Looking for Storage Units for Seniors in your Area?
Storage units for seniors need to be accessible, and secure, but most importantly large enough to fit all of grandma’s favorite things no one wanted to take. Find a big brand name storage company operating in your area. They will be the easiest for elderly people to work with. Small storage operations can be great on pricing, however, be aware that you lose the protection of the big brand when you go rogue to save a few dollars.
Let’s go over a few criteria for picking storage for seniors and what the elderly should avoid when picking a storage unit for their belongings.
Recommended Storage Units for Seniors
The perfect storage unit for seniors transitioning from one living arrangement to another is going to vary. Are you a family caregiver helping a loved one find a storage unit, the location is going to impact you as well. Decide if it is better for your transition if the storage unit is in close proximity to your existing house or closer to your planned destination. There are pros and cons for both as you can imagine.
Senior storage units need to be secure. The elderly greatly benefit from a facility that has drive-up access. Depending on a short-term or a long-term contract seniors can find cheaper options if they can anticipate their use of the unit.
Secure Storage Facility
Security comes in many different ways for a senior. First, the facility needs to be behind locked doors or gates prior to even accessing the door of the unit. Bring your own locks. Use two locks on storage facilities that have two-door lock placements.
Personal information and internal security concerns are valid when placing large numbers of valuable items into storage. Going with a large brand name in the storage business is more advantageous than a lone ranger-type operation. Large facilities will have better systems in place to protect your personal information and that you have a storage unit. Larger storage brands and their affiliated networks have specific standards to adhere to. Consequently, there is more control over the facility due to personnel background checks, storage unit security measures, etc.
Drive Up Access to Storage Unit
The perfect storage units for seniors are accessible by vehicle. These storage facilities will have an automatic gate with a security code. There are many benefits of driving up to a garage-style roll-up door to unload or load belongings. Elderly people with storage rooms should not choose one that requires taking the stairs or long walks down hallways in order to use an elevator. A room directly adjacent to an elevator can work in a pinch, but the price of a storage unit on ground level with garage doors is often worth it.
Affordable Senior Storage Units
Price matters. We recommend checking with at least two different storage facilities in your area before buying. Call around and ask questions about their security, accessibility, and variations of cost. Always check for any senior discounts for storage units or benefits of a short-term or long-term agreement. Seniors downsizing their house or planning to move to a senior living community should understand the policy and price changes for changing rooms. It is common to move an entire house into a storage facility. Then move part of those items into a new home and never reduce the storage unit size. Downsizing a unit can allow you to continue to store and access important items, but save on the monthly cost due to needing less total square footage.
Downsizing for Seniors Drives Storage Needs
It is hard to get rid of important things. However, aging in place or in a senior living facility requires downsizing in order to streamline your life and keep things simple. Don’t consider it downsizing, think about it in terms of rightsizing. As you identify things that can go to the storage unit consider who in your family or circle of friends might be able to use it if you will never have a real purpose due to your new lifestyle. It is fun to allow things to live on. This will help you reduce your total storage needs and create connections with people you care about.