Whether it's a move to a smaller home, apartment or an assisted living facility, your elderly parents will rely on you to help make the move a success. Your parents may be leaving a home where they've lived for many years, and it's only natural for them to feel sad and anxious about the move, even when they agree that their space has become too large for them. For tips on ensuring a better move for your parents, read on.
1. Know that only some of the current furniture and belongings will fit in the new space and some tough decisions will need to be made about the remainder. If possible, measure the new space and together with your parents make a list of what to take to the new place.
2. Start small and keep things manageable by clearing and packing one room at a time, preferably beginning with a room less likely to prompt emotions, such as a guest room or bathroom.
3. Your parents will likely need time to reminisce about certain belongings, so be patient and allow them to experience the normal grieving process. A lifetime of memories could be held in your parent's home, so allow double the amount of time for this move as you think you'll need.
4. Don't neglect to recognize the impact this move could be making on yourself. This may also be your childhood home, with many precious memories attached to it. Make sure you photo the home before it's empty, (inside and out) to preserve the images for the future. The photos could come in handy when decorating the new space and help you to make it look more like "home".
5. Even though it may be tempting to complain about the volume of belongings that must be sorted through, remember that this may be the accumulations of a lifetime. Your parents may have grown up during the Depression or just endured leaner times, leaving them with the need to never waste anything. It should be noted that this tendency to hold on to things doesn't make them hoarders.
6. Allow your parents to decide how to dispose of excess items. It will help them cope with the loss if they can give to a special charity or to a particular family member. If they agree and seem willing, a garage sale can help clear away some of the excess.
7. Get some help from other family members or hire a professional for the cleaning and packing. In some areas you can hire a team that specializes in moving seniors to smaller quarters.
8. Keep a positive attitude, take care of yourself and stay organized to make this move as smooth as possible.
For more information or assistance, talk to companies that specialize in elderly living arrangements, such as Harbor Lights House Assisted Living Inc.
