Safety, ease and comfort are all essential when it comes to moves for seniors. Whether you’re moving your elderly parents, or you’re a senior downsizing and moving closer to family and friends, here are some tips you can take to make the move easier.
Make sure to stay in constant communication with your family or whoever is helping you with your move. This way everyone is up-to-date on what’s going on with your move.
1. Start Early and Have a Moving Checklist
As you get started with moving, one of the best ways you can reduce stress is by creating a moving to do checklist. They’re especially helpful in ensuring you follow certain necessary steps and to make sure things are not forgotten, which can add to stress later on in the process.
2. Pay a Visit to Your New Home
Make sure to visit the new home, several times if possible, at least two months before your move. Whether you’re planning the move to an active adult community or a single-family home, it’s important to pay a visit to the new home and get a sense of what is needed for living accommodations – bathtubs or showers with handlebars, on-site nursing staff, etc.
3. Research Moving Companies
Once you have the information about your move and know the services that are needed, it’s time to start the process of getting estimates. While it might be convenient to call moving companies for estimates, we recommend getting moving quotes online. It gives you and your moving company a written record of the items and services needed, so nothing is accidentally overlooked. Contact at least three companies and make sure one of them is from us. Make sure the moving company has experience moving seniors, this way you can rely on them to be considerate and accommodating to your needs.
4. Have a Medical Plan
It’s important to have a medical plan in place before moving to your new home, especially if that move is out of town. Speaking with your doctors also gives you the opportunity to discuss recommendations for doctors, dentists and therapists in your new community. If the move is out of the county or state your medical team may also need time to forward important health records to your new physicians and insurance providers may need to be switched. This is also the time to schedule any final doctor or dental visits before your move.
5. Book Your Movers
Once you have the information you need from each company, make your decision and book your movers. Try to do this at least two months before your move to get the company you desire. Make sure to review pricing and moving dates while making your appointment.
6. Start Sorting Your Belongings
Now is the time to start sorting and packing the items you are keeping. Sort and label items into 4 different categories – toss, sell, donate or keep. You may want to get family involved for extra help. Have items appraised to help determine if you should sell or donate them. You can arrange for a local charity to pick up any items you are donating.
7. Packing the Items You Are Moving
It can be truly overwhelming to look at your entire home or apartment as a whole. By focusing on one room at a time, you’ll be able to see the bigger picture much easier. It will allow you to tackle one room at a time and more easily approach the entire move. Packing one room also helps you keep things organized and saves you a lot of time when you move into your new place to start unpacking.
When packing, make sure you label each box appropriately with the room name. Put heavy items, such as books, in smaller boxes and light items, such as clothing, in larger boxes.
8. Moving Day
The big day as arrived and with it comes a lot of activity. Talk with your movers ahead of time so you know what to expect. When they arrive verify who they are. You can do this by looking at their uniform and truck for a logo. You can also ask for ID.
9. Settle In and Relax
After your all your belongings have been moved in, you can take time to settle in and relax. As you are unpacking make sure all items are in good condition. If anything is missing or broken but sure to call your movers. Take a walk around your new neighborhood or complex. Become acquainted with any shopping available, such as clothing and groceries. Go to the local library, farmer’s market and restaurants.
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