Moving To Assist A Senior Loved One: Everything You Need To Know
A little bit different kind of blog today. I hope you’ll enjoy this guest blog by Claire Wentz who is a former home health nurse and recognizes that our aging population means many more people will become senior caregivers over the years. Specifically, she is interested in providing assistance and support to those caregivers who do not live near their loved ones. She hopes her writing will inform, them, uplift them, and give them peace of mind when they need it.
As your parents or other loved ones age, you may wonder how best to help them. If you currently live too far awayto assist them on a regular basis, you may be thinking about moving closer. Before you start packing, consider the timing of your move, the ways you're willing to help, and the logistics of the move.
How To Know When To Move
If you live far away, it may be difficult to know when your aging loved ones need help. The simplest method is to ask. Be sure to check in regularly over the phone. Everyone struggles sometimes, but if your loved ones begin to have trouble with multiple major tasks — paying bills, doing housework, socializing, or transportation — it may be time to start thinking about a move.
Have a conversation with your loved ones. Explain how you want to help. Discuss as a team whether it's best for your loved ones to move into a smaller home or stay in their current home and whether it's more practical for you to move in with them or find your own place. Decide on a timeline.
How To Help Your Senior Loved Ones
Depending on your loved ones’ needs and your ability to help, assistance may include:
• Physical help, such as cleaning and transportation
• Organizational help, such as setting up bill payments and keeping a schedule
• Emotional support, such as lending a listening ear and planning social outings
You may provide assistance once a week, once a day, or 24/7.
If you plan to provide help around the house, look at your loved ones’ current home and determine whether it’s within your ability to maintain. If the home is large or in need of repairs, it may be time to downsize.
Decide ahead of time the specific ways you can help. Then you can decide if it's best for you to move to the same city, to the same neighborhood, or into the same house as your loved ones.
How To Move With Less Stress
Planning your move well in advance can make the process easier. Once you’ve discussed living situations with your senior loved ones, get preapproved for a mortgage. This allows you to start looking at neighborhoods and homes within your price range and move quickly once you find the perfect house.
Start decluttering as soon as you know you want to move. The more time you have to go through your closets, the less stressful it is. If you’re moving in with your senior loved ones, you may not need all your kitchenware or cleaning supplies in the new space. Get rid of anything unnecessary, and help your senior loved ones do the same.
Take the pressure off of yourself and your senior loved ones by hiring movers to do the heavy lifting. This way you can focus on your loved ones’ needs, and you can avoid potential injury.
Move Forward With Confidence
Whether you’re considering moving to assist your senior loved ones next year or next decade, the keys to success are thinking ahead and communicating clearly.
Aging and major life transitions can be challenging to navigate. Browse books by Margie Harding for encouragement and reflections on all seasons of life.