Tips to Make Moving With a Senior Less Stressful

​Relocating to a new home always comes with a lot of stress and emotions, especially for seniors. Sorting things and packing is draining, but letting go of so many memories is the most stressful for them.

They will be leaving behind friends and routines that they have already established. It is harder for the elderly to uproot themselves and welcome change in a new place. Emotional stress is often a bigger factor than everything else. Here are some tips to help relieve some of their stress during the move.

Start Planning Early

When moving seniors to a new home, there is no such thing as planning too early. There are many things to take care of, like preparing the new house, transferring medical records, figuring out travel options, and more. You also need to consider health problems that could occur during the move and seasonal complications.

Planning ahead of time reduces stress a lot, both for you and the seniors. It also gives you enough time to assist the elderly in transitioning to their new home. Help them sort out which things to take, donate, and leave behind.

It also gives you enough time to consider whether you need to rent storage and look for professional movers.

​Ask Friends and Family to Help With Packing

​Saying goodbye to the house filled with memories and their already established routines is a major cause of stress for elders. Having friends and family around while packing could bring them comfort.

Even if you plan to hire movers, taking it slow and giving them a chance to reminisce with loved ones will help ease the transition. It will also cheer up your seniors to let them hand over the items they wish to leave behind.

Hire Professionals

Let the experts deal with the hassle and do the heavy lifting for you. Professional movers are equipped and experienced in dealing with moving seniors. Find insured and licensed movers to 

• Sort and pack your items professionally and with care 
• Help you with unpacking, electronics installation, and furniture setup 
• Take care of the disposal of items you’ll be leaving behind.

If your family owns a car, you might want to consider looking at car shipping companies. It is impractical to ask seniors to endure a long drive. Shipping your car will be safer and more convenient than having to drive it to your new home yourself. Plus, this could save you time and money.

Pack Some Essentials and Comfort Items

​It is best to pack essentials, such as prescription medications and important documents, in a bag that is convenient to bring with you when you move. It wouldn’t hurt to have some comfort items for seniors, too, such as a travel blanket or a small pillow.

You can pack an “open me first” box containing items you will need immediately after moving. These should include toiletries, utensils, and a change of clothes. This way, essential items are easy to find among the mess of unpacked items when you move in.

Arrange Health Care

​Take care of this in advance. Meet with the new medical providers in the area ahead of time. Request the transfer of medical records, and sort out the details of your insurance coverage in the new home state to avoid unnecessary delays in the delivery of medical care.

Get Them Involved in Preparing Their New Home

Elders need their routines for comfort, especially seniors with dementia. But most importantly, they need to feel involved. Set aside time to let them familiarize themselves with the area before moving in. Look at the local activities for the elderly in the neighborhood so they can form new social circles. Give them plenty of time and support to adjust to the new environment.

Try arranging and decorating their new living space similar to the old house. It will give them some sense of familiarity that could ease their emotions.

Final Thoughts

​Moving might be a hassle, but remember to be patient. Give your senior family members enough time to say goodbye to their old house and routines. Take lots of pictures as souvenirs to help them look back on fond memories. You could even consider throwing them a moving away party to help them move out on a positive note.