Downsizing Tips and Relocation Basics
By Esther Goldstein, B.Sc, B.S.W., RSW
Once you have made a decision to move, be it to a smaller private dwelling or a care home of some kind, you need to make some difficult decisions. As a first step, you will need to know where you are moving to. This decision should be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, your financial situation, your care needs and your social needs.
Your financial situation will dictate the cost you can afford on a monthly basis, but you should also ensure there are extra monthly funds you can access, if needed, for incidentals or increased care needs. If you have care needs, you may be significantly limited in terms of places to choose from, especially if you have financial limitations as well.
One of the most important things to ensure when you are making the decision to move is that your care needs can be met at an affordable price (now and in the future). Social needs encompass everything – from location, proximity for friends and family to visit, recreational needs and programs, to available resources in the community (i.e. nearby library, shopping area, hospital, dentist, etc.).
Once you have explored your options and made a decision about the best location to move to, the difficult task of sorting your possessions becomes of paramount importance. The place you decide to move to will dictate what you can take with you. If the location is an independent setting, your only restriction will be space. However, if you are moving to a retirement home or a nursing home, there will be limitations based on unit and storage space, as well as mandatory services within the home.
A nursing home (long-term care) will present the greatest challenge, as there is a significant limit to the furnishing and clothing you can bring and no housewares would be possible. Retirement homes will allow for basic furnishings and clothing, but housewares may be limited depending on the availability of meals, services and amenities that many places include.
Sorting possessions should be done over time, if possible. Allow at least a couple of months if time permits. Deciding what to do with possessions with special meaning or items that have taken a lifetime to collect can be very emotional and stressful. Organization is the key to keeping the process as easy as possible. Ensure you have the necessary supplies before you start to sort. Start with large items and the rooms you use the least. If possible, finish one room before you start another to give you a sense of accomplishment.
First, figure out what you will be taking with you. Decide what to do with the things you can’t take, later. Don’t take what you can’t use or don’t need.
To determine what large items can be accommodated in your new setting, get a floor plan or draw one up with the exact dimensions. Play around with cutouts that are the correct scale to your plan to see where things will fit. If you have a room in your home that approximates the size and shape of your new setting, you can also try out some furniture in that space to see what fits comfortably. Some relocation specialists suggest colour coding your items based on what you will be keeping and what you will be giving away. Once you pack your boxes you can code them (either by colour or number) so the movers know what room they are going into. This will make unpacking much easier.
It might be easiest to set a daily goal, so perhaps pack three boxes a day, for example. This way you will not be completely overwhelmed with trying to do too much too quickly. As you are sorting, remember to ask for help from loved ones if you need it. If you don’t have people who can help you, or if the whole process is too difficult, there are relocation companies that can assist.
For special items you don’t have room to take with you, consider recording special stories attached to those items and share them with the person you are passing the item onto. Also, you might want to take photographs and make an album of those items. You can then take this with you and ‘visit’ when you feel like it. If you are allocating items to loved ones, it might be nice to allow them to pick what they want. Try to ensure everyone gets a special item and knows the story attached to it.
For items you can’t take with you or your loved ones don’t want or can’t use, consider donating to charitable organizations, provided they are in good working order. For valuable items, you might want to consider an auction house. However, you should first investigate the costs involved, and the process and timeline necessary.
Alternately, for items of limited value that are still useable, you might want to hold a yard sale. This is an ideal opportunity to get grandchildren involved. Many would be willing to hold or help with the event if they are able to keep the proceeds or a portion of them!
Don’t forget to notify your contacts of your move as well. Inform your landlord (or realtor), utility companies, bank - and of course, family and friends. Ensure that government offices, insurance companies and others who send you mail on a regular basis are notified in advance of your move. For a fee, you can arrange for the post office to redirect your mail for several months, in the event that you may have forgotten someone.
On the day of your move, pack a small handbag containing all items necessary for the day – including medications, paperwork and phone numbers you might need. If possible, have someone with you on the day of the move. Once all your items are in your new home, relax and take your time unpacking. Hang your pictures first so your new space will quickly feel like home. If you are moving to a care setting, you may want to ask to be paired with a resident with similar interests who can help you adjust and learn about your new home.
Next issue – Caring for the Caregiver
Esther Goldstein, B.Sc., B.S.W., RSW, is a former acute care hospital social worker and the author of the Comprehensive Guide to Retirement Living®, now in its 12th edition. She also administers the affiliated national website senioropolis.com, and lectures on eldercare issues in various venues. For further information on this and other topics related to seniors and relocation, visit www.senioropolis.com
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