How To Move Your Aging Parents

How To Move Your Aging Parents

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It's hard to think of anything more monumental than moving senior parents out of their home into a new living situation. Helping your parents move is a huge project. The emotional and practical elements will require all your tact, patience and organization.

Unless your parent is very ill, she should be involved in all the decisions around moving. To prevent overwhelming your parent with options, do the leg work by touring different senior community options and screening down to three to four choices for your parent to tour.

Your first challenge when moving senior parents is discussing a possible move with your parents. It may seem clear to you that your parent's current home is too large or needs too many updates to the best place for your parent to live. No matter how obvious it may seem to you, it may be a new idea to her.

Moving senior parents starts with a series of conversations. Your first conversation about moving should simply test the waters. Prepare by anticipating common objections like concerns about cost. Introduce moving by using an example of someone you know or a story from the media. Have you ever discussed the possibility of your parents moving to assisted living with them. You need to be prepared for opposition. Whether your parent has a positive or negative response to the idea, your next step is to uncover and try to understand all their expectations around moving. It is not unusual for your family to have different thoughts about your elderly loved one moving.

5 factors to consider when moving senior parents:

1.What is your parents' budget? What can your parent afford now? Can they afford increased costs if they need more care in the future? Build n accurate picture of what their expenses are now. Include rent/mortgage, insurance, housekeeping fees, gardening fees, maintenance on their property, property taxes, in home care, food budget because all or most of these services may be replaced by services provided by their new community.

2.Can the community meet your parents' current care needs and anticipated future needs?

3.How do your parents live now? Will their lifestyle have to change?

4.Does the new home offer a feeling of togetherness or is is like a motel? If the community looks like a 5 star hotel is that a comfortable atmosphere for your parent.

5.Is the community is located near services for shopping, doctor visits and favorite types of entertainment for your parent?. Being near family is critical.

Services that can help when moving senior parents

·A senior housing specialist or placement agency to narrow your housing choices

·A professional organizer to help your parent sort through old possessions

·An estate liquidation company to assist dispose of unneeded possession

·A decorator to help your parent personalize her new space, decide which pieces of furniture to move, design storage options and acquire any needed new furniture pieces ·A senior move expert to coordinate the move

There are many factors to consider when touring a potential community for your parents. Use a comprehensive checklist to help you stay on track. Here are some basics to look for during the tour

·Is the community clean and welcoming?

·Are the residents engaged in a variety of activities?

·Is the staff positive, helpful and respectful to all residents?

·What are your impressions of the other residents? Do their energy level, physical and mental abilities appear to match with your parent's abilities?

·Eat a meal in the dining room. Does your parent like the food?

·Are there activities that your parent would enjoy?

·Does the community offer the right type of support to your parents' needs?

·Get a clear picture of all the monthly costs.

Helping senior parents move is a big job that becomes more manageable when you break it down into smaller pieces.

About the Author:
In the 90's Stephen and Sandra Joyce moved back home to Ireland specifically to help care for his parents and unwittingly began a 10 year care experience. It was that experience that inspired them to found EldercareABC.com.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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