Helping a senior transition to a new home

Relocation.com Staff

It's a situation more of us will be facing in the coming years: Helping our parents move to a smaller home or a community where living on their own will be easier, or where they'll have more access to day-to-day services.

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Christopher Oquendo, for the AJC Make sure your senior loved one is as comfortable as possible in their new home.

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Although there are many emotional issues around the senior's relocation, there are also many practical factors associated with choosing a new home, and the actual move itself.

First is choosing the best place for them to live. Do they have access nearby to the things they need – pharmacy, banks, etc.? Even if they can drive now, think ahead to when they won't be able to.

If the senior is moving into a bi-level house, it should have a room on the main floor that can be used as a bedroom once stairs become difficult to navigate.

Once seniors have chosen a new place, go with them to visit and get accustomed to the new environment. This will give them a chance to get to know their new roommates, friends or neighbors.

Setting up the new space to look like the old place can help make it feel familiar. Nancy Pelham, a Dallas professional organizer and owner of Helping Hands Personal Service, recommends taking photos of the old home so that whoever's setting up the new one can help make it look familiar. "If a stranger is helping parents move, they may be great at unpacking, but don't know where a special china plate goes," she says.

Once the new home is set, prepare for moving day. If you can, get everything set up before the senior arrives. If that's not realistic, avoid any safety hazards. Keep clear aisles between boxes. Don't leave area rugs rolled up for long, because they are a tripping hazard. Likewise, watch out for lamp and phone cords that are not connected and out of the way. Remove boxes as soon as they're empty, and keep the house well lit.

Making sure the moving companies you work with are familiar with your special needs.

Pelham says that setting up the seniors' bedroom and bathroom as quickly as possible is very important. "You don't want leave them stranded with a bunch of boxes, and everyone's already gone."

People should also make sure seniors eat the day of the move; in the hectic commotion, they may forget to do so.

If the move is going to take more than a day, arrange for a place for the elder person to stay. Many retirement communities have guest rooms. And be sure that he or she has any needed medications as well as a change of clothes.

Once seniors are unpacked, go through their new home and make sure they understand how to operate the thermostat, alarms and other features – they might be moving from a home where they lived for decades that didn't have these features.

Help them transfer phone and electricity, if necessary, as well as any prescriptions if they'll be using a new pharmacy.

And if they haven't already visited the new facility, help familiarize them with any rules or regulations as well as any activities that might be available at their new home.

Relocation.com is a leading provider of moving services and advice for people who are relocating.