Downsizing and Moving with Seniors — tips from The Wilding Team

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Downsizing and Moving with Seniors — tips from The Wilding Team

Whether you are the senior who is moving, or you’re family helping a senior move it’s important to move at a pace that is comfortable for the senior.

Whether the senior is able to make their own decisions or they are not capable of making the decision to move a unique approach must be taken to each scenario.

The Approach for Seniors who Are Capable of Making Healthy Decisions

Many times seniors feel that it is time to downsize but you/they can be unsure about when, where and how to do it. Many seniors have been in their homes for a very long time and change can be difficult.

Knowing WHERE to go is foremost in the decision so explore a mix of avenues, including apartment condos, senior residences, gated communities, etc. Consider moving closer to family or moving out of the city to be in a quieter neighbourhood. You also need to decide whether you want to buy, rent or live with family? Weigh carefully your current and impending health issues and the closeness of a possible residence to needed medical care. If you’re relocating to a small town they may not have a doctor nearby.

Another thing to investigate is any outside interests that you have. Are you into bowling? Art? Card games? Do you still need to be close to your existing social circle? Would you/they be fine with a new community and new social circle that offers your existing activities?

Once you have decided where you want to move to, now you need to sell your home. This task can be rather daunting as years of memorabilia need to be packed up and moved and sometimes downsizing requires you to shed some of your belongings. So, you will need to decide what is really important to you and what can be given away to somebody who needs them. You may also need some repairs done on your home before you can sell your home; this too can be a source of anxiety for seniors when it comes to who to hire and how to afford it (especially for those living on a pension). Did you know that there are companies that can help you declutter and downsize your home and get you ready for moving day, help with repairs, ready your house for sale, etc? Call The Wilding Team to work with our list of trusted vendors that we have developed over the last three decades.

The Approach for Seniors who Aren’t Capable of Making their own Decisions
The level of decision-making abilities of a senior must be determined before entering the downsizing process. The process of deciding the abilities should be decided upon by the family of the senior and their doctor. This may require the family members to acquire power of attourney.

For those seniors that simply need family assistance and help to move it is better for everyone to sit down and create an action plan from available options. You need to discuss all the options listed above, but more patience, planning and help may be required.

Want to Make the Process Easier?

Call The Wilding Team. We have oodles of experience helping seniors to downsize. We also have the patience that is required. Contact us today at 416.562.1220 and we’ll walk you through out step-by-step plan for moving with seniors.

We have experience in: husband and wife are both downsizing to the same home/condo, husband and wife are downsizing into separate living facilities (ex. One to a condo and one to a nursing home), estate sales, single senior downsizers moving in with family, families buying a larger home to accommodate a senior moving in, and more.

Call us today for a chat about moving and how we can help you and your family in your downsizing ventures.