3 Expert Downsizing Tips for Seniors Making a Move to Senior Living
Ready to make the most exciting move of your life? Start here. This guide will help you figure out the best way to move into senior living. There are many parts to coordinate, and it can get overwhelming quickly. Don’t let your upcoming move stress you out. Follow these tips to make your senior living move go smoothly.
1. Organize Everything into Three Piles: Keep, Sell, or Throw Out
There’s a good “rule of threes” that you should follow before you move into senior living. Most of your possessions can be grouped into one of the following categories: keep, sell/donate, or throw out.
You won’t be able to take everything you own with you to your new home. However, you can make sure your items get put to good use after you move.
Sentimental objects and everyday staples will go into your “keep” pile. This pile can either go into storage or move with you into senior living.
Choosing whether to sell or donate depends on the objects in question. For example, clothing would be more useful to donate since most people won’t pay much for old garments.
On the other hand, if you have valuable antiques you need to part with, you can organize a sale. That way, you can make some extra cash and still give your items a new home.
For worn items without much value (sentimental or financial), you can throw them away. There’s nothing wrong with doing a major purge before you move.
2. Make Multiple Lists
When you’re deciding on what to put in your “keep” pile, it might be helpful to make multiple lists.
Write your first list to figure out what you want to keep or store as you move. Then, it would be beneficial to narrow the “keep” list down even more.
You likely won’t have as much space as you’re used to in senior living, and you might have to make some compromises with your items.
As you write these lists, you’ll come to realize which objects really belong with you and which can go. It might even help you come up with ideas for decorating your new place.
3. Start Downsizing Early
Don’t wait until the week before your move to start downsizing.
To avoid stress and frustration, you should start organizing and getting rid of unwanted items as soon as you decide to make the move. That way, you have plenty of time to get everything ready and make tough decisions about what to keep.
Have a Stress-Free Moving Experience
Moving to senior living is an exciting transition in your life. Don’t let the moving process wear you out; start downsizing as early as possible so you can relax once you move.