5 Strategies to Help Downsize for a Move to Assisted Living

March 15, 2016 by ·

Assisted Living in Satsuma AL

Getting ready for a move from a home where the senior has lived for more than 20 or 30 years into assisted living can certainly feel like an overwhelming challenge. The longer people remain in Assisted-Living-in-Satsuma-ALthe same home, the more likely they acquire a great deal of stuff.

This stuff may be valuable to some degree, or it might be a vast amount of mementos and other memory related items. Whatever the case may be, seniors typically can’t bring everything they own into their new living situation.

That means they will have to downsize in order to get ready for this move to assisted living. Here are five strategies that can make this particular move a bit easier and possibly even more enjoyable.

Strategy #1: Focus on small jobs.

Walking around the house and looking at every room, seeing all of the furniture, the birthday and Christmas cards, the art projects of grandkids, pictures and frames, and more can make it feel like the senior is never going to get things whittled down.

Instead, focus on small tasks at first.

Strategy #2: Make a list of every ‘small’ task.

Before beginning to pack and go through items, walk through the house and break tasks down into small sections.  Perhaps start with the living room and pack knick-knacks, books, pictures, and other items that are out on display first, before moving to larger items, such as furniture.

Strategy #3: Keep track of the calendar.

Once you have a list of all of those small tasks that need to be completed, spread them out over a specific length of time.  It’s easier and more manageable if you are able to pack up one room, or half of a room, every couple of days, as opposed to cramming everything into a day.  This will help keep the senior from waiting until the last minute to pack.

Strategy #4: Create a mock room.

Measure the room where the senior will be living in her new residence and then create that same exact space in her current home. She can arrange her bed, dresser, and other items and determine how much room she actually has for other items. This will make it easier to decide what she should bring, what she can bring, and what she needs to avoid.

Strategy #5: Rely on help.

If they have neighbors, friends, family members, and others all offering assistance to help them downsize, clean, and move, they should take full advantage of it all. There’s no reason to feel guilty when other people offer that assistance.

If the senior doesn’t have family or friends in the area, it may be beneficial to reach out to the community, local senior center, or even paid, professional help for at least several days leading up to the move, including the move itself.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Satsuma, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

 

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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