Tips on helping your aging parents with their move
Category Advice
At some point, it becomes clear that your parents need extra care and attention and that living on their own is not an option anymore.
When helping your elderly parents with the move, it is important to consider a safer home environment that can lead to a more active lifestyle.
It often takes just a little preparation to prevent a nasty accident - and usually, the extra safety measures will benefit everyone else in the family to, says Gerhard Kotzé, MD of the RealNet estate agency group.
"And the place to start is the bathroom, which is usually the most dangerous room in the house for seniors. Slippery floors, hard objects and sharp corners are not the best combination for those whose balance is in question, and the minimum suggested safety precautions to avoid falls and fractures are showers instead of baths, non-skid rubber strips or mats in standing areas and sturdy grab rails next to the shower and toilet."
In the kitchen, Kotzé says hot stove plates and sharp utensils are the usual injury culprits, but it also helps if all taps, electrical sockets and appliance controls are within easy reach. In addition, nothing flammable should be kept near the stove and countertops, and cupboards should be at a convenient height for the seniors in the household.
SEE: Home safety tips for seniors
Whether it's part of a care home, smaller house closer to you, or even in your own home, it's a necessary step to take to ensure your parents are safe and happy, says Carla-Mari Moore, COO Biggles Removals
With this in mind, here are nine useful tips to help your elderly parents to move into a new home:
1. Include them when making any moving arrangements or decisions
When deciding its' time to move to a new home, speak with your parents about all of the options available to them. Ask them about care homes or stand-alone homes.
Find out when their schedules will be open to take on such a big move. Having this discussion beforehand will ensure that everyone is on the same page and that moving into a new home will be the best decision at the best time, with the least amount of stress.
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2. Create a detailed moving plan
Many elderly parents see moving as a huge change. Moving can bring a lot of confusion and stress, making it difficult for them to enjoy the idea of moving into a new home. Creating a moving plan, complete with a detailed schedule, will help your parents to feel some reassurance during the transition into a new home.
3. Take some time to downsize their belongings
Over the years, many elderly people have accumulated a whole collection of belongings that take over every corner of their home. Saying goodbye to these belongings will be the most difficult part of moving into a new and smaller home.
Start off small by having your parents sort through their things and categorize what has enough sentimental value to keep and what they can leave behind. All of the things that are not special enough to move can either be left with family members or can be donated to someone else.
4. Do some research on nearby resources
Moving to a new area means moving into a whole new environment, filled with new shops, new services and new people.
Take some time to locate important services such as nearby hospitals, doctors, libraries, pharmacies etc. This will make your parents feel more familiar with the new area and will help them realise where they need to go in case of an emergency. This will also give you time to prepare all necessary healthcare services in your parent's new area e.g. getting a new doctor and transferring all of their prescriptions and medical files.
5. Hire a team of professionals
Hiring a team of professionals means less time spent on packing and more time spent with your parents. The moving team will be the muscle behind the operations, while you and your parents can cover the planning thereof. Having a team of movers on hand will ease a lot of stress for your parents, and definitely for yourself as well.
6. Make sure to switch their utilities in time
When moving into a new home, remember to sit with your parents and discuss what is still outstanding with regards to their utility bills. The first step is to pay all utilities still outstanding to ensure there are no loose ends. The second step is to contact all of the utility companies your parents do business with, to ensure they are aware of the big move. This will ensure that when your parents move into their new home, there will be no inconveniences and that everything is in perfect working order.
7. Plan transportation for the big move
Here, you will need to sit with your parents and discuss any requirements when it comes to travelling. Are they fine with long distances? Do they need frequent breaks? Is there any medical equipment needed while travelling? All of these will help you to determine which type of transportation is needed for your parents to ensure safe and comfortable transport.
8. Make the new house feel like a home
Help your parents set up some old photos or sentimental items. Taking some time to create a space that feels familiar and comfortable will ease the transition your parents are going through. Take some time to walk through the new house with your parents. This will help them to familiarize themselves with their new space and will help them adjust a lot faster.
9. Reassure them that this is what's best for them
Take some time to explain that moving into a new home can bring along many opportunities and exciting changes. Have them explore their surroundings and help them to find and discover new hobbies, such as cafes and art galleries. All that matters is that you have to be there for them and show them that change is not necessarily a bad thing.
Author: Property 24