Successful Moves: Downsizing for Assisted Living

Moving to an assisted living community is a significant change. While it’s a great way to help a parent in need, the entire process takes some time to coordinate. Downsizing involves careful planning, thoughtful decisions, and family support to make the transition smoother.

Some tips for downsizing before a move to assisted living include:

• Make a timeline

• Get a floor plan

• Go room-by-room

• Ask for help

• Digitize documents

• Stay positive

With the right approach, downsizing is a chance to simplify and boost your loved one’s lifestyle.

Make a Timeline

Starting the downsizing process early is a great way to make moving easier. It reduces stress and increases the odds of a successful and smooth move.

Try working with your parent and creating a realistic timeline. Make sure you consider:

• Important dates or deadlines for the move
• Time needed for sorting and decluttering items
• Scheduled visits to the assisted living community
• Days allocated for packing and moving

Feel free to adjust this timeline as needed. Flexibility makes the process easier, so think of your schedule as a rough guideline. This approach makes the process much more manageable.

Get a Floor Plan

Once you have a timeline in place, reach out to the assisted living community for a floor plan. This helps you:

• Learn whether or not furniture is provided
• Plan out your loved one’s future space
• Figure out storage solutions and availability

This acts as a visual guide to help you make informed decisions together. For example, if their future home is furnished, you’ll need to make arrangements for your loved one’s furniture. A mock layout using this floor plan helps you know what space is waiting for your loved one. This makes it easier to begin downsizing and packing.

Go Room-by-Room

Downsizing a home is a big project. If you and your loved one aren’t careful, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Start packing by breaking the task into smaller, manageable chunks.

Separate their home room by room and work through these one at a time. This prevents the feeling of being overwhelmed by breaking the process down across weeks or months. Begin in the least used spaces—like the attic, basement, or storage areas—before tackling the bigger projects.

This method lets you evaluate each room’s contents slowly and methodically. Work with your loved one through everything they own in these smaller tasks, and the process will be smoother and less daunting.

It helps to break things into several piles as you work. Make piles of things to keep, sell, donate, and discard. This allows for thoughtful decision-making and makes sure everything finds a home.

Ask for Help

It can be daunting if you and your parents try to do everything yourselves. You’re not just getting rid of belongings—you’re working through everything your parents own. This is a large job, and sometimes, it can be a challenge to do this alone.

Instead, reach out to friends and family. Delegating tasks makes the process much more manageable, and having an extra set of hands on deck can make a significant difference. It also makes getting rid of some belongings easier—saving you the step of donating something when a loved one is willing to take it home with them.

This isn’t just practical, either. Having a support system for the job brings emotional benefits to the project. Your loved one will be surrounded by the people they love most and enjoy their companionship while downsizing their home. This supportive environment makes the move a more positive experience.

Digitize Documents

It’s important to preserve memories and important documents. However, they can also take up a great deal of space. So why not save a ton of space by digitizing them?

Make sure to choose the right tools and services to store things securely. A digital archive helps you store:

• Important records and legal documents
• Family photos and scrapbook pages
• Personal letters and sentimental writings
• Receipts and tax documents
• Medical records and prescription information

This saves space and provides peace of mind. It also reduces the risk of losing valuable information in the move.

Stay Positive

Throughout this process, try to stay positive. It’s an emotional journey for you and your parent—especially if you have plenty of memories in their old home. Maintaining a positive outlook can make all the difference in the world.

Focus on the benefits of the move, such as:

• A maintenance-free lifestyle
• Brand new social opportunities
• A variety of services and experiences
• Everyday professional support

Prioritize open communication with your loved one throughout this process. It plays an important role in alleviating anxiety or frustration. This positive attitude simplifies the transition and helps your loved one feel supported every day—just like they deserve.

Your Loved One’s Future Home Awaits

Successfully downsizing for assisted living is more than a chance to declutter. It’s a way for your parent to prepare for this new chapter in their life. With these steps, you can simplify the transition and increase the chances of a successful move.

In our community at Mira Vie at Warren, we’re ready to welcome your parent with open arms. Book a tour with one of our communities today—your loved one’s future home awaits!