Hiring movers,
downsizing and processing emotions are just some of the things you’ll have to
consider when helping a senior or individual with disabilities move into a new
home. Fortunately, there are some resources to help make the move easier.
Moving for seniors and people with disabilities is not only
physically challenging; it carries with it heavy emotions as well. Many
intricacies are involved when seniors or people with disabilities relocate —
whether by choice or by circumstance. In virtually every case, physical
assistance will be required, either via professional movers or with the help of
friends and family, among other considerations.
Downsizing, packing
efficiently, and even renting a storage unit represent just a few
aspects of moving for seniors and people with disabilities. If you are helping
a senior or disabled person move, you’ll want to start planning as soon as
possible. This guide full of moving tips will help you get started.
Make a Moving Timeline
Planning a move is a
laborious process. Senior citizens may have a lifetime’s worth of items to pack
for, while people with a disability may need to transfer and install vital
medical equipment. Either way, it helps to have a moving checklist to keep you on track throughout
the relocation.
Since the moving process will likely take longer for the elderly
and/or people with disabilities, you should begin planning a move as early as
possible. Some tips for moving with the elderly and disabled include:
·
Establishing a timeline.
·
Setting a budget.
·
Researching moving companies.
·
Enlisting friends and family for help.
·
Downsizing.
·
Packing.
·
Mentally preparing for a change.
·
Scheduling utilities and things they’ll need in their new home.
No matter who is involved, a moving checklist helps break a
monumental undertaking into small, manageable chunks.
Downsizing
Downsizing is almost
always necessary when moving elderly parents into an assisted living facility
or nursing home. However, culling down the many items a senior has collected
over the years is no small chore. Often, these items carry sentimental value
and can be difficult to part with. Downsizing can be hard for a senior for several
other reasons as well, but, with the right approach, the entire process can be
made less stressful.
Marie
Kondo, a tidying expert, and her KonMari Method have become wildly
successful. This is because she asks the right questions to help mentally
prepare people to keep or discard their personal belongings. Having a process
like the KonMari Method can help your senior to downsize. Ask them a couple of
simple questions, such as does this item bring you joy?
Analyzing items a person may be hanging onto in this way —
clothes, furniture, sentimental objects, and more — can help someone better
decide whether to keep them or not. Downsizing in this way can become much less
emotionally taxing on a person when there’s a clear end goal.
Nursing Homes and Assisted Living
Making the emotional
transition of moving into an assisted living facility can be trying. But you
can take certain steps to help ease this transition and
make their new living situation feel more like home.
Loved ones and friends can help facilitate this transition by:
·
Helping with packing and moving.
·
Staying positive and providing support.
·
Calling and visiting often.
Packing Tips
A moving checklist,
timeline, and downsizing efforts all pave the way toward the most crucial
element of moving — packing. This will require special consideration concerning
physical limitations, packing efficiently, and the probability of asking for
or hiring help.
Get Packing Boxes
For everyone involved in
the moving process, packing boxes in the correct way is crucial
to minimize the risk of injury and, overall, to make the moving process easier.
When packing boxes, it is best to err on the side of packing them lightly. This
way, most anyone can pick up and transport these boxes safely. Even if it is
the case that you have thicker, sturdier boxes, overloading them is likely to
make things more difficult, rather than easy.
Boxes should always be labeled appropriately, not only to
identify the possessions inside, but to determine items that will be needed
immediately, in the near future, and at a later date. Being able to locate your
items will make it easier to keep track of what you need and will make the
unpacking simpler. For example, things that will be needed immediately can be
packed last on the moving truck to be the first out at the new location.
Consider Using Storage Solutions
For items not needed
immediately, articles that won’t fit in a smaller living space or items that a
person just can’t let go of, storage may help. Assisted living facilities may
provide services that will make it unnecessary to bring specific personal components,
as they are offered on location. Other facilities may have more or less
opportunity to bring along personal items. Fortunately, storage units come in many sizes and offer
solutions to accommodate any amount of items.
For those who would
rather their sacred belongings be close by — where they can have the peace of
mind of knowing exactly where their items will be, and that they’ll be safe
— storage units come with security features. Storage
units provide an alternative to giving away or discarding personal possessions,
with the added bonus of safety and security.
Hiring Movers
There may be instances
when the friends and family of seniors and/or people with disabilities cannot
assist in the move. Perhaps there isn’t enough time to get everything done
before moving day. Moving services are available expressly to help seniors and
others in need when moving.
For example, the National
Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) can provide
assistance. NASMM and specializes in helping seniors with the logistics of
moving and downsizing. Those with disabilities can find moving services
designed specially to help them with tasks such as lifting or transporting
boxes. Many of these services are available at the local or national level.
