Moving requires a lot of planning and effort regardless of age, but the process becomes significantly more challenging when it comes to moving your elderly parents.
Whether your parents are moving into an assisted living facility, a nursing home, or another setting, it is critical to have a strategy in place to make the transition as seamless as possible. People tend to accumulate things as they get older – belongings, accounts, you name it – all of which require time to manage. Moving can also be an emotionally charged affair, particularly if your parents are leaving the family home.
Moving is a lot of effort, but there are methods to make it easier and less stressful for everyone involved.
Use this helpful moving checklist to keep things on track, and read the senior moving guidelines to aid your parents during the process.
1. Delegate moving responsibilities
Many elders have spent their lives accumulating significant goods. If your loved one is downsizing, they must leave some belongings behind.
- Begin small. Trying to deal with a full transfer at once can be difficult, especially when the possessions are gathered over a lifetime. Suggest that your loved one begin with a space with little sentimental importance, such as a bathroom or guest suite. This will allow them to relax into the moving process with a strong sense of accomplishment.
- Help make complex judgments. If your loved one has lived in their home for a long time, seemingly insignificant details can appear critical. Take the time to assist your parents in determining which of their possessions are no longer functional or do not offer them joy.
2. Contact a doctor
Let us not deny that old age has obstacles. When making a plan for moving your elderly parent, healthcare should be your number one priority. Inform her current doctor of her impending relocation and get recommendations for a suitable doctor in the new city. Schedule an appointment as soon as she is situated, and make sure to fill all medications before moving.
Do your homework, seek references from their existing doctors, and try to schedule visits as soon as they arrive to avoid substantial wait lists.
- Work with a care manager. A geriatric care manager is knowledgeable about local healthcare providers, in-home care companies, and volunteer opportunities in the destination city. They can also provide specialized medical transportation throughout the move.
- Transfer prescriptions to a drugstore near their new residence. Do this before you move.
3. Consider hiring senior relocation services
If you are unable to accompany your loved one during the relocation process, seek professional assistance. While family and friends are frequently ready to assist with loading and unloading, hiring aid on a moving day is typically worthwhile. Senior move managers specialize in relocating, reducing, and organizing the belongings of elderly people.
- Hire an expert. An independent professional, such as a senior move manager, can help alleviate the emotional stress of moving. Even if you are able to assist your elderly parents with their relocation, having a third person to help make difficult decisions can lessen tension and family disagreements.
- Find a company that caters to elders. The National Association of Senior Move Managers engages specialists with credentials in gerontology, social work, health care, psychology, and project management to provide all the resources needed for a smooth transition.
4. Plan moving transportation to accommodate their demands
Many elderly persons are unable to endure a long road trip without assistance or breaks, while others may require full-service medical transportation. If your loved one cannot drive independently, try driving with them or hiring a transportation company.
- Allow for extra travel time. Multiple stops for your loved one may increase your overall trip time. Ask your loved one on a regular basis if they need to stretch their legs or take breaks on long drives.
- Consider mobility. If flying is the best choice, book nonstop flights for people with mobility difficulties. Contact the airline beforehand if you want boarding assistance, curb-to-gate escort, or special seating arrangements. If your loved one has not traveled, inform them of the safety protocols.
5. Make your new location feel like home
Having familiar belongings and arrangements might provide comfort during times of adjustment. Personalize your loved one’s new space to make it feel more like home.
- Think about how you organize. If the images on the living room wall have been in the same order for as long as you can remember, recreate the arrangement in your new home. (Take photos with your phone before packing up.) Arrange objects in the same order and bring decorations like throw pillows, even if you need to buy new furniture. If the kitchen is small, place pots and pans where your loved one can easily find them.
- Understand the new layout. Make certain of the new location’s dimensions beforehand to know exactly what will fit where. You do not want to have to make complex selections once you arrive.
6. Discuss the perks of your loved one’s new residence
Focusing on what they will leave behind is tempting when someone has lived in the same place for decades. Help loved ones go forward by reminding them of the new opportunities that will arise due to their shift.
- Focus on the positive aspects of your new living arrangement. If your loved one goes to assisted living, highlight that they may relax because most duties, such as laundry, will be done for them. Whether your art-loving mother is relocating to a new location, check whether a local senior center offers painting lessons or if a museum needs volunteer docents.
- Recreate routines. If your parents regularly attend worship services, assist them in selecting a congregation to welcome them.
Moving older people is an arduous task. Not only are emotions high, but the complicated mechanics of selecting how and when to transition to senior housing can exacerbate an already tough situation.
The end note!
Every senior citizen deserves to live comfortably. By taking all necessary precautions to prepare for the relocation of your elderly parents, you may help them begin the new part of their lives on the right foot. Ultimately, remember to properly prepare the new home after completing the most challenging step without incident.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.