When it’s Time to Move
In the world of move management, assisting people who are moving from one home to the next is a regular occurrence, another day at the office, if you will. But for the people who are moving, there is nothing regular about it at all.
Moving is said to be one of life’s most stressful events, keeping company with death and divorce on that list. While moving to a new home can be exciting and an adventure into a new, positive chapter of life, that is not always the case. There are so many reasons to move, good and not so good. Whatever the cause, the process remains stressful for most people.
For the senior population, not only the moving process itself, but the decision to move can be quite challenging. The answer does not always come easily and often the answer is made by people other than the senior which can add confusion and stress. Many factors including declining health can heavily influence the decision. In these cases, a move may not be viewed as exciting or adventurous at all, and may be met with intense opposition.
In other cases, the senior has come to the decision independently and is ready to make a move. Sometimes the decision is fueled by the growing loneliness in the case of a surviving spouse. Sometimes the decision is easily made by the desire to give up homeowner maintenance responsibilities. The reasons are numerous, varied, and specific to each person.
Changes Signaling a Change
Lots of moves begin with inquiries from adult children on behalf of parents. They have observed new patterns of behavior that signify a change is needed. They may include:
Physical mobility issues: It may become increasingly difficult to climb stairs, and falls may become a more frequent occurrence.
Changes in medical care needs may warrant a different level of care.
Cognitive changes can lead to a host of concerning issues.
Home becomes unsafe with clutter buildup. Navigation may be challenging and homemade jerry-rigged remedies contribute to an unsafe environment.
More help is needed with activities of daily living (ADL) like hygiene and medication management.
Social isolation
Caregiver changes or burnout
These are just a few of many signs that a change in where and how a senior lives may be needed. The signs may be gradual or subtle at first, however, if left unchecked can turn into a serious and perhaps harmful situation. The roles reverse and the child is now responsible for the parent. It’s painful to see that the heroes in our lives are vulnerable and need help. It can be even more worrisome to manage when living far away from loved ones.
The best time to discuss a potential or imminent move is of course before changes are disruptive to life or when catastrophe is on the doorstep. It may take time to sort through all the concerns, emotions and expectations for everyone involved. So it’s even more important to begin the conversation early, well before a crisis strikes.That way everyone can gain a measure of comfort knowing that the best decision possible is made and carried out at the right time.
While the conversation is necessary, it’s not always easy, and the idea of a move may be met with some resistance. So, it’s especially important for the senior to have agency over their own decisions when at all possible, eliminating the feeling of being controlled. In all cases, it is certainly far better for everyone involved than being forced into decisions due to stressful, emergent circumstances when choices may be limited.
Look for the Helpers
As Mr. Rogers famously said to his audience of children, “Look for the helpers.You will always find people who are helping.” A Senior Move Manager® (SMM, a trademarked title of the National Association of Senior Move Managers) is one of those helpers and is equipped to manage all aspects of the move. We understand and coordinate not only the logistics of the move, we also recognize the emotional and intangible features of the move. The network of resources behind every SMM is plentiful and each detail of the move is handled with the same quality level of care. From the very first conversation to removing the last empty box from the new home, all aspects of the move are covered with the needs of your specific senior in mind.
Moving can be stressful enough under the best of circumstances and preparation goes a long way. Have the conversations, recognize the signs of change and look for the helpers when it’s time to move.