How to Downsize when Moving into a Retirement Community
Published on January 18, 2019
Adjusting to retirement community living can be a unique challenge. The process involves making changes like leaving behind a home that holds sentimental value and memories. Framing your mind around the benefits of retirement community living and planning your move carefully with the help of your loved ones can make this process smoother and less stressful. Here are some tips for how to downsize when moving into a retirement community.
Understand Your Emotions & Visualize Your New Space
Getting excited about moving to a retirement community can help you deal with the stressful aspects of moving. You can do this by understanding your emotions and visualizing your new space in a positive way. Think of your move as a way to downsize into a more manageable space. Consider all of the new services and amenities your retirement community can offer you. Think about how convenient it will be to host your family and friends, when your household tasks are taken care of for you by Team Members at the retirement community. There are so many benefits of moving into a retirement community, especially the ease and convenience to enjoy your time doing things you love, rather than housekeeping and suffering from loneliness and the challenges of aging.
Start with the Less Sentimental Items
We all have items in our home that hold sentimental value. Begin packing and organizing in areas with less valuable items, such as your garage or basement. You may be surprised how easy it is to clear through these areas! Getting a solid start early on will make tackling areas with more sentimental items, like the living room, kitchen, and bedroom easier. It may also help to organize your items into things to throw away, donate or recycle, give away as gifts, and keep. You can take this time to set aside items for your children, grandchildren, or friends.
Don’t Do it Alone
Packing, cleaning, and organizing yourself before a big move out of your home is a stressful, time consuming, and sometimes overwhelming project to handle on your own. Ask your relatives or friends to help you with your move, or hire a moving company or professional downsizing firm to handle the bigger, heavier aspects. Remember that moving is difficult for everyone, and you should never be afraid to ask for help.
Take Care of the Paperwork
When you are moving, you may need to change your address, transfer utilities to someone else, or finalize registration at your new retirement community. Make sure these aspects are handled earlier, to avoid scrambling later on. You may need to update your bank accounts, credit card accounts, driver’s license and vehicle registration, insurance policies, investment and retirement accounts, medical care and social security, mailing registrations, and voter registration information.
Choose V!VA Retirement Communities
While there are many options to choose from when searching for a retirement living solution, V!VA Retirement Communities is one of the best. Our Team Members have created a community where Members feel comfortable and safe as they build new friendships and enjoy an active life.
We are one of the few strong and successful privately-owned and independent developers in the senior living field, and we provide a variety of amazing services to our Community Members, including cuisine prepared by Red Seal chefs, fitness and recreation programs, amenities, and more.
Our retirement living options include independent living, assisted living, and respite care for seniors. We have locations in Barrhaven, Mississauga, Pickering, Thornhill Woods, Ancaster, Carleton Place, Oakville and Whitby.
To learn more about us and to find out if our retirement community is right for you or your parents, e-mail us at info@vivalife.ca or call us at 1-888-984-8482.
