Starting the process of downsizing for seniors typically begins with an honest talk. This talk doesn’t always have to mean that your parents are headed into an assisted living facility, although that is one of the options. Downsizing homes for seniors may simply mean that they’re going to age in place in a smaller apartment or smaller home, entering into a retirement community or condo, or even living with you. There are a few downsizing and moving tips for seniors that can help across the board, no matter where the destination is. Read on to learn about some of these moving tips for seniors and how you can be of help with senior moving assistance.
Downsizing Tips for Seniors: Starting Early and Small
One of the best moving tips for seniors is to start early, make a plan, and stick with it. A written plan is the best idea, which allows you to outline a downsizing attack for each room of the home. After a lifetime of living, those who are aging have a propensity to collect many things, often with sentimental value, so this step can sometimes be hard. Helping seniors move also involves helping them decide what should stay and what should go. Concerning each room and further concerning each item, you and your parents should ask yourselves the following questions:
- Is this something I use often?
- Does it have financial value?
- Does it have sentimental value?
- Is it something someone else (friend, family member) would appreciate?
- Is it necessary?
- Do I have multiples of it?
- Will it fit in a smaller space?
Depending upon the answers to these questions, the items should be placed on the moving list for seniors (i.e., they are going to the new residence), or should be donated, sold, or given away. When providing downsizing help to seniors, it’s a good idea to tackle each room one at a time, until the entire room is finished, and then moving onto the next room.
Downsizing Tips for Seniors: Going Through the List
There are some moving and downsizing tips for seniors that involve solely going through the moving checklist for the elderly. This list shouldn’t help you decide what to pack, but rather what to get rid of. First of all, every item should have a definitive answer. When asked, “should I keep this,” the answer should be yes or no—no “maybes.” Decluttering and downsizing may be tough for the aging parent, so be patient—but also don’t be afraid to sell things yourself, adding the surplus to the retirement fund. Downsizing also doesn’t mean just throwing out or donating.
If your parent has boxes of photographs, for instance, a great downsizing tip for seniors would be having the photos changed to digital copies. This helps keep the memory alive, but not the item. Similarly, you can donate collections of things to museums, or take a photograph of the collection to be framed and appreciated.
Downsizing Tips for Seniors: When and How
If you’re wondering at what age should seniors downsize, there is no set age, but it should be done well in advance of the “golden years.” Downsizing should likely be performed before mobility aids are needed, or prior to any cognitive decline. This gives seniors who are downsizing ample time to reduce the amount of clutter without feeling rushed or hurried. If it is an emergency-type situation and downsizing must occur quickly, there is free moving help for seniors as well as paid moving help.
There are companies and agencies that can help you reduce and downsize quickly, along with professionals who can help you simplify declutter and offer the best downsizing tips for seniors. For those having a tough time detaching from certain items, sometimes calling in a professional is a must.