Handy Tips For Moving Seniors
Often, moving seniors into a new assisted living situation is a sudden change, caused by an unexpected situation. When there is a change in your loved one’s ability to live independently, such as a decline in health, or loss of a spouse, it may be necessary to move quickly. You may choose to do the job yourself, or you may choose to hire one of the many businesses specializing in “senior move management.” Moving seniors can be a stressful situation, but there are ways to reduce the stress on both seniors and their family members or caregivers.
- Plan your space. Review the dimensions and layout of the new space and then measure the furniture you intend to take. Don’t forget to take some things that will make the new place homelike.
- Break the job down into small, manageable tasks, then try to check something off the list every day. The more you accomplish, the more you will reduce your stress load.
- Involve the family. Do the children or grandchildren really want the dining set or the antique farm tools? Now’s the time to find out.
- Manage the memorabilia. Find a way to keep the memories and ditch the stuff. Converting photographs or family documents to digital form is a great job for teen-aged grandchildren.
- Sell or donate. Seniors often feel that everything they own has a monetary value, which may or may not be true. A yard sale converts unneeded items to cash. Immediately after the sale, donate unsold items. If donating is difficult, remind your senior that donating is not just giving something away, but rather sharing what you have with someone who could use it.
As much as possible, keep the move simple, smooth and stress-free. Mayberry Gardens is an assisted living and memory care facility with homes in Garland and Denton, Texas. Contact us today to learn more.