Glad You Asked!

These are frequently asked questions that I have been answering indivually but wanted to add value to a greater audience.

 Tips for Helping a Loved One Move into a Senior Community

1. Downsize furniture to fit – you need a furniture plan for a successful outcome…draw up a floor plan to scale to ensure that all the the furniture plan on taking actually fits.  Show each room and the placement of each piece of furniture. Try to take actual measurements of the rooms, and include locations of doors, windows, heaters, outlets, etc.  Keep in mind that there might not be room for everything. 
   
   
2. Choose Furniture Wisely - Make decisions with space limitations in mind…
   
   
   • Choose furniture and objects that can serve more than one function
   • Pick pieces that have storage space built in
   • Avoid keeping excessively fragile, delicate or rickety items
   • Stick with fabrics and materials that are easy to clean and maintain
   • Choose smaller scaled furniture
   • Avoid holding onto items that look good but are impractical
     
     
3. Take pictures of the inside of their home. As close as possible, try to place objects in a similar way so that their new home will feel very much like the old one. Be as detailed as you can from arranging the bedroom furniture to placing the family pictures on the bureau. This will help make the new place feel like home.
   
   
4. Help Sort - Like all of us, seniors tend to keep things they don't necessarily need or will ever use. Be gentle when suggesting to get rid of possessions. Ask them if they use the item and if they would mind if you donate it. If it's a treasure or something they'd like to keep but the new space can't accommodate it, suggest keeping it in the family by giving it to a grandchild or another sibling. It's often easier to give away items if they're going to a good home. 
                        
5. Analyze how much shelving and closet space is available- this is especially helpful in understanding how much of their personal belonging will accurately fit.
6. Ask your loved one’s opinion – be sensitive to their opinions.  They have specific ideas of what they would like and it is very important to empower them and let them make decisions for their new home.
7. Say goodbye to dishes – pack very little kitchen paraphernalia as they won’t be using them.  Confirm with the retirement community whether meals are included.
8. Hire outside help   Sometimes it's easier for your parents to work with an outside party than with their children, especially when it comes to sorting and packing.  Senior Moves by DesignNY specializes in the transition of older adults from a large family home into a smaller residence