One of the hardest changes to deal with is a move from one living arrangement to another. Moves are even more stressful on the emotions and finances for seniors who have accumulated a lifetime of memories and possessions in their homes.  Whether needing to de-clutter and downsize, moving to more appropriate housing such as assisted living or a nursing home to accommodate disabilities or conducting an estate or tag sale to raise funds, seniors and their families are often compelled to make transitions. These moves involve many steps, but if planned in advance and done properly, can leave both the seniors and their families in a better situation than before.

There are many companies that assist seniors and their families who are in the process of downsizing or transitioning. Here are some items to consider when faced with a transition:

Getting Prepared:  When a move is done with lots of time for planning and organizing, the individual will find him or herself in a more suitable, de-cluttered and safe environment at the end of the process. Having a plan in place may prevent impulsive and costly decisions that can result when a move is undertaken too quickly. With a moving plan written “just in case,” no time will be lost in trying to figure out what to do and there will be no financial or emotional surprises. Even in the face of an emergency, the transition can be carried out in an orderly way to maximize the value of the household goods in an estate sale that may even result in a profit for the family.

Without pre-planning or giving thought to disposal of precious items, items can end up as trash, sold at rock-bottom prices or in the worst case, the family will be forced to pay for disposal of items that could actually have been sold. While planning, consider if appraisals are needed as part of the process and if there are any family members who can actively participate in decision making.

Making A Move and Handling the Heirlooms:  Many transitions are the result of an unexpected emergency such as an illness, disability, a divorce or even an uncertain economy. A plan will help families keep precious heirlooms that mean so much and are full of a lifetime of memories, but at the same time, the individual will not be burdened by possessions that are no longer useful in the new home setting.  A key part of downsizing is to determine what items will fit in the new home, what items will be donated, shipped to friends and family or sold through venues such as national online auctions, estate or tag sales and other specialty venues. 

What You Can Do: The most important thing is to be prepared, whether you are transitioning yourself or transitioning a loved one. This means that you should know what you want to give to loved ones, what you want to take to a new place, what should be donated to a favorite charity or what should be sold.   

If this process is undertaken in an orderly way, the emotional and financial value of your household goods will be maximized and your living situation will be improved. 

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Source:  Donna Binney, Caring Transitions - Frederick, Howard and Carroll Counties; 301-829-3460 www.CaringTransitions.net