Moves can become stressful at any age. But during a senior relocation, older people may feel the stress more than others, especially if they are leaving a home where they have lived for many years.
Having a guide to the major issues involved with a senior relocation can help smooth out some the anxieties seniors feel around a relocation. The following senior moving checklist can help restore a sense of control over what is happening, as well as ensure that none of the big issues are missed.
The list looks at some of those issues in the months and weeks leading up to the move.
Two Months Before Senior Relocation Move
The months before the move give seniors time to look for features they require in their new home as well as diving into the process of decluttering their current home.
Look for Mobility-Friendly Features
One of the keys to a successful senior relocation is finding a new home that allows seniors to move around without any concerns about mobility. Even seniors who currently do not have mobility issues will want to plan for the future and ensure that all the amenities are in place to allow you to move without limitations.
These include finding one-story homes with no stairs, accessible showers, bathtub handlebars, and wheelchair access at front entrances and throughout the home.
Get Quotes and Book Movers
With seniors relocations, it’s important to hire movers with experience in moving senior citizens. These companies will have all the services you will require to make the move go smoothly. The best movers will conduct either an in-person or video walk-through of your current home and offer a free estimate on the moving cost. It’s important to deal with movers who have a good reputation and high visibility. It’s important to stay vigilant in this area as the moving industry still attracts scam artists.
Movers will require setting a firm moving date, which will help seniors target when to complete certain tasks.
Declutter Belongings
This ranks among the most important issue for any kind of move, including a senior relocation. It’s also among the hardest. The best approach is to go one room at the time over a long period of time, giving you time to consider what you want to keep and what can go to family, friends, charitable organizations or sold as part of a yard sale. This is also a good time to check out the options for affordable junk removal services.
This is also a good time to do, or at least schedule a day to do, the following.
- Send deposit for new home/condo/apartment
- Find out about any move-in restrictions
- Call insurance agent to see what policy is needed for the new home
- Purchase moving insurance
- Create a floor plan using the dimensions of your new home (take pictures of current set-up if you want to repeat it in your new home)
- Reserve storage space, if needed
- Use moving company packing services or order the boxes, packing tape, bubble-wrap and other supplies need if you do it yourself
- Fill out a change of address form for the United States Postal Service
One Month Before Senior Relocation Move
The pace picks up in the month before the move, where a senior relocation requires you to handle more tasks as the big day approaches.
- Make the final list of everything that is coming with you to the new relocation once you have given way, sold or had a junk removal service take care of the rest.
- Notify physicians and other healthcare providers of your relocation and ask for referrals in your new area.
- Schedule disconnection of all current services. This includes landline phones, internet, cable, water, sewer, and electricity.
- Start the packing process on non-essential items you won’t use in your last month in your current home.
If you pack yourself, make sure to label each box by room and type of content. - Make a list of items you plan to transport in your own vehicle, such as pets, plants and jewelry
Notify institutions about your new change of address, including banks, credit card companies, the IRS, state department of motor vehicles. - Cancel any routine deliveries made to your home, including magazine subscriptions.
- Order checks from the bank with your new address
One-Two Weeks Before Moving
This is where the pace picks up on packing. Your home should start to empty out as everything starts to go into boxes except the absolute essentials.
- Confirm the date and time of Moving Day with your movers
- Fill all prescriptions so there is no gap in taking needed medication once you arrive at your new location
- Take photos of furniture and other items you plan to move
- Schedule a charity pickup for those items that you decide in the last few weeks not to take with you (there’s almost always at least one or two of these)
Moving Day
This is it! The big day has arrived.
Once the movers arrive, verify who they are before the moving starts. Quality moving companies will have identification. You will also have to sign moving documents before movers can start their work – now’s the time to ask any last-minute questions you might have about the move.
- Have a final walkthrough the house with the movers, letting them know what to do in each room (such as breaking down bed frames).
- Verify that utilities are working at your new location.
- Make sure you know where essential items – such as cleaning products, toilet paper, kitchen items and tools – are packed so you know where to find them once you reach your new home.
- After movers have taken everything out, check one last time to ensure that everything was taken.
Once you complete a senior relocation, it’s also important to monitor your health at your home and make sure you are physically fine. Moving is a long process and can wear out people of all ages. It’s best to keep an eye on yourself and your loved ones to ensure you are healthy and happy in your new home.