Moving house is an event that can cause a lot of stress, especially if you’re leaving behind a home that you’ve lived in for a long time, with lots of memories attached to it. So, our senior years aren’t the best times to go through this kind of event, but it is often necessary when seniors need to downsize to a more manageable house or apartment, or move into a senior living or assisted living community.
If you have a senior family member that’s moving house, here are some tips to help it go smoothly.
Downsizing belongings
If your parent is moving into a smaller home, then they will likely need to get rid of some of their furniture and other belongings. Deciding what to get rid of can be emotional and challenging, so make sure you’re there to support them through this. Help them make the tough decisions and reminisce on good memories in the meantime. Hopefully you’ve got an idea of the size and floorplan of their new home, so make sure you keep this in mind when deciding how much to keep.
Pack methodically
Once you know what has to move to the new place, it’s time to get it all organized and packed up. It’s a good idea to take it room by room. You don’t have to tackle it all in one go. Pack things in boxes and label them clearly so you know what each box contains. It can be a good idea to label each box with the name of a room so that you or the movers know where to put each box when moving stuff in.
Hire professional movers
You may be able to save money by not hiring professional movers, but seniors may not have the mobility or strength to load up a hired moving truck themselves. If you’re helping them move, don’t put all of this on yourself. Hiring professional movers helps make the process much easier and less stressful.
Pack an essentials kit
When you first move into a new home, all of your things are in boxes and you’re probably too tired to unpack and start organizing right away. So, it’s a good idea to pack one box or bag with all the things you’ll need when you first move in. This could include any medication you need, essential toiletries, toilet paper, a couple of mugs for making a hot drink, pajamas, and anything else you might need in that first day or two.
If you or a loved one are looking for a senior living facility to accommodate changing needs, then contact Brookstone Terrace of Woodruff to find out more about assisted living in Woodruff, SC.