Seniors Downsizing and Moving to Senior Living Community
Planning to Downsize
Planning to downsize is a good strategy for all elderly individuals. Whether seniors downsizing and moving into a new residence or going through the process to streamline life and age in place easier, make a plan to reduce your commitments to age well.
Downsizing results in fewer things to manage and maintain.
Declutter Prior to Making Plans to Move
Decluttering is the first step in the process of preparing to move to a senior living facility. It is essential to remove all the unneeded items from your home. This serves two key functions. First, it improves the working area for yourself or family and friends, or the people you hire to assist with the process. Secondly, if you can reduce what you need to sort through and store for later use now, it reduces the time spent during the actual move to the new residence.
So many things end up in long-term storage because the move is done in a rush. Avoid getting a huge storage unit and wasting money storing things that you could have removed before the move.
Setting a Date to Downsize and Move
Setting a move date is important. This gives you a time window to plan towards. Coordinate with professional movers that will be assisting with the heavy items and getting belongings to long-term storage if needed. When downsizing to move into independent living or assisted living you likely will not need all the furniture that you currently own. Planning ahead by knowing when you will move out allows you to keep things while you need them until the move date has arrived.
Create a Downsizing Plan
Make a plan and try to stick to it. By knowing the date that you will be moving into a senior living community you can work your plan back from there.
Depending on the size of the housing that you are moving into you can prepare which pieces of furniture and belongings will be coming with you and which ones you will need to get rid of or place in storage.
Key Elements of Downsizing Plan
- Plan by Room in the House
- Piles for Save, Giveaway, Trash
- Who Will Help with What
- Where Important Documents Get Saved
- What are the Most Important Possessions
- Remove Duplicate Items
- Remove Excess Furniture
- Avoid Using Long Term Storage as a Dumping Ground
Identify Storage Plans for the Move
There are many options available for senior storage. However, remember everything you keep in storage has a cost associated to it every month. Use the smallest amount of offsite storage as possible. It is best when you are able to downsize and move and leave nothing in a storage unit.
When a need to downsize and the move comes up unexpectedly it is wise to use a storage facility where family members can place important belongings in for a temporary period of time. Ultimately, these things need to move out of storage and either be given away, sold or found a place in your new home. Saving important mementos and special treasures is important, but being realistic about your space and current needs as a senior is best for your health and mental well-being.
I recommend looking for a storage unit that is in close proximity to the senior living community that you are moving into. This will improve the chances that you and your family members will take the time to sort the items when able and make a plan to downsize the storage space and eliminate that from your long-term costs.
Senior Downsizing and Moving at the Right Time
The right time to downsize belongings is always when you are in good health. Seniors that are still aging in place at their long time home can take small steps regularly to streamline their life. If needed reach out to a professional organizer to help make plans to downsize and move efficiently.
Families with a senior downsizing and moving after a health crisis always end up with regrets about the process in one way or another down the road. Going through a lifetime of belongings and special treasures on a weekend is no fun for anyone that has to show up and try and get that done. Important papers and things end up getting tossed on accident and non-essential items or duplicates of items end up getting saved.
Benefits of Downsizing and Moving
The biggest benefit to seniors downsizing and moving into a senior living community is improvements in health. Senior living communities deliver several important elements to living well as you age including safe facility and environment, extra attention, a sense of community, prepared healthy meals, transportation support and much more. If you are just starting the path of considering downsizing, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The process can be rewarding when done earlier in retirement versus later even if staying in your current home now, the more you can downsize early the better.