4 years ago and it was a massive headache and time sink trying to give stuff away. Posting online in CL and Offerup "free" was a headache because all the hoarders wanted you to hold stuff for them etc.. and family took their sweet *** time getting what they wanted. I tried the swap meet and that was a waste of time. The only solution that worked a little bit was meeting a guy who had a shop in Tijuana and was willing to take a lot of stuff for his store. If you find a second hand store maybe the owner would be willing to take some bulk. They are usually hoarders themselves and can't pass up free stuff.

My mother in law grew up dirt poor in the Philippines so she could not throw anything away and became a hoarder here in the States. After the FIL passed and we were stuck with her it took us months to get all of the trash out of her home to renovate and sell. The whole time she fought us for every scrap of broken junk. I finally got an industrial dumpster delivered and filled it twice. I would still catch her digging stuff out of it and pleading to keep it. It is a real mental disorder.

She has been living with us for 4 years now and half of the garage is piles of her crap. She still squirrels away junk and we have to purge it every few months.

Taking an elderly parent in is a huge commitment. A lot of people think you post them up in front of the tv and water them like a house plant. When you factor in all the driving to and waiting at Dr. Appointments and pharmacies, explaining things they don't understand, making meals, organizing their bills, etc. it becomes a part/full time job on top of your regular life and responsibilities. When they get sick or have a fall it is around the clock care. I takes a lot of mental and emotional energy to balance being respectful while also being firm and taking charge. It also builds a lot of resentment towards siblings who live their best lives while you put yours on hold for their parent. I don't regret taking her in but there are days...............

I'm glad you found her a place nearby. I have some friends that took on elderly parents with dementia and it was an enormous ordeal that really requires professional care.