How to Simplify Your Move to Assisted Living

Written By: Discovery Senior Living
How to Simplify Your Move to Assisted Living

According to the U.S. Census, it's estimated that 28.2 million people move every year. Moving to a new space can be a stressful experience for any person. However, it's especially challenging for seniors moving to an assisted living community.

Not only are these individuals moving to a new, smaller space, but they often have to downsize after decades of collecting things. If you're moving a parent to assisted living this year, you likely want to do everything you can to make the process easier.

So what are some things you can do to simplify the process? In this guide, we'll answer this question so you can help make the move as easy as possible.

1. Start Early to Avoid Procrastination

One of the most effective ways to simplify your move is to start the planning process early. Moving to assisted living involves significant life changes, and it's easy to get caught up in the emotional and physical challenges of the task. However, by beginning well in advance, you'll have more time to organize, downsize, and prepare for the transition.

First, make sure you have an assisted living community you want to move to. Do your research, tour, and know what to look for in a community. Ideally, aim to start the process at least two months before the move, or even longer if you've lived in the same home for many years.

This will give you ample time to make decisions about:

  • What to bring
  • What to part with
  • How to organize everything for a smoother move

2. Sort and Downsize Your Belongings

Moving to a smaller space can be a challenge when you're accustomed to a larger home filled with years' worth of belongings. One of the most important steps in simplifying your move is to downsize effectively.

This process can be painful, but it's necessary. One study by Mercari found that 50% of people are overwhelmed by the clutter in their houses. So downsizing can help remove a lot of stress from your life.

To begin, start with a single room or section of the house. It's often helpful to start in areas you use less frequently, such as storage rooms, attics, or basements, where you may find items you forgot you even had.

Be methodical about your decisions; create separate piles for items to keep, donate, sell, and discard. This will prevent you from getting overwhelmed by too many choices and help you stay organized.

Additionally, consider the size of your new living space when deciding what to bring. It's important to think about functionality and how much space you actually have for furniture and other items.

3. Involve Family and Friends

Decluttering for seniors can be emotional, especially when it comes to sorting through personal items with sentimental value. It can be helpful to involve family members or friends in the process. Not only can they provide emotional support for seniors, but they can also assist with physical tasks such as packing, carrying heavy boxes, or transporting items.

Family communication can also provide a great opportunity to discuss logistics, such as what to do with family heirlooms or any furniture that might not fit in the new space. Some items may have more value to family members, and you might decide to pass them along rather than store them.

Having loved ones involved ensures that important decisions are made together and can alleviate some of the emotional weight of the move.

4. Organize Important Documents and Medical Information

As you prepare for the move, one of the key steps is organizing all the important documents you'll need in assisted living. This assisted living checklist includes:

  • Medical records
  • Insurance information
  • Power of attorney documents
  • Emergency contact details
  • Anything related to your healthcare needs

Having these documents neatly organized will not only streamline the move, but it will also ensure that you have easy access to everything you need once you settle in.

A good strategy is to keep these documents in a dedicated folder or binder, and if possible, store digital copies as well. This way, if something is needed urgently, it will be easy to find and provide to medical staff or caregivers.

5. Plan for Moving Day

Moving day can be a whirlwind of activity, but with proper planning, you can avoid unnecessary stress.

Start by creating a moving day checklist, and don't hesitate to enlist professional movers if needed. If you choose to hire movers, ensure they have experience working with assisted living communities, as there may be specific procedures for entry, parking, or navigating the building.

Pack your belongings carefully, grouping similar items together by room to make unpacking easier. Be sure to label each box clearly and pack essential items, such as toiletries and medications, separately so they are easy to access on the day of the move. Additionally, it's a good idea to create a floor plan of your new living space so you can direct movers and helpers on where to put furniture and boxes.

It's also helpful to plan the move for a time when you have support from friends, family, or a professional moving service.

6. Get Comfortable With Your New Environment

One of the most important aspects of simplifying your move to assisted living is preparing yourself to feel comfortable in your new surroundings. Before the move, if possible, take time to visit the community and familiarize yourself with the following:

Meeting staff and other residents can help ease any feelings of anxiety or uncertainty, and the more you know about the space, the easier it will be to settle in.

Many assisted living communities offer orientation sessions for new residents following senior relocation, which are an excellent way to get acclimated.

Need Help Moving a Parent to Assisted Living? Contact Addington Place of Des Moines

We hope this guide helped you learn more about moving a parent to assisted living in Des Moines, IA. Here at Addington Place of Des Moines, we know how stressful this move can be for our future residents.

That's why in addition to providing a warm welcome, we make the process as easy as possible. So if you want to learn more about the logistics of moving here, get in touch with us today.

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