Loving Choices - Preparing your Elderly Parent for Senior Moving

February is a month that is filled with reminders about expressing our love and appreciation for those who matter the most to us. Our parents are the first people we love in this world, teaching us the meaning of unconditional love. As our parents age, however, roles often change and suddenly we find ourselves becoming caregivers, looking out for their best interests. This added responsibility often leaves adult children facing a difficult decision: is it time to look into senior moving and relocate their elderly parents?

Challenges Involved With Aging

Moving to a new home can be overwhelming, but sometimes it is necessary. As we age, there will be challenges that arise that can make maintaining our current living situation more difficult. Some of these challenges may include:

• Decline in physical health

• Cognitive decline

• Difficulty performing necessary household chores

• Mobility limitations

• Hearing impairments

If and when these challenges arise, living in a home that is larger than needed-or one that requires significant upkeep-can become too much to manage. Additionally, there are several household hazards, which can make a home unsafe, as outlined in this article. At this point, it will be necessary to evaluate how to best address these obstacles and possibly look into senior move services.

How To Assess Obstacles

As an adult child, you may be asking yourself: 

Can I visit regularly to help with household chores and your parents' care needs? If not, can you find a caregiver to help with these needs? Does my mom or dad require more supervision and care than I can provide? Could they move in with me? Are there financial constraints? 

Once you have answered these questions, you may find yourself in a position to navigate a move to a smaller home or explore assisted living options that can provide the kind of support your parents need.

Tough Conversations

Discussing a parent's ability to live independently can be both challenging and emotionally charged. According to AARP’s national 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey, 75% of Americans aged 50 and older want to remain in their homes as they age. For many seniors, this conversation may feel like a loss of independence or control over their own lives. That’s why it’s important to approach the topic of senior moving with care, empathy, and understanding. Once you've recognized the need for change, the next challenge is having an open and honest discussion with your parent.

Preparing for the Conversation

Before starting the conversation, be prepared to be open and honest with them. Start by explaining why you feel it is necessary to discuss a potential move. Stress to them that you are coming from a place of love and a desire to ensure their safety and well-being. This will hopefully set the tone for a constructive conversation rather than one that is riddled with defensiveness and fear.

Listening with Empathy

It is equally important to be receptive and open to their thoughts and feelings. If your parent has suggestions for how they can remain in their home safely—such as making modifications or hiring additional help—listen carefully and consider these options. Showing that you value their input reinforces their sense of autonomy and makes the conversation more collaborative rather than confrontational. 

Making a Decision on Next Steps

After you have had the opportunity to discuss your concerns with your parent, you may find that a move is still necessary. Perhaps, they are more open to the idea after talking with them, or maybe they are still hesitant. If their safety and well-being are at risk, it may be necessary to move forward and take steps to address the situation. 

In such cases, involving other family members to provide additional support and perspective can be beneficial. A united front can help reinforce the importance of the decision and show your parent that the entire family is acting out of love and concern. While it’s never easy to push the issue, prioritizing their safety and quality of life is ultimately the most compassionate choice you can make.

Making Senior Moving Easier

Sometimes the stress of the move alone can be the factor as to why seniors don't want to move. Moving is inherently stressful at any age, but for seniors, who may have lived in their homes for decades, it is even harder. There are a number of emotions and a lot of logistics to figure out. It can be too overwhelming to even begin to navigate for seniors. 

So how do you help make the transition easier? Well, for those who have the ability, take the lead and start coordinating the process. This process can involve a lot of steps and a number of different resources. Your involvement can help reduce the amount of stress on your parent.

Start With a Plan

The best place to start is at your parent’s current home. Ask yourself:

• Are they prepared for a move? 

• Is the house in a condition to sell? 

• Do they need to downsize their belongings? 

• Where will they move to? 

Once you have a clearer picture you can start tackling these tasks. If help is needed you can recruit other family members to assist or seek out professionals who specialize in senior relocation, like senior realtors and senior move managers. 

Remember, the goal is to make the transition as smooth and stress-free as possible for your parents. By breaking down the process into manageable steps and providing support, you can help turn a potentially overwhelming experience into a more positive one.

Love at the Forefront of Whatever Decision Is Made

Ultimately, when guiding a parent toward a safer living situation, it's crucial to communicate with compassion, ensuring they feel heard and respected, while also allowing for open and honest dialogue. As a result, families can work together to create a living arrangement that ensures safety, well-being, and peace of mind for everyone involved.

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Kristyn Drury is the Co-Founder of Real T Simplistic, an Associate Broker, a Certified Senior Move Manager, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Kristyn loves working with senior clients and their families to help them transition and meet their relocation goals.

Nicole Hyman is the Co-Founder of Real T Simplistic, a Realtor, a NASMM Certified Senior Move Manager, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. Nicole enjoys working closely with seniors and their families to create a stress-free transition whether moving, downsizing or just decluttering.

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Real T Simplistic Senior Move Managers is a team of experts helping seniors and their families to make "Thoughtful Moves." because moving a lifetime is always more than just a move. Real T assists with every aspect of senior transitions, from decluttering and rearranging to age in place, to downsizing or relocating to a smaller home or assisted living community.

Real T prepares a personal moving plan for each client, their home and their possessions. Real T is also uniquely able to help with selling the family home, and buying or leasing a new place -- taking care of marketing the home, locating the best new home and all of the paperwork details in between. Relax. You're in the right place. We've got this.