Downsizing & Moving is a Complicated Transition

Downsizing & Moving is a Complicated Transition:

Hire a Senior Move Manager® to Help

Moving house is a stressful transition at any stage of life but presents special challenges for seniors and their families. Older adults often have not moved in many years accumulating a lifetime’s worth of belongings. Figuring out what will fit in the new space, sorting and dispersing items to gifted, donated, sold or disposed of is a time-consuming process that is stressful both physically and emotionally. Once the downsizing process is done, the actual move and set-up the of new home still have to be tackled.

Adult children, even if living close by, often have career and family obligations that prevent them from helping. In many cases, illness or death precipitates a senior move leaving everyone already emotionally drained. All of these factors make a senior move a more complicated transition than a traditional move.

The Emotions of Downsizing

Often, the best person to help with the downsizing and moving process is NOT a family member. Seniors and their adult children can see the same things quite differently. For example, the parent might say, “That’s the Christmas stocking I made for you when you were 4.” The adult child says “Mom, you don’t need that anymore.” To the parent, the object is a reminder of happier times while the child sees “stuff” that needs to be discarded.

Downsizing means becoming “less than” in terms of space and belongings, a process which can leave many aging adults feeling depressed. Add in the common reasons for senior move (illness or death) and downsizing a lifetimes’ worth of belongings with family members can trigger strong emotions that lead to frustration and stress for everyone involved.

The Benefits of Using a Senior Move Manager

Senior Move Managers® assist seniors and their families throughout the downsizing and moving process. From developing an overall plan to sorting/dispersing possessions to setting up the new living space, Senior Move Managers® have the knowledge and expertise to handle the transition compassionately and efficiently. They understand moving an aging adult involves much more than just packing boxes—it’s relocating a life.

A Senior Move Manager® accredited by the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) has received specialized, formal training and is required to carry liability insurance. Most offer a menu of services to choose from including:

• Developing a detailed action plan and timetable
• Creating a floor plan for the new home
• Organizing and sorting
• Dispersing unwanted items through consignment, donation or estate sale
• Identifying and hiring needed services such as cleaning, waste removal, etc.
• Interviewing, scheduling and overseeing movers
• Managing day-of move
• Unpacking and setting up the new home

When the time comes to downsize and move, hire a Senior Move Manager® to reduce the stress for everyone involved.