Moving at any age isn’t easy, and for seniors, it may be the most difficult. You are downsizing decades of memories made in a home into a smaller, more efficient spot that works for you and your loved ones. You are also having to adjust to a new house, after years in the old one, and it’ll take some time to get used to your new neighborhood, and even your residence, as you unpack and make yourself at home.
It is a lengthy process, but it doesn’t have to be a painful one, provided you take the necessary steps and planning to ease the transition from your current place to your new abode.
Look into community living.
You may want to downsize into a senior living community, but even if you don’t want to go that far there are apartment communities that are designed for convenience and put emphasize on neighborhood, not on age. Venterra Realty, a management company with facilities across the South and Southeastern United States, is among those focused on the living experience for their renters and new customers.
These venues put an emphasis on customer service and amenity availability, while seeking to create the community feel of certain shared spaces to foster friendship and conversation among residents. The perks do come with some cost, but can more than make up for other potential expenses when you agree to a lease in a place that offers friendship along with a great layout.
Of course, assisted living facilities and retirement villages are also communities to consider, depending on your health levels and what exactly you are seeking beyond just your own living space. It is important upon moving to find a great place that is right for you and your family.
Think about your doctors.
If your new home is not too much further or even closer to your doctor, you’ll be fine staying put, but if you’re moving to a new zip code or our of state, evaluate your Medicare plan and Medicare supplement plan or look into Medicare insurance quotes to get set with a new primary care physician or any specialist.
You can search for new doctors through Medicare and the Medicare Advantage plan. You could also do research online and even ask your real estate agent about available medical resources in the area.
Your current doctors could also provide some insight or suggest new health insurers based on your current insurance plan enrollment, and based on their experience with other physicians. In fact, it would give you a chance to discuss your personal information regarding your health and make for an easier transfer.
If you are on a stand-alone prescription drug plan or do require prescribed medications, it is also important to understand your access to a pharmacy or a prescription drug plan. You may want to look into the availability of home delivery if a pharmacy is not within reasonable range of your new home.
Develop a packing and self storage strategy.
Getting all of your materials in order to move is no easy feat, especially as we get older. However, it is important to evaluate what belongings in your old house will be joining you at the new space, and doing your best to downsize. It is important to go through your home one room at a time and decide what can stay and what can go. Many experts recommend starting in rooms in your home that you don’t frequent as much, as to eliminate the emotional stress.
Be sure to look into professional movers to help you pack and unpack, as to help you avoid any injury from lifting anything too heavy. Many moving companies in major US cities are willing to accommodate in any way possible, and even encourage allowing their employees to better package materials in a safe manner. Team members can coordinate times to arrive and begin the packing process, while allowing you to monitor just what makes its way on to the truck to your new spot.
If there are some things you just can’t part ways with, look into self storage units. Renting storage space will allow you to pay a nominal fee monthly and hang on to some of the treasured goods you’re just not ready to part ways with. These units come in a variety of sizes depending on just how much storage space you need.
There’s facilities that can even handle vehicle storage if you want to hang on to a classic car that could be sitting in your garage. Be sure to look into car storage units near you if this is the case. In fact, some storage facilities can even accommodate boat storage and RV storage.
Make sure your new home is ready for you.
When it comes to a new living space for seniors, you may have to retrofit and adjust things for safety purposes or greater ease of life. Be sure to make sure lighting in the space is efficient. It is important to especially make sure that areas near staircases and entryways are especially well-lit as to avoid injury. Dimmers can help control the amount of light to the brightness you prefer, while ensuring you are able to plainly see where you are stepping throughout your residence.
Invest in non-slip surfaces within the bathroom to prevent a dangerous fall. You can also look into grab bars for the bathtub, as well as beside the toilet. Anti-scalding devices are also suggested to act as an automatic turnoff if water gets too hot. If you choose not to opt for such a device, you can have someone adjust your water heater to remain below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid issue.
Create more accessibility within your kitchen with lower hanging shelving. Put extra shelves within closets, pantries and other cabinets for extra storage with less of a struggle to reach and grab. You can also install special door knobs and window pulls to accommodate certain issues brought on by arthritis when it comes to opening doors or garnering a strong enough grip to operate.
Providing easy access and stability within your own home better sets you up for comfort from the second you move in, and gives your family and friends peace of mind that you are settling in.
Eliminate certain unnecessary tasks.
It doesn’t hurt to stay active around the house doing certain daily tasks, but there are certain things that are just outside of physical limitation.
For example, grocery shopping will certainly keep you going, but you may want to avoid purchasing heavier products. Home water delivery can spare you from carrying those hefty gallon water bottles to and from the car. At-home grocery delivery is also a viable option if you are without a vehicle, bringing these products right to your doorstep. These services also allow you to control delivery frequency as you see fit.
Be sure to eliminate the hassle of other mundane tasks around the house that could be a little riskier, like dusting elevated ceiling fans and taking on too hefty of manual labor. Look into getting a helping hand in the neighborhood, or paying for a service to help you.
If you are capable of driving, be sure to carry on cautiously. If you have reached a point where driving is no longer logical or possible, look into available senior services for transportation within your new community and put you car in a vehicle storage unit.
There are different options when it comes to getting settled into a new spot. Be sure that at the forefront of every decision you make is your personal comfort level and your personal needs.
