Moving to a senior living community is a major transition. The process can be overwhelming if not approached systematically. Most important is the available support for you and your loved one who is making this move to a new phase of life.
Getting Started
The first step is to be sure you have had those crucial conversations about the move. See our blog on how to talk to family about tough topics.
It is normal to feel swamped with the amount of planning involved and the details to be managed. Tough decisions will need to be made. The following checklist for transitioning to senior living will help in breaking down the transition process into manageable bits.
A Floor Plan is Key
It is vital to have a to-scale floor plan of the new residence so that you will be able to determine what will fit. Measure and place furniture, using paper cutouts of each piece.
Once you have determined the furniture that will be moved, dive deeper into the process by defining how much clothing and household goods will fit in the furniture, closets, and cabinets. For example. If you are taking a bedroom dresser that has 12 drawers, fill those 12 drawers with what will be moved. If you are only able to take one nightstand instead of the two currently being used, then only those things that fit into one nightstand can be moved.
If there is currently 12′ of linear hanging space in use and the new apartment will have only 6′, then empty one clothes closet and refill it with just the items that will be moved and nothing more. Consolidate to an equal hanging amount. The rest will need to be offered to family members or donated.
Kitchen Cabinets
If the new place has a kitchen, count the number of drawers and cabinet doors and the number of shelves behind them. Using the same method as described above, when deciding what to pack and move, fill the same number of shelves, and then determine what to do with the rest of the items that do not fit. Keep the favorite spatula or whisk and donate the duplicates. Remember that you’ll likely be doing much less cooking since senior living communities provide dinner.
Decluttering when downsizing is essential when moving to a smaller home or senior living community. It may seem like an uncompromising approach, but it will eliminate some of the emotional discussions that can ensue when trying to fit “ten pounds of potatoes into a five-pound bag.”
Using this process, determine which of the following home furnishings are desired:
- For the sitting area: sofa, chairs, end tables
- For the kitchen: dishes, glasses, cutlery, small appliances, pots/pans
- For the bedroom: bed, bedding, comforter, blankets, throw pillows
- Décor: lamps, knick-knacks, photos, wall art, bookcase, books
- Essentials: alarm clock, tv/radio, toiletries, prescriptions
A Word About Packing
Now that you know what you will be moving, you can begin to prepare for the move by packing these items safely and securely. You may want to consider hiring a senior move manager, who can not only assist with determining what can be moved, using a floor plan, but can also label items so that the unpacking process is streamlined. A senior move manager will also help with sales, donations, or disposal of unwanted items and assist with obtaining short- or long-term storage solutions.
Select a Moving Company
An ideal choice for a mover is one that has experience moving to senior living communities, which requires specific abilities. For example, they need to have sensitivity and compassion when interacting with the clients. A senior move manager may recommend and work very closely with the moving company so that upon arrival at the new home, the boxes can be unpacked, and the furniture and decor can be set up as closely as possible to the way they were in the former home. This creates a sense of familiarity and comfort that will assist you and your loved one to settle into the new home.
Be certain the mover can handle heavy items such as a hospital bed, if appropriate. Get cost estimates, licensing documentation, and ask questions to determine the full scope of the moving company’s proposal so that there are no unexpected surprises during the move.
Medical and Health Concerns
Here are the steps to ensure that there is continuity in your or your loved one’s care. After selecting a senior living community:
Make an appointment with you or your loved one’s primary care physician:
- for a physical checkup, if needed
- to obtain copies of medical records
- to speak with the doctor about the upcoming move and to fill out required documents
Research the new area to find a new primary care physician who is near the senior living community. Plan appointments to ensure on-going care.
Check with the senior living community to see if they accept issued, unopened medications. If so, be sure to fill existing prescriptions and provide them to the staff when moving in. If not, be sure the forms your doctor fills out include prescription information. The community will coordinate with their pharmacy to get the medications.
Plan to line up an eye doctor, dentist, orthopedist, or other specialists in the event they are needed after the move-in, and be sure to obtain medical records from current providers.
The Don’t Forget Items
Checking off these logistical items will help make the move smooth without interruption of key services:
- USPS Mail Forwarding/Change of Address – Use this online toolto seamlessly forward the mail.
- Cancel current utility services by contacting gas, water, electricity, and/or fuel companies.
- Inform family and friends about the change of address, as well as insurance companies, lawyers, financial advisors, doctors, subscription services, and the Social Security Administration in your area.
- Add the new address to your electronic devices – add scheduled senior living community events to your calendar. For example, hair salon days, housekeeping, laundry day, and social activities so you can stay on top of what is available or scheduled for your loved one. Be sure to give your contact information to the staff at the senior living community as well.
The Week Before
Call the senior living community to ensure that all paperwork has been completed and received.
Ask the senior living community about gate codes so that the moving company and family can gain access to the property. Reserve elevators for the move.
Consider obtaining an emergency pendant for you or your loved one, especially if there is a risk of falling. Emergency pendants are available from several companies or may be provided through the senior living community.
Keep in mind that a senior move manager and the senior living community staff are there to help with this transition. Moving from a family home, lived in for many years, can be difficult. This checklist will help make the transition a smooth one with new friends and many social activities waiting at the other side.
If you have questions about the steps to take when preparing for a transition to a senior living community … or if you want more information on what a senior move manager can do for you, email Marie LeBlanc or call her at 617-513-0433.