Tips for Helping Your Parents Make a Big Move

Oct 18, 2018 | Sponsored

While taking care of your parents might span years, there are people available to do the hard work of getting them moved out of their homes and into senior care. Barbara Morris, 70, is founder of Smooth Transitions, a senior move management company that helps prepare, sort, pack, and move your loved one’s belongings. Active adults also use her company to help them downsize and move. Barbara no longer does the hands-on work; she trains new licensees for her 24-year-old company, which now has licensees in 26 states. She’s a founding member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers. Barbara offers these tips on how clients can make moving into a new place easier on themselves and their families.

Move while you are in charge. “My mother-in-law used to say, ‘Move while you are in charge, while you can decide where you want to go, what you want to do, what to take, and what will happen to your stuff.’” Give yourself time to adjust.

“At first, she didn’t want to go to the dining room every night at the Forum, because she was a fabulous cook. Well, she went 360 degrees. She said, ‘The nicest thing about coming here is having dinner with people every night.’ She ate with certain people on Mondays and other people on other days. She made very deep friendships there. It helped her live 10 years longer.”

Get started even if you are on a waiting list. “We help clients develop a plan of things to do so they are ready to move forward when the time comes. If you aren’t ready when an opening comes, you will lose your place in line.”

Focus on what’s going to move. “Don’t worry about the basement, the attic, or the guest room. Focus on what you are going to take.”

Read more of Barbara’s tips here and check out our 300+ living options for your loved one. Today’s Transitions is a magazine for seniors and caregivers.

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