(reprinted via permission of Shirley Turner, Community Outreach and Senior Advocate for Caring.com, a leading senior care resource for family caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones.)
For most people, aging brings a new set of challenges. New health problems may affect your ability to live independently, financial challenges make it tougher to maintain your lifestyle and adult children moving to faraway places may make you feel less connected to your home.
Some people move every few years or even more frequently, while others remain rooted in the same location for decades. But for many people, there comes a time in old age when it becomes necessary to move.
While relocating is never easy, moving as a senior carries its own difficulties. If you or a loved one is moving into an assisted living or memory care facility due to declining health, the very reason for the move will likely make the process even more difficult. A lifetime of accumulated possessions might be squirreled away in your home. And if the move is due to financial stress, moving itself can be expensive.
There are many ways to make a move go more smoothly. Knowing when to move, making the right choices about having a family member move in with you and doing a little advanced planning for a new home and reducing the load beforehand can significantly reduce the stress involved.
Recognizing these challenges, we've crafted a comprehensive guide to assist seniors and their families in navigating the complexities of moving.
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Fortunately, with advanced planning, the moving process can go smoothly. Our new guide helps seniors and their families learn tips about what to look for in a new home, safety modifications, and how to make an upcoming move less stressful.
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