Senior adults face many changes as they age – from losing friends or loved ones to cope with the limitations of their bodies. Many also need to cope with the reality of living alone if their spouse has died. While many seniors are capable of staying on their own for many years, others may determine that it would be a better option to find a new home – either with their family or in a senior living residence such as an assisted living facility. But making the choice to move is just the beginning – often, they will have to sell their longtime family home. Selling a home is overwhelming and emotional for everyone but may be especially difficult for a senior who raised their family in the house.
Help Them Close the Door on the Family Home
- Assist with Decision Making: If it is possible, let your senior loved one make their own decisions – for instance, in selecting a real estate agent they feel comfortable with. You can help by identifying two or three qualified real estate agents and arranging appointments so your loved one can interview them. When choosing a new home, duplicate the process. Find several residences that meet your requirements, but let them make the final decision.
- Help Through the Process: Selling a family home can be very overwhelming for a senior citizen. Schedule two or three days a week for prospect showings, and make sure that the agent sticks to that schedule. Make sure someone is there to help your senior prepare that morning, then accompany them on a walk, run errands, or go to lunch when appointments occur. Help them schedule any needed inspections and appraisals, so they don’t feel overwhelmed by all the people in their home. If you cannot be available to assist, consult with the listing agent to make sure that they will accommodate your senior through these steps.
- Help with Packing: One of the most difficult steps in leaving a family home is deciding what your loved one can bring to their new residence. Most will be resettled into a smaller space and won’t be able to bring all of their belongings with them. They will need assistance deciding between genuinely important possessions with sentimental value and those they are simply accustomed to having. Be patient, as it is exceptionally difficult for your loved one to let go of so much of their life at one time. Before you begin making these difficult decisions, measure and take photos of the new room or apartment in order to decide what can move with them, and what cannot.
- Embrace Sentimentality: While practicality is a necessity in these situations, remember that your senior loved one is walking away from a home that represents a lifetime of special memories. Be patient if there are tears, and give them grace if they are angry or resistant to leaving. Help them to choose items that will recreate a feeling of “home” at ther new residence. They may want their comfortable recliner, a favorite blanket, or pieces of beloved artwork. If there is an item that reminds them of their lost loved ones, bring them along.
- Manage Moving Day: On moving day, allow your loved one a few minutes alone (if they want it) to say goodbye, then take them out for a fun outing they will enjoy. Let other people perform the actual move, which can be very emotional and cause undue stress. Send a trusted friend or relative ahead to arrange the apartment and unpack all those special items, so when your senior loved one walks into their new home, things seem familiar to them. Consider having a favorite meal ready to share as well.
At A Banyan Residence, we understand that moving into a new place can be difficult. Let us help you to make your loved one’s move into assisted living easier – call today for more information on Venice area senior living.
