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Senior moving tips: moving an elderly parent in with you or into a senior living home

Is it time to move your parents in with you from the old family home? Or into an assisted living facility? There comes a point in every person’s life when this is necessary. The process of moving house is never easy! This is especially true when it comes to helping a senior citizen move.

From a practical point of view, if your elderly relative is moving from a home that they have lived in for decades, a huge amount of downsizing and decluttering must be tackled before the packing begins. Then there’s the emotional aspect; a move can be very overwhelming for a senior citizen: leaving behind ‘memories’ can be difficult and painful. Consider our senior moving tips to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible:

  1. Give yourself extra time

If you think you will need 2 weeks to pack up the house, then make it 4. Moving from a family home that has been a part of their life for years, where they have shared special memories and watched their children grow up is a huge adjustment for seniors. Don’t rush the process. Do small amounts of packing and sorting over a longer period to prevent emotions from running high.

  1. Declutter before you pack

Chances are, your elderly relative’s home is filled with the clutter of not just years, but decades. And whether the move is into a cottage on your property or a senior living home, there simply won’t be space for everything in their new home. Go through each room in the house with your senior parent, and whittle down their possessions as much as possible, tidying up as you go. This will make packing for the move so much easier.

  1. Be respectful of their feelings

This may be the most important piece of senior citizen moving advice we can offer. You may want to get the move done as quickly as possible. You may also see the need to be ruthless when it comes to all those odds and ends of ‘junk’ lying about the house. However, much of that ‘junk’ holds memories for your elderly relative and it may be hard for them to let go. Be gentle and anticipate delays.

  1. Pack, gift, trash, store

When you’re helping an elderly parent to sort through their belongings, suggest that they gift special items to other family members or donate to their local church or charity. This may help to ease the sense of loss they may feel if things they can’t take with them are simply discarded. Anything that is broken beyond repair or not used in any way should be trashed. There may be a couple of things, such as antiques, that you want to keep in storage. This will help whittle down the number of items to be packed for their new home.

  1. Use a moving company experienced in senior moves

When moving day finally arrives, it’s a good idea to choose a mover who understands senior citizen moves. A moving manager with this kind of experience will be sensitive towards your elderly relative’s feelings and any needs you may not have thought of. From packing services to disposing of unwanted items and helping unpack, Isaac’s Moving and Storage can handle everything with friendly, professional service.

  1. Keep your senior relative occupied on moving day

The hustle and bustle of moving day can be stressful for seniors. Even if your elderly parent has accepted that the move must take place, the reality of it may make them extremely emotional. Have one family member ‘on-site’ to ensure that the move runs smoothly, while you take them out for lunch, shopping or another pleasant experience to take their mind off things.

Need a reliable moving company to help move your elderly relative? For expert service and a free quote, contact Isaac’s Moving & Storage today.

Now its your move.

One thing we can promise you is this: We’ll handle your move as if it were our own! — if you have a move coming up, leave your information below and an Isaac’s Moving & Storage Move Consultant will be in touch with you shortly!

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Portsmouth, NH 03801

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One thing we can promise you is this: We’ll handle your move as if it were our own! — if you have a move coming up, leave your information below and an Isaac’s Moving & Storage Move Consultant will be in touch with you shortly!