Assisting a senior in downsizing their home can be a demanding process both physically and emotionally. With seniors, it involves a lot of preparation, packing and letting go of emotional ties to their home.
There are many reasons why seniors need to downsize. An example may be that the senior wants to move to a smaller home because their house has become too large to handle or they are in need of moving to a retirement community.
Moving to a new residence is hard to deal with especially with all of the memories the senior is leaving behind as well as feeling they are giving up their independence. It is tough for him/her to decide on what to bring and which items to give to family members, throw away, sell, or give to a charity. The first step is for the senior to accept that he/she is moving to a smaller home, making it impossible to bring everything accumulated over the years.
Downsizing can be less stressful and easier.
1. Knowing the square footage and layout of the new residence will help the senior to understand the space availability. This will help both the loved one and senior to decide together what will fit.
2. Organize items sensibly. Separate the items that the senior uses and things that he/she hasn’t used for a long time or doesn’t have any need for.
3. Strategize. Pack one room at a time. Start with the room that the senior hardly goes into. He/she will have less emotional ties.
4. Keep a record of inventory to stay organized and determine what to…
• keep
• give to loved ones and friends
• sell
• donate to charity
• throw away
Make it a special occasion for the senior. Set up a time of celebration for your loved one’s family and friends to get together so the senior can hand out the special item(s) he/she has selected and why. This will allow the senior to show his/her kindness and feel special.
If the senior’s new home is a retirement community, embrace and create excitement for him/her. Walk through what a day from morning to evening will look like. For example, he/she will meet new friends and create new memories; won’t have to clean, cook or even drive anymore. His/Her new environment will bring lots of pleasure through joining in life enrichment programs, and partaking in exhilarating excursions.
Perhaps utilizing a third party to make the senior’s move easier is the answer. There are moving companies that specialize in relocating seniors and thus making their transition easier.
For additional information pertaining to senior moving experts and to receive your personal moving checklist, contact Natalie Rumer at Pacifica Senior Living Santa Clarita, 661-877-4038 and visit online at www.pacificaseniorliving.com.