There comes a time in later life that moving home is an unfortunate necessity for some; whether their house grew sadly emptier, or the cost of keeping it running became too much for their pension. That person may be a friend or a relative, and helping them with that move may well be on your to do list. But for those who’ve never engaged in such an undertaking before, what should you be thinking about to make said move smoother?
Find the Right Moving Company
First and foremost, you will want to book a slot with a reputable home removal company. Not only is the safe transportation of goods important, but you’ll also need the manpower to help move heavy objects and boxes; you might not be free to attend the move itself, and elderly person you’re helping to move will be unable to carry out any heavy lifting themselves. There are services that also offer a packing and unpacking service, which could be invaluable to moving pensioners in saving them days of effort sifting through packed belongings.
Declutter
That said, some sifting is an inevitable part of the moving process – though undertaken before anything sees a removal box. Elderly folks accumulate a lifetime’s worth of belongings, which follows them and their family all the way through to later life. Difficult as it may be to do so, thinning down these belongings can make a move much simpler and easier to manage, especially if they’re moving to a smaller home or assisted living community. This can be an excellent opportunity for rediscovering memories, but also a bittersweet one. Keep things light and keep the decisions largely in their hands, and the process can be somewhat fun as well as useful.
Prepare Emotionally
The decluttering process is an excellent time to talk through the emotional aspect of the move. Any house-move can be an emotionally moving experience, but this may be particularly true for the person you’re assisting; the home may have been in their lives for decades, seeing children and grandchildren walk through its doors. Processing the feelings that arise from leaving that home behind can be tough, but are ultimately healthy – and will lead to a much smoother transition to the next phase of their life.
Find New Community
It is easy to get caught up in the stress of the move, especially when contending with complex emotional connections to the past – but the future holds so many promising opportunities for the elderly person who’s moving. For example, the local community around their new home represents an engaging way for them to meet new people and settle in, creating a support network right off the bat and preventing the onset of loneliness.
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