Moving to a new home can be challenging for anyone. Still, the transition can be challenging for seniors relocating to an assisted living community in another state. Leaving behind familiar surroundings, friends, and family can be stressful and emotional. However, careful planning and preparation can make their move to assisted living in Pearl, MS, a smooth and successful experience.
You can do more to make the process easier for you and your loved one. If you plan appropriately in advance, you can turn the process into a fun activity. This article will discuss eight steps for moving seniors across states to assisted living communities.
1. Plan Ahead
Moving across states requires careful planning and preparation. Begin by researching the assisted living communities in the area where you plan to relocate your loved one. Consider factors such as location, amenities, and services offered. Tour several communities to understand the best fit for your loved one.
Once you have selected a community, work with the staff to coordinate the move. They can provide valuable resources and advice to help make the transition as smooth as possible. They can also help you with tasks such as arranging for transportation, coordinating with movers, and scheduling necessary medical appointments.
When doing this, ensure you understand the critical elements of how senior living communities work. For instance, once you have identified an ideal senior living community, find out what is included in the apartments in furnishing so that you can decide which furniture to move with. If they offer beds, for instance, it would not be ideal for moving with a bed to the senior living community.
2. Create a Moving Checklist
Creating a moving checklist can help you stay organized and on track throughout the moving process. Your list should include packing, notifying utility companies and service providers of your move, and arranging mail forwarding.
Make sure to include any specific tasks that are unique to your loved one, such as arranging for the transportation of medical equipment. Today, you can use apps as checklists to help you out. Writing things down helps you not forget essential items.
3. Pack Strategically
Packing for a move can be a daunting task, especially when you are moving across states. When packing for a senior, it’s vital to pack strategically to ensure that essential items are easily accessible. Pack a separate bag with a few days’ worth of clothing and personal items your loved one will need immediately. Label boxes clearly and indicate which items are fragile or require special handling.
4. Downsize and Declutter
Moving is an excellent opportunity to downsize and declutter. Go through your loved one’s belongings and decide which items should be kept, donated, or sold. Downsizing can be complex and emotional, so be patient and allow your loved one to take their time with this task.
It may be necessary to help them with this process, discussing reasons on what to keep and what to let go. This process can also be used to make a little money by selling unwanted items through a yard sale. If you’re interested, you can sell them to third parties, including pawn shops, or donate still-usable items.
5. Arrange for Transportation
Transportation is a critical aspect of the moving process. You must arrange transportation if your loved one cannot drive or fly. Consider options such as hiring a professional moving company specializing in senior moves or arranging for a family member to drive your loved one to their new home.
If your loved one requires specialized transportation due to medical needs, work with their doctor and the assisted living community to coordinate transportation. This may involve arranging for an ambulance or medical transport service.
6. Notify Service Providers
Before you move, it’s crucial to notify utility companies and service providers of your change of address. This includes notifying the post office, cable and internet providers, and medical providers. Make sure also to inform insurance companies and banks of the change.
This is important for many reasons, the most important of which is to avoid accruing large bills over a long time. In such a scenario, one would have few options apart from paying off the bills. It’s easy to forget to do this, but it can cost a lot in the long term.
7. Arrange for Medical Care
Before the move, arrange for necessary medical care in your loved one’s new location. This may include finding a new primary care physician or arranging in-home medical care. Suppose your loved one has specific medical needs, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. Communicate these needs to the assisted living community to ensure that they can provide appropriate care.
Find out details about the medical services they can get in the senior living community and the ease with which they can get advanced medical care if need be. For instance, if a hospital is nearby, find out if the senior living community can take guests with critical care if they need such services.
8. Get Involved in the Community
One of the best ways to help your loved one adjust to their new surroundings is to get involved in the community. Encourage them to participate in activities and events in the assisted living community. This can help them make new friends and feel more at home in their new environment.
The good news is that most senior living communities offer various activities and events to suit all personalities. It will be easy for guests to find an activity comfortable, allowing them to interact with their peers easily.
Final Words
Moving seniors across states to assisted living communities requires careful planning, preparation, and patience. You can make this process much easier by planning, creating a moving checklist, packing strategically, downsizing and decluttering, arranging transportation, and notifying service providers. Lastly, you can enlist a mover’s help to handle the physically demanding process of moving heavy items, especially if your parent is moving with heavy things such as furniture.
