Moving to a senior living community is a huge change, and while downsizing has many benefits, leaving the current home is a painful part of the process for many older adults. Downsizing and moving may seem like a complicated and troublesome process, but it doesn’t need to be! Here are some downsizing tips to make moving homes a much easier and smoother process for older adults.
Start Thinking About Moving Early
Downsizing can be a time-consuming and tiring process, so it is good to start early and allow your loved ones time to get used to the idea of change. The earlier you start to get ready for the move, the more time you have to evaluate all the options and decisions. If your loved ones seem resistant to the idea of moving, you can temporarily drop the topic as they may need more time. If they have accepted that they are going to move, you can encourage them to start thinking about sorting out their items and deciding which items they need to leave behind.
Decluttering and Organizing
In the process of moving, your loved ones will have to organize and throw away the items that they do not need. This is a challenging process as many older adults are emotionally attached to these items and do not want to part with them. While you should remain supportive and acknowledge your loved ones’ feelings of loss, it is also important to be strict about what should remain and what needs to go. Help your loved ones organize their items into different categories. If there are duplicate items, throw one of them away. Items that have been kept in storage for a long time without use should also be disposed of.
How to Deal with Unneeded Items
Throwing away your loved ones’ unneeded items is not the only way to deal with it. You can also consider putting certain items up for sale. There are plenty of online platforms such as Craigslist where you can sell your items, or you can hold a yard sale. Another way of dealing with unneeded items is to gift them to other people. Items with sentimental value can be hard to part with, so passing them down to family members can be an easier alternative to throwing them away.
Downsize Effectively with Discovery Village At Castle Hills
Thinking about moving to a senior living community? Join us at Discovery Village At Castle Hills, where we have amazing amenities and an exciting list of activities and events waiting for you! We offer a wide range of modern and stylish apartments with spacious floor plans that you can personalize with your favorite furniture and decorations. Our dedicated team members will also lend you a helping hand with finding the best floor plan and assisting with your move! We also have complimentary interior decorating services that are sure to make your new apartment feel like home.