Senior Housing: Moving Tips

Helping your aging loved ones move to a new place can be a stressful event for them, both physically and emotionally. Following some helpful moving tips can make all the difference in the world in ensuring that your senior is comfortable with the idea of moving into senior housing that he or she will love, at ease with the entire moving process and satisfied with the outcome of the move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Know as much as you can about the new place. One thing that can be extremely helpful is obtaining a floor plan for the new place. This will tell you how much space your loved one will actually have, and give you a good idea of where the big items like furniture will go.
2. Become familiar with your loved one's possessions. Take a detailed inventory of everything that your senior owns, from the largest piece of furniture to the smallest frame. Figuring out what is there will allow you to help decide what he or she can take to the new place as well as those items that will be left behind and most likely will end up in storage.
3. Take photos of the old home as well as the new one. Photos of the old home will refresh your memory of the location of major items in the house so they can be set up the same way at the new place for maximum ease and comfort. Photos of the new place will help your loved one get used to the idea of a new home.
4. Prepare for the move well in advance. Creating a moving checklist early on and determining what your needs are far in advance will make the process of moving go more smoothly.
5. Discuss the details of the move at length so that your aging loved one is not caught by surprise when any developments happen.
6. Be mindful of the emotional and mental toll your loved one may experience when it comes time to go through his or her belongings and decide what should stay and what should go. It isn't easy letting go of things that bring so many memories.
7. Be patient and supportive as you help your senior adjust to the idea of new surroundings. This is a new phase in their life and he or she needs to know that they are being heard and understood.
8. Label things clearly and carefully when packing. Be sure to use smaller boxes and easy-to-handle packing material so that your loved one can actively participate in the process of packing.
9. Hire a moving crew or enlist plenty of help for moving days. When hiring a moving crew, make sure that they are reputable and well recommended. If you decide to enlist friends and family, be sure that they understand the importance of being patient and being careful with your loved one's possessions.
10. Spend a lot of time before, during and after the move helping your loved one adjust to the process of moving. Visit often before and after the move, and provide him or her with all of the tools needed to feel comfortable.

 

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