Moving into an assisted living community can come with a lot of emotional and physical challenges. Trying to pare down belongings and handle moving logistics aren’t the easiest things to do. That’s why entering the process with a sense of structure is so important.
Read on to find the essential assisted living moving checklist!
Visit Your New Community
When it comes to assisted living transition tips, a big one is to visit your new home a few times first. Communicate with the senior community to set up times when you can visit prior to your official move-in. Doing this can be helpful on several levels.
First, you’ll be able to see the layout of your new apartment. You can measure the space to make sure your furniture fits. You may discover that you have more room than you think, or that you’ll need to choose some furnishings with a smaller footprint.
Second, you’ll be able to familiarize yourself with the space and feel more comfortable in it. Moving always is an emotional process. But the more time you can spend in your future home, the more it will start to feel like your home.
Evaluate Belongings
Any reputable senior moving guide will suggest inventorying belongings before doing any packing. If you’re moving from a larger home, or even a modest one, downsizing to a smaller apartment can feel daunting. If possible, enlist a family member or friend to help with this process.
You may only have room for select furniture items, like a bed, desk, and sofa. Be selective and sell or give away bulkier furniture pieces. You don’t want your new home to feel cluttered or overly small.
Keep items like books, games, or other types of entertainment. These will offer a fun diversion as you adjust to your new home. Even better, they could be a gateway to making new friends.
Choose framed photographs of family, friends, and familiar spaces to adorn your walls. Keep a few memorable items of personal value. And know that you’ll make someone else’s day brighter by donating items or passing them on to friends and family.
Tackle Logistical Concerns
Before leaving home, it’s important to tie up loose ends with utilities, mail, and other services. Visit the post office to ensure that mail will be forwarded to the new address. Cancel utilities and understand what is needed to set them up in the senior living community.
Notify different financial institutions about your new address. Reach out to your insurance company, credit cards, and banks.
Gather critical documents, like your will, and store them somewhere safe. You’ll want these accessible at all times, so it’s wise not to pack them in boxes that will be transported by movers. Instead, keep them in a purse or other personal bag.
You don’t want logistical concerns hanging over your head after a move. Take care of them right away so you can enjoy activities in your new community!
Handle Medical Needs
Moving to assisted living may mean that you’ll be transitioning to a new medical team. It’s wise to confirm all required medical record needs with the community ahead of time. That way, you can make arrangements for a seamless transition.
You will need to transfer medical records from an existing medical team. If you’re moving to a new geographic area, it’s particularly important to gather physical copies of all medical records.
You can ask for a digital copy, as well. You’ll want to pass these along to the necessary individuals in your new living community. This ensures that you’ll get the right medical care right away.
Similarly, check on prescriptions. If you’re getting them from a particular pharmacy, you’ll need to transfer those, as well.
Make Moving Arrangements
A checklist for senior move responsibilities will always include cementing moving arrangements. Even if you’re downsizing, you’ll still need help making the move. Moving is a physical process, and it’s best to outsource the heavy lifting.
Depending on the time of year, there may be competition to secure packing or moving services. Check with the assisted living community first to see if they have recommended movers. Then reach out to movers to get quotes on prices.
Confirm that movers are comfortable moving fragile or heavy items. Let them know that you’ll be moving to an assisted living community, too. They’ll want to know whether they’re moving items through shared hallways or parking lots.
Make sure any movers you hire are licensed and insured. You don’t want to be liable for costs if someone is injured moving your belongings. Read reviews on movers, too, to verify that they are professionals who do the job well.
Focus on Packing
Finally, approach packing with a sense of order and determination. Be organized by putting essential items together in boxes that you can access right away. Toiletries, glasses, and other similar items would be wise to group in a box.
Be sure to label the boxes with their contents. And give movers instructions so your most important boxes aren’t buried beneath other, less pressing boxes. You don’t want to hurt yourself trying to reach for a box.
Assisted living packing tips include labeling boxes to make identifying items easier. Using small boxes that are easier to lift will make unpacking with the help of family or friends easier, too.
On the other end, be patient with unpacking, and get some help doing it. You’ll move through the process more quickly. Plus you’ll be able to get input on how to arrange everything to create a welcoming, homey apartment.
Use This Assisted Living Moving Checklist
A comprehensive assisted living moving checklist starts with knowing the layout of your new space and paring down your belongings. Make arrangements for packing and moving help. And tie up loose ends with utilities and medical records.
At Granville Place, we provide the care and sense of community that helps our residents thrive. With appealing floorplans and a robust lineup of activities, our community has something for everyone.
Contact us today to learn more!
