Senior Moving: Starting the Conversation

Written By: It's Your Move

For most people, making the decision to move to an adult community, Continuing Care Retirement Community (or CCRC) or assisted living community is a big step, getting there may be an even bigger one.

Starting the family conversation can be a difficult thing for adult children, grandchildren and other concerned family members to do. In many cases, elders may not be ready to have conversation about a move that they are resistant to making, ever. While you are testing the waters and contemplating when may be the optimal time to bring up the subject, consider helping them quietly get started on their next phase of life.

Some small projects that help them focus on the many happy years and memories they have shared in their present home may help set the stage for later conversation and action. Making scrapbooks and memory books can help begin what will feel like closure later on. Taking photos of each room can serve as a way to document what is in each room and give you the opportunity to share memories from each place in the house. Pairing photos with favorite memories can be fun and help folks remember that the memories are still clear.

Starting small with sorting projects, a back closet, a space that could be used differently to better meet current needs, can begin to set the stage for a request for conversation a little later on.

Once you have a signal that parents may be open to discussion about a future residence, there are many factors that go into such a decision; trading a familiar neighborhood and old friends for a new and congregate living environment full of new faces: giving up a measure of privacy and responsibility in exchange for a simpler life, greater socialization, and freedom from home maintenance. All of these are generally considered to be pluses but for many families, the greatest hurdle is how to get from where the senior/s is presently living to where they would like to go. That’s where a move manager can help…

For most people, making the decision to move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community or CCRC is a big step, getting there may be an even bigger one.

There are many factors that go into such a decision; trading a familiar neighborhood and old friends for a new and congregate living environment full of new faces: giving up a measure of privacy and responsibility in exchange for a simpler life, greater socialization, and freedom from home maintenance. All of these are generally considered to be pluses but for many families, the greatest hurdle is how to get from where the senior/s is presently living to where they would like to go.

Learn More About It's Your Move, Inc. @ www.itsyourmoveinc.com

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