Professional downsizing and moving companies can be a tremendous help and ease much of the burden. Make sure they’re safely stored so they don’t accidentally become lost or misplaced during the process of sorting, packing and disposing of other household items.
Begin to work on it long before the move so it’s not so overwhelming for your parent, and so you can allow time for the process.īefore you begin, be sure to gather all important documents (financial, legal and medical) as well as personal items that have significant monetary or sentimental value. If you’re not in a crisis situation, don’t try to complete downsizing in a weekend or even a single week. Ask your contact at the community how to make arrangements for your parent to visit.īegin downsizing. Even while you’re planning the move, your parent can begin attending events at the community to become more comfortable with the idea of moving, learn their way around and start making new friends. Help your parent get to know the community. Remind them about the renewed sense of freedom they’ll have and how much easier life will be when they no longer have to worry about maintaining a household, preparing meals or driving themselves to the store. Reminding your parent that an assisted living community will promote their independence is a good place to start. And if it’s emotional for you, it’s likely more so for your parent. While moving an elderly parent to assisted living may be a practical decision, the reality can be quite emotional. You should also ask the assisted living community if they have their own assisted living move-in checklist for new residents.
To make it easier on you and your parent, we’ve compiled a list of things to do beforehand as well as a moving to assisted living checklist with guidelines for what to pack and what to leave behind. And when you combine moving with downsizing, the process can be complicated by an onslaught of tasks and mixed emotions. Moving ranks high on the list of life’s most stressful events. Useful tips and a checklist to help smooth the move