Moving to a New Residence: Tips for Senior Citizens

Moving to a new residence can be complicated and stressful for anyone, but especially for older adults. The best practices in this article will help make the process smooth and effective.

Planning a Move for an Elderly Loved One – Things to Consider

• Downsizing – do you need to give away furniture or belongings?
  • If your elderly loved one needs to downsize for their move, be especially sensitive to the emotional impact of parting with belongings. You may choose to employ a service provider specially trained to help older adults downsize – such a senior move manager.
• Licensing and Location of the Moving Company
  • Not all movers are licensed to move goods across state lines, so be clear about your destination when interviewing movers
  • Choose a mover close to your loved one’s current residence – this can reduce the time, cost, and disruption of the move because the mover doesn’t waste time travelling to the pickup destination
• Packing and unpacking
  • How much assistance will you need with packing and unpacking? You can save money by having family or friends for this, but leave plenty of time and don’t risk a fall due by tripping over unpacked boxes or working too hard. Senior move managers will often take photographs of an older adult’s home and arrange belongings the exact same way at the new residence. This adds a sense of familiarity and comfort at the new residence.
• Protecting valuables
  • The downsizing process is a good time to obtain appraisals of valuable items. Contact your insurance provider to inform them of the move and obtain advice about insurance during the move and after. Place valuables in a safe deposit box or in the care of a trusted person during the move – not in the care of the movers or a paid caregiver.
• Choosing a mover
  • Interview several movers to find one that offers the services need but doesn’t charge for services you don’t intend to utilize. Ask for recommendations from realtors and senior living communities. Senior move managers can be found on the website of the National Association of Senior Move Managers.
• Understanding the mover’s cost estimate
  • Be clear about what is covered in the cost estimate for your move. Most movers charge according to variables like moving time, the weight an volume of goods moved, flights of stairs or elevators, street access at destination, etc. The final cost of the move can vary greatly from the estimate if these variables change.
• Arranging for payment
  • Clarify how the movers will be paid. Most will require at least some payment up front, and may require that final payment be made in cash.
• Preparing the destination
  • If your loved one is moving into a senior living community, be sure the community knows when your loved one will arrive. The community may need to arrange for the care of your loved one, reserve elevators for the move, etc. Ensure that medications, supplies, and assistive devices are ready at the destination.
  • Be sure your loved one’s medical history is up to date, including the contact information of current health care providers
• Making arrangements for your loved one to be cared for during the move
  • Arrange for a calm place for your loved one to stay during the move process. Plan to provide meals and medications at normal times. Arrange safe transportation, allowing for weather and potential delays.
• Change of address
  • Arrange for your loved one’s mail to be forwarded to their new address, via this link to the USPS website. That service will also help your loved one register to vote from their new residence.
  • Contact your loved one’s financial advisors, CPA, and elder law attorney for advice about the impact of the move on taxes, estate planning, and power of attorney documents. This is a good opportunity to bring such documents up to date.
  • Is your loved one utilizing benefits from long term care insurance? If so, contact the insurance company in advance to be sure the new residence, home care company, etc. is qualified to be covered by the insurance policy and to begin necessary paperwork.
• Logistics on move day
  • Choose a point person to oversee the process and advocate for your loved one on the day of the move. This can be the senior move manager you have hired, or a family member, or your Care is There lifestyle coordinator.
• Settling in
  • After the physical move takes place, your loved one will need plenty of time to adjust to their new home. Even if your loved one has moved into a senior living community or the home of a loved one, they may feel lost, confused, depressed, or bereaved at first. Give them plenty of time to adjust, and give them all the attention they want or need. Even if their new community has lots of planned activities on the calendar and new potential friends in the dining room, your loved one will want to know that someone they know and trust will be near at hand, easy to contact, and visiting often.
  • If your loved one is moving into a higher level of care, remember that some of the things your loved one wants or needs may not be included in the community’s services. This may include accompaniment to the doctor or the emergency room, shopping for specialty items, one-on-one transportation, and special assistance when traveling. Discuss these services in advance. If they are not available from the community, consider hiring a care manager or arranging your schedule to provide such services yourself.

Tips from The National Association of Senior Move Managers

The National Association of Senior Move Managers provides a free moving guide, including questions to ask when choosing a senior move manager, in their document "Ten Tips to Downsize and ‘De-stress’ Your Move".

Care is There Can Help Your Elderly Loved One Move to a New Residence By:

• Interviewing and helping select an appropriate moving company
• Helping obtain appraisals and having valuable items insured
• Organizing the downsizing process
• Helping arrange for change of address
• Coordinating advisors to handle legal and financial implications of the move
• Arranging for transitional care
• Overseeing the move
• Helping your loved one with settling into their new home
• Working with a realtor to arrange for sale of the previous residence

Resources for Senior Citizens Moving to a New Residence

• The National Association of Senior Move Managers

Next Steps

Need help with your loved one’s move to a new residence? Contact Care is There today for a free consultation!

Charlottesville Area: 434.326.5323
Shenandoah Valley: 540. 246.0211
Toll Free: 800.434.1633
Email: Info@CareisThere.com

Related Articles

• Create a Plan for Living Successfully at Home
• The National Association of Senior Move Managers

Files

• Guide_To_Rightsizing_and_Relocating.pdf