Moving from one home to another requires a lot of work and often comes with heavy emotions. When seniors move,
however, there are additional concerns. After a lifetime of making memories and gathering items with sentimental
value, there’s a lot of added stress to this move.
Find Specialized Professionals
When it’s time to sell one home and buy another, enlist the help of a certified senior housing professional or a
seniors real estate specialist. These are realtors with training specific to the needs of seniors, from understanding the
complex emotions that may accompany the move to working through finances:
- Reverse mortgages
- Senior housing availability
- Downsizing
- 401k, IRAs, and pensions
- Aging in place options
In addition to helping directly, these specialists often offer further resources and referrals to other professional
equipped to work with seniors.
Hire Experienced Movers
Hiring professional movers offers several benefits, such as reducing the risk of injury while handling heavy
items, decreasing the stress associated with organizing and packing, and increasing your loved one’s peace of mind.
Experienced movers are skilled at packing and protecting fragile items and are better prepared to care for antiques
and memorabilia than friends and family members. These professionals are also accountable for any lost or damaged
items. Finally, with the aid of experienced movers, your loved one’s transition will take less time and move along
more smoothly.
Identify Health Risks
One of the main reasons seniors move is that their existing homes can’t be adapted to health and age-related needs.
When looking at potential homes, watch out for risks:
- Raised thresholds
- Frayed carpets
- Old and exposed cords
- Lack of lighting
- Slippery surfaces
It’s also important to adapt the home before move-in day. A few of these steps include adding non-slip flooring,
installing rails on both sides of stairways, increasing lighting, switching doorknobs and appliance controls for easier
use, and placing grab bars in showers and next to the toilet.
Increase Safety at Home
It’s also important to be aware of crime rates in the new community, but even in “safe” neighborhoods, take steps
to protect your loved one:
- Install windows that are easy to lock and unlock.
- Pay for a security system and include exterior lighting and cameras.
- Add lighting to the landscape and remove potential hiding spots.
- Increase the safety of the garage with updated locks and keycodes. Cover windows to hide valuable
possessions inside.
According to security experts, the most common entry points for burglars are back doors, garages, and unlocked
entrances. With a little bit of research and a few extra precautions, you can feel confident that your loved one is safe.
Re-Key All Locks
When it’s time to get settled into the new home, make sure that all locks are re-keyed. This move is less expensive
than completely changing all the locks but still increases the safety of your loved one. It also has the dual benefits of
making sure that strangers don’t have keys to the house and locks are upgraded to good-quality products.
Do some research to be sure you’ve hired a reputable locksmith. When you’re ready to hire, search Angi
locksmith options and look at the site’s available customer testimonials while taking note of ratings from past
clients. One good way to know you’re working with a top-rated professional is to ask for proof of insurance and
bonding. Ask whether the professional offers a warranty. You should expect to pay between $50 to $150 per door
but be aware that some factors may affect that price. Check out the services of at least three locksmiths so that you
have valid comparison information.
Helping your loved one safely move to a new home doesn’t have to be stressful. With specialized help and a bit of
research, you and your loved one can feel comfortable in the new location.
This is a guest post from Elder Freedom, an organization of advocates working for the older adults of our community. It is their mission to help locate resources, events, and engagement opportunities to help enrich the lives of seniors!