4 Downsizing Tips for Seniors Moving to Retirement Communities
It’s time for the big move! As you and your loved one navigate their move to a retirement home, there is one important thing to consider: downsizing.
Your loved one has likely gathered lots of possessions over the years. They may not even realize how much stuff they have — until it’s moving day.
To avoid last-minute stress and hassle, follow these tips for downsizing your loved one’s living space.
1. Hold a Garage Sale
Garage sales are the perfect tool for downsizing your loved one’s belongings. Their possessions can go to good use, and you can clear out unused things that don’t need to travel to their new home.
If your loved one doesn’t have a yard to hold the sale in, offer up your own yard space or that of a family member. The more items you can sell during the sale, the easier moving into a senior living community will be.
2. Start Going Through Their Belongings in Advance
Don’t wait until the moving day to go through your loved one’s belongings with them. They need to pick out items with sentimental value and choose which things to discard.
The sorting and organizing process can take weeks or even months, depending on how much your loved one owns. Start preparing in advance so that you don’t end up in a bind later on.
You can even make a schedule that outlines exact dates for going through old items. This will give your loved one a sense of security and predictability, which is essential during the moving process.
3. Sell Large Furniture
In retirement homes, there are plenty of furnishings provided already. Your loved one will not need large furniture unless the senior living community specifies that they do.
Knowing this, it’s an excellent idea to re-home your loved one’s couches, dining tables, and chairs. Anything with sentimental value can be kept in storage or at a family member’s house.
4. Make a Packing List
It might be easier to start with the opposite goal in mind: what will your loved one be taking with them?
If you make a packing list together, you can identify the items that will not be sold or given away. This will clear up lots of space (both mentally and in their home) for downsizing other items.
Categorize your loved one’s packing list. It’s a good idea to include items like entertainment, clothing, toiletries, and decorations. If you tackle the list in chunks, you won’t feel overwhelmed.
Help Your Loved One Make the Big Move with Ease
Downsizing can help make moving to an assisted living or senior living community much easier. Help your loved one tackle their belongings to make their move-in day as low-stress as possible!