Moving during any stage of life is never an easy process. A lot of time, energy, and careful planning needs to be done in order to make the move successful. This process can be even more stressful when moving yourself or a loved one into a senior living community. Down-sizing can feel like an overwhelming process, but by sticking to a checklist, it can help to alleviate some of that stress.
Before the Move
Once you make the decision to move it is time to get started. Ask yourself, what is going to come with you? What is going to stay? What will I do with the things I don’t want? How will I move my furniture to my new home?
Start by understanding the size of your new home. Your Senior Living community will have floor plans and measurements for you to look at, so you can begin to plan out your new home. This is also a great time to start measuring your current furniture and deciding what you’ll want to keep with you. By bringing furniture pieces from home this can help to make the new space feel more “homey” and inviting, as well as more personalized. It also may be an opportunity to get new items that fit into your new home.
Use this opportunity to sort through personal items. Although difficult, this is the time to start thinking about what items do not need to make the move. Cleaning out clutter can be a good way to get an idea of what is really important, and what maybe doesn’t have as much sentimental value.
Packing Checklist
Once you’ve determined your “must-have” items, it’s time to think about packing everything else. Keep your packing list simple and thoughtful, so that on move day you know exactly what you’re taking with you. We’ve started a basic list for you, but expand and eliminate as needed!
Furniture
- Bed
- Living room furniture
- Nightstand
- Tables
- Lamps
- Chairs
Decoration
- Family Photos
- Wall Art
- Special Memorabilia
- Plants
Everyday Items
- Bedding & Pillows
- TV
- Toiletries
- Hangers
- Reading Materials
- Shower curtain
- Towels
- Dishes
Clothing
- Casual clothing for all seasons
- Sweaters
- Outwear
- Pajamas
- Formal clothing for events & holidays
Now that you have organized what you plan to take to your new home, it’s time to figure out how to get it there. Are you getting new furniture delivered in advance? Notify your senior living community to help coordinate the delivery. Do you need a moving company? Your senior living community may have suggestions or movers they have worked with.
The move isn’t always an easy one, but by preparing a checklist beforehand it can help to alleviate a lot of stress so that you can focus on the most important thing, your loved ones. For further questions, get in touch with Grace Pointe today.
