Helping Your Loved One Move to a Senior Living Community

Once you help your loved one choose the right senior living community, you’ll need a solid game plan to help them move in and transition well.

Consolidate Belongings

Keep the following in mind as your loved one sells their home and plans what possessions to keep:

• If this is not an urgent move and you have time to plan, adhere to a decluttering calendar throughout the year to make the process less overwhelming.
• Be thoughtful about special items you want to keep or give away.
• Talk with the senior living community to understand their requirements and limitations so you can create a helpful packing list.

Coordinate Moving Plans

Craft an air-tight plan to make move-in day as smooth as possible:

• Establish the timeline for move-in day, including tasks to accomplish and the senior living community’s hours of operation, policies, and procedures.
• Collaborate with the senior living community to know your loved one’s needs and preferences so they can assist with moving to their level of living.
• If your loved one is moving memory care, follow this guide to make the transition more comfortable.
• Include extra cushion time if things don’t go as planned, especially when traveling with a loved one with memory problems.
• Use Eldercare Locator to identify all available transportation and moving services in the area.

Gather Important Documents

Get your loved one organized in their new home with all the important documents they’ll need:

• Documents to access their retirement benefits
• Tax and other legal documents
• Their Medicare or Medicaid coverage that supports their care and level of living

Set Them Up for Success

As you help your loved one settle into their new home, aim to set them up for a successful lifestyle by:

• Adding helpful apps on their phone or computer to keep them safe and independent.
• Creating thoughtful, personalized dual-purpose spaces with whatever unique accommodations they have.
• Educating them on the importance of advocating for themselves and using their voice.
• Showing them the helpful technology available in the senior living community.
• Teaching them best practices to promote digital health and cyber security.

Make the Most of This Big Move

This move is a big change for everyone, which can seem very scary! Instead, view this as an opportunity for you and your loved one to put your best foot forward by:

• Celebrating milestones in their new home.
• Getting acquainted with the neighbors and associates.
• Getting involved in campus events, programs, clubs, and groups.
• Making plans to visit and do things outside of the community.

Do you have a plan in place for the future? Check out our free ebook, Plan the Future for You and Your Spouse’s Long-Term Care!

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.