If your parent or loved one is about to make the big transition between independent living and an assisted living facility, there’s probably a lot on your mind. With so many documents to sign, logistics to take care of, and belongings to move, it can feel pretty overwhelming.
Aging parents in this situation are often already having feelings of sadness for the home they’re leaving behind. So you want to make the move itself as seamless as possible. Good organization is the key to making this a stress-free experience.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive retirement checklist to help you make your loved one’s move as easy as you can. Read on for everything you need to know.
1. Choose a Great Community
For this to be a pleasant move for your parent, the first thing you’re going to need to do is find the best assisted living facility for their needs. You should explore all of the options in an area that’s convenient for all of you and narrow down your list by figuring out the things that matter most. It’s good for your parents to visit the potential facilities before choosing one if at all possible.
2. Decide What to Do with Their House
Now that your parent or loved one is moving into a new home, it’s necessary to figure out what you’re going to do with their former abode. Assuming they own it, you can either keep it vacant, let it out to tenants, or sell it. Make sure whatever you all decide is based on your parents’ wishes.
3. Figure Out Logistics of the Move
It’s important to know going in who’s going to be handling what when it comes to moving day. Does your chosen facility have a furniture moving service, or will you need to handle this yourself? If you’re tackling it yourself, you might need to enlist help from friends and family members.
It can be best to work with a moving company, though. If you do decide to, it’s best to lock in a reputable company for your dates as far in advance as possible.
4. Create a Packing System
One of the toughest things for your parent will likely be choosing what to bring and what should stay. One of the great things about most assisted living facilities is that they’ll be able to bring a lot of their belongings with them. However, it’s possible not everything will fit.
Work with your loved one to figure out all the most important belongings and prioritize these first. Don’t forget to add personal items to make them feel at home.
A Comprehensive Retirement Checklist
Moving at any stage of life can be stressful. But sometimes, it’s necessary for a loved one’s health and wellbeing. We hope this moving home in retirement checklist will help to make your move even a little bit easier.
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