5 Tips on Moving a Senior Parent

Moving a senior parent is a challenge like no other. Not only are emotions highly charged, but the complicated logistics of deciding what, when and how to conduct the move to senior living can add even more pressure to an already difficult experience.

Helpful Tips for Moving Your Senior Parent

At Bellhops, we pride ourselves on making moving day easy on our customers, regardless of the situation. Here are five tips to give you and your senior parent peace of mind before, during and after your move.

1. Get a Head Start

It’s easy to underestimate the time it will take to prepare for the move. Beyond the time to actually gather supplies and pack, you need time with your parent to consider what to keep and what to let go. We recommend starting to organize your move six weeks before your moving day. Having plenty of time to make decisions really helps manage everyone’s emotions.

2. Let Go of What You Can

Letting go of possessions can be difficult, but reducing the amount of things you have to pack will make moving day go so much more smoothly. Take time to help your parent decide which things they own that are no longer useful or don’t bring them joy. Donating to charities can bring a sense of moral purpose that makes letting go of things easier to do.

3. Deal with One Room at a Time

Trying to deal with an entire move at once can feel overwhelming, especially when that move involves possessions acquired over a lifetime. To make things easier, organize and pack one room at a time, starting with the smallest or least-used room. Taking care of that first room will give you and your parent a sense of completion and help you maintain optimism throughout the rest of your packing.

4. Find Capable Moving Help

While family and friends are often willing to help load and unload, it’s often worth hiring help on moving day. College students are often happy to work for a few hours for a fraction of the cost of a full-service moving company, and their youth, energy and strength can make everyone feel better about what will almost certainly be an emotionally difficult day.

5. Focus on the Positive

Transitions almost always come with some sadness. That’s okay. Give yourself and your parent a moment to pay respects to the life they’ve lived, but consistently think about the possibilities of life going forward. Help your parent remember that it’s never too late to meet new people, start a new hobby or learn a new skill. With some gentle persistence and a little imagination, moving can be an amazing new beginning for your parents and your family.