Decluttering and organizing can feel empowering, especially when you finally tackle that overflowing filing cabinet. But in the pursuit of a cleaner space, many older adults are making a quiet but costly mistake: shredding important documents that should be archived long-term.
Whether it’s driven by identity theft fears or the urge to downsize, too many people are tossing paperwork they may desperately need later, for legal disputes, financial audits, health emergencies, or family history. And once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.
