If you’ve made the decision to move yourself or a loved one to a senior living community, it’s time to start the process of getting ready to move – but where do you start? We’ve put together some ideas that can help you prepare ahead of time and make for a smoother transition to your new home.
How To Make Your Best Move Yet
During the months leading up to your move, there’s a lot you can be doing to get settled more quickly and easily. And best of all, you’ll soon be free to begin enjoying the maintenance-free lifestyle at the community of your choice, making friends and taking advantage of wellness opportunities that can keep you feeling young and active for years to come.
- Choosing a community.
Before you begin the process of finding a community, prioritize what’s most important to you. When it comes to financial considerations, we encourage individuals to compare their current budget (costs of living and expenses of maintaining a home) to that of living in a particular community to determine everything that is included at each. You should also carefully assess the lifestyle options available at each of the communities you visit – ideally, the community’s activities will match up with your interests and provide a variety of options for you to explore new opportunities.
- Creating a timeline.
Starting with your move-in date, work backwards to make a timeline for everything that needs to be accomplished and determine how much time to allocate for each task. You may find it helpful to use a binder to store all the important information for your move, including notes, to-do lists and deadlines. Having everything you need in one place – important papers, contact information and even receipts – will help ensure nothing gets lost in the shuffle of packing and moving.
- Deciding what’s going with you.
Use the floor plan and measurements from your new apartment to design a potential layout and help decide which furniture items will fit in your space. Though the idea of downsizing may feel stressful, many retirees move into a smaller space and appreciate the simplified lifestyle – not to mention no longer cleaning or maintaining a larger home. Enlist help and allow plenty of time to sort, organize and make decisions about everything you’re bringing to your new residence. If you find yourself in need of additional help, there are companies that specialize in downsizing and senior relocation.
- Dealing with the emotion of letting go.
Make sure you allow time and space for the emotions that may come along with this life change. It’s natural for you and your loved ones to feel both sad and excited about ending one phase of life and entering another. We recommend keeping your thoughts and conversations focused on the future rather than the past. Many people find it easiest to start by packing items that don’t have sentimental value. Try to look forward to the excitement of living in a new, comfortable space – as well as incorporating your most treasured belongings.
- Enjoying your new beginning.
More important than emptying every box is getting settled into your new community. Join your new neighbors for a meal, take part in a fitness class or attend a community event. It’s quick and easy to jump right in with all the services and amenities taken care of for you at our maintenance-free community. As you settle into your new home, give yourself time to adjust. It can take six months or more to make your new space feel like home, find a routine and meet a new circle of friends. Be prepared, stay positive and have patience – this approach will help ease the transition as you start writing your next chapter.