Financial Assitance
Moving can take a financial toll on anyone, and seniors
or people with disabilities are no different. Several organizations are making
financial assistance available for those who will need help during their move.
They may even shoulder some of the cost it will help to hire movers. If the
cost of moving will be a concern, contact one of the following agencies:
·
Administration
For Community Living (ACL): The ACL works with state and local
governments. The organization has awarded more than one billion dollars in
discretionary and mandatory grants to support services for seniors and people
with disabilities.
·
ADAPT:
This national grassroots organization is dedicated to the promotion of civil
and human rights for people with disabilities.
Moving Day Advice
Moving day may be yet another stressful day for seniors and
people with disabilities. Seniors may find it hard to move out of a place that
they’ve called home for so many years. T, while those with disabilities might
struggle with what they are physically capable of in their new location. Both
groups may be frustrated by not having some of the things they had in their old
homes.
During this time, it is important to remember that not
everything has to be done right away. This emotional adjustment period, coupled
with a significant change in living conditions, will take some getting used to.
Stay positive and remember that this move is for the best. While this will be a
significant transition, some measures can be taken to help lessen the emotional
impact.
Pack an Overnight Bag
It is helpful during the packing phase to pack an overnight bag.
An overnight bag will ensure that every item needed immediately is present and
accounted for. It may also be nice not to have to dig through boxes at the end
of the already long day. Clothes, toiletries, medication, medical equipment and
charging cords on hand will allow for a comfortable night and next morning.
Keep Track of Essentials
To help keep comfort levels up, maintain a regular routine, and
prepare for the next day and week, essential items should be tracked down and
unpacked early. Seniors and those with disabilities can set themselves up to be
ready for the immediate future. They, and will feel better about the move if
they know where the plates and silverware are when they want to eat, or where
pillows and fresh sheets are when they want to get some sleep.
Medical equipment and disability aids should be either in the
overnight bag, in the back of the moving truck, or in the car for immediate
access. Someone in their 30’s without disabilities might do just fine after
forgetting these essentials — however, seniors and people with disabilities
might find themselves very uncomfortable, or even at the serious risk of
exacerbating a medical condition.
Recognize and Mitigate Hazards
Not every box is going to be unpacked and out of the house on
the first day. In fact, there may be several boxes in every room for quite some
time, as it will take seniors and the disabled more time to sort out these
boxes. The packing and unpacking process will be slow-going. To keep this
process smooth, and to minimize the possibility of injury, it will help to
understand and diminish the hazards that may materialize during the unpacking
phase.
Packing and unpacking slowly will help alleviate and prevent
physical exhaustion. Additionally, keeping clear paths through every room of
the house can help reduce tripping hazards or wheelchair/walker obstructions.
While this may not be something that most people will naturally think of, it is
a critical consideration for seniors and the disabled.
Be Ready to Deal with Emotions
It may very well be the case that a move for a senior or person
with a disability is done out of necessity, not by choice. It is not hard to
imagine that negative emotions might surface when a person cannot take care of
themselves anymore.
Seniors, disabled persons, and their loved ones can all do their
part in helping to turn these feelings around. Make sure the person you’re
caring for gets a fair amount of control over as many aspects of the move as is
reasonable. This can help them maintain a sense of autonomy. Additionally,
engage in regular talks about current feelings and fears of what may be to
come. Help them begin to maintain a daily routine and become active in the new
community. These steps can help a senior or person with disabilities gain some
closure and can help alleviate feelings of loneliness while prompting them to
be positive and look forward to their new life.
Create Jobs That Involve Everyone
To further facilitate feelings of independence and
companionship, loved ones should include seniors and disabled persons in the
moving process. To show that they have some say over everything that is
happening, involve them in the planning process. If they can lift boxes or
other moving duties, ask them to do so. If they can’t perform any lifting, have
them sit and break down boxes to be recycled or other light tasks. Anything you
can do to reinstate their feeling of autonomy can do wonders for their outlook.
Organizing in the New Space
In most moves, organizing
the new living space may seem like the easiest, most fun part. However, for
seniors and people with disabilities, organizing a new home can be a difficult.
Disability accommodations and equipment will have to be strategically placed,
and hazards will need to be mitigated.
Considering where to put these things can be difficult for those
going through this emotional time, and they may feel overwhelmed. While most
people who are in the act of moving may spend some time determining where to
put the living room houseplant, while those with disability and/or seniors will
have to consider the more severe implications of placing medical equipment in
the wrong place.
With the right
information, you can help a loved one through this trying process. The more
that you and your loved ones plan and prepare, the less stressful the move will
be for everyone, allowing for more time spent enjoying the company of family,
as opposed to moving their belongings.
Toby Parks, SRES
Realtor Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
520-310-0122
