Assisting Older Adults With Moving
Sometimes older adults are ready to move, ready for a new scene and ready for some better weather! But, as with all of life, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, people of all ages don’t want to move. Especially when there are so many wonderful memories associated with their current home.
When assisting older adults with moving there are a few important things to remember that will make the transition easier and show we care. A little gentleness can go a long way!
- The most important thing is not to take over. It’s so important that they feel heard and that they have a measure of control over what is happening. This can be achieved by spending some quality time listening, researching and preparing.
- Go slowly, moving is a stressful time for all of us, especially so for some older adults. Plan ahead so that you will be able to spend time with them on each room, deciding what to keep, what to store and what to sell.
- Help them feel comfortable by setting up the new place to resemble the old one. Make sure they have their favorite objects around, like family pictures, their favorite chair or their TV and remote. We all feel better when things are the way we like them, help make this so with a little extra effort when they move in.
- Expect to clean as you go or hire a housekeeper. Sometimes the elderly fall behind in their cleaning. During the packing part of their move is the best time to clean-up for the next residents. They will most likely need your help in this area.
- Be gentle with them, they may be more moody or emotional now than usual and need you patience. Give them some time to come around. Try not to wait until the last minute to do anything, that way it’s easier to stop and come back to something when necessary.
- Help them get rid of things that they no longer need or that won’t fit into their new space. Identify the most important possessions and help them take those to their new home. There may be some things they need to get rid of that they want to keep. Maybe you can help them find a new home for those things with a family member. Many times family members would love to have a gift from Grandma, especially if it is something Grandma loves.
- Don’t criticize, most people don’t want others in their business for good reason, they don’t want to be exposed to the judgment of others. This system doesn’t work any more when we need help to pack our home and move away. They can feel exposed and helpless. Being very sensitive and keeping our opinions to ourselves can be a great gift.
- Let them remember, when we move we always find pictures and moments that remind us of our life’s adventures. We all need to go through our past when we move. There may be a grieving process that takes place, allow them space to feel without feeling rushed.
- Hire help to do the moving, this will be a relief for you and allow you to concentrate your attention on all the little details like having the electricity turned on and getting the medical files transferred.
Remember, when you are ready to move home or office, we would love to help! You can start now by getting your free online quote here.
More stress-free moving ideas.
Comments Off on Assisting Older Adults With Moving
