For many, moving from one home to another can be time consuming and stressful. This challenging task is even more difficult for senior citizens. Moving requires cleaning, de-cluttering, organizing, packing and lifting; things most seniors don’t have the physical ability or energy to do. In fact, many elderly people ask friends or relatives to help them get organized and pack. Sometimes, however, the burden of moving someone else’s belongings can be even more daunting than moving your own.

Hiring professional movers, like the Pro Service Moving team, is the best way to guarantee a successful and stress-free move for seniors, but if you’re a senior, or you’re tasked with helping an elderly parent, friend or relative get organized for an upcoming move, there are tips that can make it easier and less stressful.

 

Plan, Plan, Plan

For most seniors, a slow pace is both desirable and manageable. This is especially true during the moving process. If you’re a senior, one of the best ways to ensure your transition from one home to the next moves at a comfortable pace, is to plan ahead. Give yourself plenty of time before your move to take inventory and find someone to help you sift through your belongings as well as mark the things you want to move, donate or throw away. Be sure to give your helper(s) access to your home and belongings, spelling out any terms for their assistance and usage of your home.

Create a to-do list for the major tasks in your move and mark your ‘throw away’, ‘donate’ and ‘keep’ items with unique stickers (i.e. red stickers for throw away and blue for keep). Additionally, create a ‘moving strategy’ and make a schedule for both you and your assistant(s) to follow. If planning, packing and/or moving just isn’t your thing, employ some reliable movers like Pro Service Moving. We’ll do the work for you!

 

Be Kind and Considerate

Being understanding, kind and considerate is a must when helping an elderly person move. Moving can be a frustrating and difficult process, especially for a senior citizen who may have a disability or simply lack the strength to do it on their own. Remember to also practice patience, as sorting, organizing and packing can be a long, overwhelming process for both parties. Besides that, an elderly person may move at a slower pace or take more time to sort and organize their things. Keep in mind that taking time with personal things is something most people do. Provide lots of support, reassurance and encouragement, which could help make the process faster and smoother.

 

Sort and Organize

Sorting and organizing are major steps in the moving process. If you’re a helper, never sort or organize a person’s things without their permission or supervision. Moreover, remember to sort with compassion and caution; carefully marking all ‘keep’, ‘throw away’ and ‘donate items’ with stickers. Lightly used items or items in good condition can be donated to charity organizations.

 

If you or someone you know is elderly and are preparing for a move, give us a call. Our team of residential movers is equipped to help with every stage of your move and will provide you with the respect you deserve.