Moving is one of the most stressful events most people will experience at least once in their lifetime. But moving for seniors adds another level of challenges and difficulties. There could be any number of reasons why senior citizens would want to relocate.
Perhaps there are too many unused rooms, or the maintenance work is overwhelming and expensive. Many seniors choose to move closer to their children and grandchildren, and others are tired of cold winters and are ready for the year-round sunshine.
Whatever the reason, planning a low-stress move takes time and research. There are many elements to consider in this process, so here’s everything you should consider when preparing for the big move.
Moving for Seniors
Step 1: Evaluate Your New Space
There’s no point in planning a move if you haven’t found a new home, which might take some time. However, many seniors can’t see their new home in person and may have only had the virtual tour.
The same applies if they are moving to a retirement community. Therefore, it can be tricky to evaluate if the actual space is vastly different from your current home. In most cases, people are downsizing and not moving to larger homes, so they need to adapt.
To avoid any surprises, consider asking a real estate agent for the floor plan of your new place. Also, ask the management of the retirement community about the storage space.
It can feel impossible to proceed with the moving process without having these details. Judging the space based on photos alone is not a reliable strategy. Imagine bringing your sofa with you only to learn it can’t fit into the living room.
Step 2: Consider Asking for Help
Moving can be problematic enough for younger people and downright exhausting for seniors. Some might be adamant about preparing for the move by themselves, but it’s crucial to stay realistic.
You should ask yourself some tough but fair questions such as “Do I need help moving the furniture and packing boxes?” Whatever the amount of packing work you imagine it will take, it’s usually twice as much in reality.
Some people will ask family members for help, but others might not be in such as position, or they’d rather spare them the trouble. Fortunately, there are other ways you can ask for help. For example, you can contact nonprofit organizations that focus on moving for seniors.
The National Association of Senior Move Managers, or NASMM, does excellent work in helping seniors adapt to their current homes to stay where they are.
Another great resource is the American Association of Retired Persons, or AARP. You can join the association and get excellent discounts for hiring a moving company or free consultations with senior move management firms.
Alternatively, you can hire a professional move manager and outsource the moving process altogether. The move manager will take charge of all the elements of the move, including estate sales, packing, hiring a moving company, and everything else in between.
Keep in mind that these services don’t come cheap. For example, a professional senior move manager can charge between $40 and $130 per hour for their services.
Step 3: Create a Timeline
Whether you’re moving across the country or into an assisted living community in your area, creating a detailed timeline for the move will make all the difference.
Moving for seniors means going through decades of possession and memories, and it’s essential to be sure everything goes smoothly.
The first entry on the timeline sheet should be the moving date. Make sure to take at least two months before loading the boxes in the truck to start preparing.
In this first stage of the moving timeline, start thinking about downsizing and what that would entail – you don’t need to be overly specific yet.
Make sure all the documentation is in order, including all the medical records you’ll need to bring with you. Misplacing critical paperwork is all too easy once the boxes start moving around the house.
This is also an excellent time to set a realistic moving budget and start buying moving supplies, such as boxes, label markers, utility knives, and plastic bags.
Things to Do a Month Before the Move
You should complete several essential tasks around three or four weeks from the move. For example, you can hold a yard sale during this period, rehome possessions, book travel arrangements, schedule move-out inspections, and double-check if the movers are ready.
If you’re using a moving manager, you can reach out and ask if everything is going according to the plan. Furthermore, if you have beloved pets, you’ll need to arrange their transport if the moving company doesn’t offer that service. The same applies to moving plants. Perhaps you can gift them or drive them yourself – either way, make sure to put it on the move timeline.
A month from the move, other vital tasks should include transferring home insurance and notifying banks and credit card companies about your relocation.
Things to Do a Week Before the Move
A week or two before the moving date, the stress level can go up significantly. Moving for seniors should be as stress-free as possible, so the timeline sheet should contain several relevant entries for this timeframe. Around this time, you should manage the packing of particularly valuable items such as family heirlooms.
If you’re planning to drive to your destination, an appointment for servicing your car should be on the list. Also, get rid of any hazardous items or materials. Finally, arrange any final big plans, and clean out your kitchen from unnecessary items.
Make sure to have one box with essentials that you’ll need on the very day of the move. This box can contain clothes for several days, toiletries, paper towels, toilet paper, bedding, tools, phone charger, medications, and coffee or tea.
Step 4: Prepare for Downsizing
It’s never too early to start thinking about what downsizing might look like for you, but taking the actual steps requires getting into the details. Merely saying that you’ll have a yard sale is not enough, as that takes some planning too.
However, starting small makes sense – like decluttering your garage. Throwing away unnecessary and unused items can be a cathartic moment for many. From there, you can start getting rid of any duplicates, which is quite common in the kitchen.
You don’t need to bring three of the same-sized pots or pans, or perhaps it’s time to give away a few coffee mugs. Downsizing can also mean taking the time to give away items to loved ones as an inheritance.
Giving early legacy gifts can be both practical and satisfying. For example, instead of leaving a gold necklace to your granddaughter, why not see her wear it? Also, donating to charities and secondhand stores is an excellent downsizing strategy.
Step 5: Start Packing
It’s nearly impossible to avoid packing-related stress, but it can be minimized. But, again, this is not something seniors need to do alone, as some helpful nonprofit resources and companies specialize in moving for seniors.
Still, if you’re planning to go at it alone or with some help from family and friends, here are a few great packing tips to keep in mind:
Start from rooms in the house you don’t use every day, like a garage, shed, or spare bedroom. Leave the kitchen and living room for last.
Sort items as you pack and remove anything that you can easily replace. If you’re moving to a much larger space, don’t hesitate to clear all nonessential items.
Accurate box labeling is essential. It will help you manage possessions much more quickly once you arrive.
Try not to pack when upset or too stressed. Also, don’t rush the process if possible. Moving for seniors can be a physical and mental burden, and proper pacing is vital.
Step 6: Arriving at Your New Home
When you think of all the time it takes to pack, it can be hard to believe that you need to do everything in reverse in a new place. Of course, unpacking comes with its own challenges, but some ground rules are worth considering.
For example, if you’ll be sharing a space with someone else, talk to them about effectively sharing the space before unpacking. If you’re going into a new residential home, start with the kitchen first, as that’s usually the busiest room anywhere.
Furthermore, if you had no choice but to rush the packing process, take more time for the unpacking process. This can help you get more acquainted with the new space and find the best locations for your items.
Of course, the moving company you’ve hired could also offer these services if you don’t want to deal with unpacking at all.
Moving for Seniors Made Easy
No move will be 100% without a hitch, regardless of planning time. It might be something minor like mislabeling a box, or a moving company might cancel last minute and leave you stranded.
Therefore, entirely avoiding stress is a futile endeavor. However, there are many ways seniors or people in their lives can make moving less of a pain.
Following this guide will provide a simple layout on where to start and which turn to take along the way. And remember that you don’t have to do everything on your own, even when it seems that way.