A few years ago, I realized that my dad needed to move into a care facility instead of living with us. He was always depressed and he needed to be around more people his own age. It was a really difficult decision, but after we moved him into a care facility, he really blossomed. It was great to see him happy, healthy, and enjoying things on his own. This blog is here to help other people to enjoy their own lives and to care for loved ones who need special assistance. I know that with the help of assisted living, everyone can enjoy a better life.
Improving Your Loved One's Nursing Home Experience
Quick Tips for Helping Your Elderly Parents Move
Nora Jones
When it's time to make the move to a smaller location, be it a smaller home, an apartment, or an assisted living facility, your parents will need your help to make that move as easy as possible. The emotional connections to what you and your parents call home can be enormous, and it can be difficult to downsize even when everyone agrees that it's the right move to make. For some quick and easy tips to help smooth the way for the move, read on.
1. Be sure that both you and your parents have a good understanding of how much space is available in your new place. A measuring device is your friend, so work with your parents to make decisions about what to move and what to make other arrangements for.
2. Keep things manageable by beginning with just one room, and make that room an easy one. For example, begin sorting and discarding in the bathroom or a guest room at first, leaving the more emotionally difficult rooms for later on.
3. Be patient. Your childhood home could hold a lifetime of memories, all irrefutably connected to the home itself. Allow them to reminisce and come to terms with the change. This move could take twice as long as you may think it will, so plan accordingly if you need to be out by a certain date.
4. Be sensitive to what stays and what goes. Many parents grew up during a different era; a time when everything single object had meaning, when every gift was treasured and when hard times gave special meaning to certain objects. Never refer to your parent's belongings as "junk"; be sensitive to their attitudes. Accusing them of hoarding is not only inaccurate, but disrespectful.
5. Allow your parents to make the big decisions about how to dispose of items that simply won't fit. While a garage sale is always a good option, don't neglect to consider how certain items could be given to a special family member or to donated to a certain favorite charity.
6. Make sure that you bring in any available family members to help. This task can be overwhelming, tiring and emotionally draining. Hired help is an option, as well, and should be considered for the actual move, cleaning and for packing help.
7. Finally, don't get caught off-guard by your own emotional connection to the home. You too have precious memories of the home, and you should honor those memories by making sure you take some photos of the space before you begin. Not only will you be creating a wonderful memento of the home, but those photos could come in handy when you set up your parent's new space.
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