Aging is a natural part of life, and the time will come in all of our lives when we have to help aging loved ones move.
Whether because they’re looking to downsize their house, move to a warmer climate, or their health is deteriorating and they need specialized care, moving an aging loved one is a natural part of life.
However, it’s hard to move an aging loved one. Their bodies and minds may not be what they used to be, and if they’re not moving completely voluntary fly – or are bitter about being forced out of their home, things can become even more difficult.
This isn’t unavoidable, though. With some simple tips and advice, you can make moving an aging loved one much easier, and have peace of mind, knowing that they’re getting the care they need, and a seamless, easy transition to their new home.
Have “The Talk” Before You Need To
The worst part of “the talk” where you bring up your aging parents or loved ones moving out of their home is the shock. They may take your suggestion that they move as an insult – you don’t think they can care for themselves, you want them to live in a nursing home, and so on.
This is the hardest part of moving an aging loved one if they’re not the ones making the decision. And the best way to make it easier is to have the discussion – and the plan – before you need it.
Aging loved ones react less negatively to suggestions of moving when it’s something that will happen in the future, rather than an urgent problem.
Getting an understanding of their perspective on what should be done if they can no longer take care of themselves can be very helpful to eliminating their doubts and objections about moving.
In addition, your aging loved one should be included in the planning process – you shouldn’t just tell them that you think they should move, and where you think they should move to.
Maybe they need full-time care, but they also may be right at home in a retirement community where they can just get occasional checkups and medical help.
Nobody likes decisions being made without them, so include your loved ones in these conversations as much as possible, and take their choices and desires into account.
Help Choose The Right Home – Or Assisted Care Facility
There are many choices when moving an aging loved one out of their home, and the best choice depends on finances, the health of your loved one, and their attitude towards different living situations.
Living independently
Living independently can be a great choice for healthy aging loved ones. Often, the home that your aging loved one lives in is much too big, inconvenient, and not set up for an “aging-in-place” solution. Your loved one will probably need chair lifts, grab bars, and other safety features that can help them live their best life alone, and continue to have independence.
Moving into another home that has better features for elderly people – such as a 1-story design – is a great way to ensure they can keep their independence, but still have the tools they need to stay safe.
Caring at home
A great way to care for an aging family member in good health is to have them move in with your family. They will get to spend time with you, enjoy their own autonomy, but still have the care they need if they have medical problems.
Retirement communities
Retirement communities are a great “best-of-both-worlds” solution. They’re built with seniors in mind, and include convenient recreational facilities, medical facilities, and groundskeeping staff, and while your aging loved one can maintain their independence, you’ll know that you’ve provided them with all the help they need – if they need it.
Assisted living facilities
If your loved one needs medical care, an assisted living facility can be a good choice. These facilities aren’t nursing homes, and your loved one maintains autonomy, but meals are prepared and basic necessities can be taken care of, as well as basic medical needs and care.
Skilled nursing facilities
These are what are known as “nursing homes”, and provide round-the-clock medical care, as well as supervision and assistance to your loved one.
Get Organized
Once you’ve figured out the best living solution for your aging loved one, get organized. Help them look through, pack, and organize their stuff, and help them get rid of stuff they don’t need.
It helps to have a good idea of the facility or home they’re moving into as well – try to get an idea of how much space they have, and how much stuff they can take with them.
Find A Place For Excess Stuff
Your loved one probably has quite a bit of stuff. After all, they’ve lived a long and full life. If you’ve gone through most of the items in their home and there is still too much for the home or facility they’re moving to, don’t just throw it away.
Instead, find a storage solution for it. If your loved one is moving in with you, you could keep some of their stuff in your basement – if they’re moving to a smaller home or a retirement community, they could rent a storage facility nearby, and keep it there in case they need it. It’s comforting to know that you still have all of the stuff you used to – and moving an aging loved one is all about comfort.
Have A Moving Day Plan
When moving day comes, you should be ready to go, boxes should be packed, and your moving service should be able to pick everything up and move it smoothly.
If you’re moving your loved one a long distance, you may also consider transport – most seniors don’t enjoy long road trips, so while you may be road tripping to Florida, consider purchasing them an airline ticket to make the transition easier for them.
Hire Professional Movers – Like Movers USA
Moving an aging loved one is never easy, but a full-service moving company like Movers USA can help eliminate some of the headaches and struggles involved.
Our full-service movers can pack up everything in your aging loved one’s home, and transport it to storage facilities and to their new home, allowing you to focus on taking care of their needs as they transition to this new period of their life, whether they’re moving locally in Glen Burnie, MD, or across the country.
See our website for details on our services, and get in touch to discuss rates, meet our full service movers, and view other information about our offerings.