There comes a time in the lives of many senior citizens where they may decide to downsize to a more manageable property, or move in with relatives. If you have an elderly relative looking to make a big move, it’s likely you’ll have to give them a hand. This may be an emotional and stressful time, so to make it go as smoothly as possible, check out our tips.
Communicate and plan
Moving out of a home you have lived in for decades is sure to take an emotional toll. In order to make the move as painless as possible, make sure to plan well ahead of time and update your loved one on everything that is going on. When they know what to expect, they are likely to handle the change much better. Sorting through all their possessions will also take time, and you want to ensure that you are not rushing your loved one during this process.
Hire professionals
Remember that this isn’t just any old move that your mates can help you with. An entire lifetime of possessions needs to be moved, and many of these will be fragile sentimental pieces. To ensure all these precious possessions are transported safely, hire a team of professional movers to help you pack and move. These movers will ensure that everything is moved safely, providing peace of mind for your loved one.
Get family on board
While you want professional movers to handle the bulk of the move, it’s also helpful to have plenty of family members around to make the move less daunting. Everyone can do their bit to help and provide support to your loved one along the way.
Repair and replace
During the process of packing up your senior loved one’s home, you may find they’re hanging onto plenty of things that need to be repaired or replaced altogether. This is a good time to encourage them to let go of these items and make space in their new home for up-to-date items that will serve them better.
Be patient
We know you’re busy and want to be as efficient as possible with the move, but remember that this is a big moment for your loved one. They may wish to look over an old photo album they uncovered while packing up, or spend a while packing up an area. Be patient and calm during this process, giving them as much time as they need to say goodbye to their old home. One way to make this easier is to start with a room that they are the least emotionally attached to, such as the bathroom or garage.
Let them take charge
While you may want to be as hands-on as possible with helping your loved one move into their new place, remember not to take control away from them. This can be feel incredibly imposing, and not at all what you want to do to make them feel at home. When you arrive at their new place, let them tell you where everything should go and how they would like their house to be set out. Even if they cannot help you physically, have them sit nearby and provide instructions. You may even want to take photos of their old home before the move so you can lay everything out the way they’re used to it being.
Once your loved one is settled in, plan to visit them in the beginning in order to make them feel at home. It can be common for elderly people to withdraw when faced with a challenging new environment, so try taking them out for coffee in the local area to get them familiar with the area.
As the top movers in Wellington, Auckland and beyond, World Moving can help your senior loved ones move with ease. Just contact us on 0800 4 WORLD (toll free) or +64 9 820 6060 (overseas) to speak to our movers in Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland or elsewhere in New Zealand.
