How to Move as A Senior
Today we live Longer and much healthier lives than the generations before us. This means that many Canadians are now in a position to consider moving well into their senior years. Whether you are downsizing, moving in with your family, moving into an assisted living community, or moving into a home better suited to your lifestyle and physical needs, it can be challenging to handle the move. If you are a senior needing to move, or a family member helping a senior with an upcoming move, read ahead for Mike the Mover’s tips on how to simplify the process for everyone involved.
Space
The first thing you should do is assess how much space you’ll have in your new place. If you need to downsize, you need to assess what you must take with you and ensure that you will have enough storage for your remaining items. Measure out your new location—it sometimes helps to visually see the space using tape on the floor in your existing location to fit your items within the space.
Get Supplies
Start by collecting boxes in many different sizes. You will want to make your boxes manageable but also ensure that larger items will be accommodated. Packing materials like bubble wrap or peanuts will be needed for your precious breakables. You will need permanent markers for labels and packing tape for closing boxes. A box cutter or utility knife will come in handy for unpacking. If you are disassembling any furniture, ensure you have plastic baggies for parts and screws and secure them to the items with tape. If you are hiring a moving company like Mike the Mover, ask what items are included or if they have what you need as part of the service.
Sort and Organize
Regardless of how much space you will have in the new place, moving is a time to dispose of what you no longer use or need. Travel space to space and place a sticker or piece of tape on the items you cannot part with. Label all items that can be sold and donated. If you are able, pack the ‘donate’ items and see if you can have them picked up. Many charities will collect everything from clothes and books to electronics for free. If you can, donate any food you cannot use to your food bank.
Depending on how many items you have to sell, you may want to recruit some help. Facebook and Kijiji marketplace users can photograph your items and get them online instantly. If you have a multitude of items, consider a yard sale or online auction site which will charge a percentage, but ensure everything is taken care of within your selected timeframe. Items you are keeping should be wrapped and packed with care and labelled with their future location in your new home.
Getting Help
As a senior, it’s important to assess what you can accomplish on your own safely. Figure out what you can do on your own such as packing boxes or labelling. You have accumulated many precious items over your lifetime, and you want to make sure they are taken care of. Consider tasks such as wrapping fragile items, shifting heavy boxes, and the bending and lifting involved. If these tasks pose a physical challenge, you will need to hire help. A moving company can assist with all of these tasks plus the heavy lifting. if you are hiring movers, ask about their covid protocols to ensure you will be protected. You should also consider asking for help to ensure your new home is cleaned before you move in and your old home is cleaned after you move out. You may get family or a friend to help or hire a company to ensure it’s done thoroughly.
Precious Items and Documents
Consider asking a friend or family member to care for your pets and plants on move day. Travel, weather, and jostling can all be dangerous to these and it’s better to have them away from the action if possible. A few weeks before the move, notify your bank, credit card and insurance companies, as well as the post office of your move. You can arrange for mail to be forwarded to your new address in case you forget anything. Notify your doctor of your move and if you have a medical condition, ensure medications are refilled and kept in a safe location for move day.
Your safe location should be an essentials bin labelled specifically for this task. It should also hold any important documents and files as well as the necessary items to make your first night comfortable such as a change or two of clothing and PJs, towel and toiletries, electronics, and chargers. Cleaning supplies, your coffee maker, any needed pet items, and tools for assembling furniture may also be added to your essentials kit. If you’ve prepared for your new space by downsizing your items, acquiring your supplies, packing your items, organizing the appropriate help for your move, and taking care of your most important items, you’ll be ready for moving day. The unexpected may present itself, but you’ve taken care of all the essentials so you can face whatever gets thrown at you. At Mike the Mover, we can take the stress of moving away with our comprehensive plans to meet your needs. Reach out to us today and find out how we can assist you to make your move simple and efficient!
