Moving from a long-time home can be an emotionally challenging experience for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for elderly parents who have built a lifetime of memories in their home. As children, it’s our responsibility to ensure that the transition is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Here is some advice for helping elderly parents move from their long-time home.
- Start Planning Early Moving is a complex process that can take several weeks or even months to complete, especially when it involves an elderly parent. Therefore, it’s crucial to start planning as early as possible. This will give you enough time to sort through their belongings, decide what to keep or dispose of, and find a new home that meets their needs.
- Involve Them in the Decision-Making Process Elderly parents may feel a sense of loss or anxiety about leaving their long-time home, so it’s essential to involve them in the decision-making process. Discuss the reasons for moving and the benefits of a new home, such as access to healthcare facilities or a more manageable living space. Let them be part of the house-hunting process and allow them to make choices about the new home.
- Buying a home to age in place Aging in place is a desirable option for most people, but is your current home set up for this. If not, you might need to consider buying a different home that meets your future needs better. Learn more about what things to consider like appropriate floor plan and features, senior friendly neighborhoods, and financing options of how to pay for this new home. Learn more here.
- Hire Professional Movers Moving can be physically and emotionally draining, especially for elderly parents. Therefore, it’s advisable to hire professional movers to handle the heavy lifting and logistics. This will take the burden off their shoulders, allowing them to focus on the emotional aspects of the move.
- Sort Through Their Belongings Carefully Sorting through belongings can be an emotional experience for elderly parents, as they may have sentimental attachments to some of their possessions. Therefore, it’s essential to approach the task with sensitivity and compassion. Involve them in the process, and allow them to keep the items that are most meaningful to them. Consider hiring a professional organizer to assist with decluttering and downsizing.
- Make the New Home Comfortable and Familiar Moving to a new home can be disorienting for elderly parents, so it’s essential to make the new space comfortable and familiar. Set up their furniture and belongings in a way that resembles their old home, and decorate the new space with familiar items such as family photos, artwork, and heirlooms. This will help them feel more at home in the new environment.
- Plan for Support Moving can be a stressful experience, both physically and emotionally. Therefore, it’s crucial to plan for support, both during and after the move. Consider hiring a caregiver or companion to assist with the transition and provide emotional support. Enlist the help of family and friends to help with packing, moving, and settling into the new home.
- Local nursing home options: Seniors often face many health issues and will struggle with many of the everyday tasks that impact their quality of life. Nursing homes are a popular and affordable option that can help seniors with long-term care and housing needs, many of which can be found in your community. Unfortunately, choosing the best facility to meet individual needs can be inundating and time-consuming for aging adults and families. For this reason, we came up with a resource to help seniors and their loved ones explore the different facilities available to them, costs, and payment options. You can learn more from this guide here: https://www.senioradvice.com/nursing-homes/minnesota.
Moving from a long-time home can be a challenging experience for elderly parents. However, with careful planning, sensitivity, and compassion, we can make the transition smoother and less stressful for them. Remember to involve them in the decision-making process, make the new home comfortable and familiar, and plan for support. I have the experience and resources to assist your parents with this transition and would be honored to help your family through this process. Reach out to me and we can discuss a plan and move at whatever pace is most comfortable for you and your parent(s).