Moving On

No matter how old you are, moving is one of those good news/bad news events. The optimist looks forward to a “fresh start,” while the pessimist views the experience as “having to start over.” Both are right.

There are many positive reasons to scale down to the easier lifestyle of a formal retirement community: safe, comfortable designs; liberation from difficult household chores; the convenience of lock-it-and-leave-it; recreation, educational and social activities; meal preparation, cleaning, and laundry services; transportation; on-site emergency response and medical care. 

One way to handle the downside of a move is to cast the home in a favorable light. As people age, it is natural for them to feel more vulnerable, so housing designed for safety and access can provide a psychological benefit. Proximity to medical, social and support services can be a welcome change. For those who live alone, moving to a community of peers may offer the promise of a new circle of friends.

Making the decision to move is the first, but not necessarily the hardest, step. After making the initial decision, seniors need to tackle a number of essential tasks: taking inventory of accumulated possessions, deciding what to keep and what to dispose, selling the existing residence, planning the arrangement of the new space, packing up, and moving. For many seniors who will be downsizing to smaller homes or apartments, a major obstacle is how to deal with a lifetime’s accumulation of “things.”

To help overcome procrastination, seniors may want friends and family to join the planning process and help with the transitions. Or, they may prefer to enlist the professional services of an objective third party. Many seniors find the latter arrangement less tense than working with their own children. In most areas, services are available to help seniors plan and carry out all phases of the decision to scale back and move. We at Manter Realty can provide you with a list of recommended services to help with your transition.