4 EASY STEPS BEFORE YOUR MOVERS COME TO PACK

When you're young, you may desire with multiple floors and big kitchens for entertaining friends and raising your family. We want beautiful yards with gardens and lush landscapes; dogs, cats, fish, and all kinds of things. As we age, those things might become difficult to maintain and upkeep; like cooking meals, bathing, laundry, running errands, taking medicine, operating electronics and even once-easy tasks like using household appliances all become tougher and tougher.The first questions is not how to get into assisted living with no money. Rather, it is; Am I ready - or is my parent ready for assisted living?  Its Tough Making the Move to Assisted Living for you or your loved one, We Can Help!Legend Senior Living Associates have fielded many questions from loved ones about how to move a parent with dementia to assisted living.  Its necessary when things that your parents used to do are now impossible to do independently or when their quality of care decreases to the point where its dangerous and potentially life threatening for them to not have some sort of aid.More than 15 million Americans are currently devoting love, time and care to aging loved ones with Alzheimers and Dementia care needs and sometimes it can be difficult, expensive, and time consuming; thats why assisted living residences are there to give you a helping hand! Heres list of 12 symptoms and signs its time for assisted living:Aggression with dementia or Alzheimers is one of the first signs that its time to start considering placement in assisted living , simply to ensure the safety of everyone. A condition called Sundowning often causes aggression or agitation in the evening.When caregiving is causing Caregiver Stress or burnout these signs can be just as telling as other symptoms. This stress is often damaging to the emotional relationship between you and your loved ones.When you notice an increase in care needs, or escalating care (like helping get someone to the bathroom or helping support most/all a persons weight) that can put a caregiver at risk.Wandering (especially in later stages of dementia) is one of the leading risks of slip and fall hazards.Ensuring seniors are eating healthy, balanced meals, getting vitamins, and have a supply of fresh nutritious food in the refrigerator and pantry that isnt expired. Many aging adults and those with memory needs forget to remove old, expired, or spoiled food.Aging adults with memory care needs or other seniors taking medication dosage correctly and at the right time. Assisted living residences provide seniors medication management and medication problem avoidance. Medical staff at assisted living residences also know things like the safest NSAID (like ibuprofen) for seniors (over 65 years) as well as other medications.When you need medical care or supervision for your loved one in the case of an emergency. Assisted living residences are perfect when theres a risk of a potential health issue, slip and fall, or wandering as theres always staff available and medical help a few minutes away.To keep important financial tasks like paying bills on time, as well as opening and disposing of mail to prevent mail fraud or identity theft.To help seniors get around without hurting themselves. Senior drivers often exhibit physical and mental changes as they age; like slower response time, losses in clarity and vision, drowsiness due to medications, reduction of the ability to focus, or may even judge distances incorrectly and these mistakes can be deadly. Assisted living residences provide free transportation services and safety for everyone on the road.When your loved one struggles with dressing, changing clothing, or is unable to shower or groom themselves. Often, seniors that arent in assisted living homes can go days without showering or changing clothes.When your aging loved one isnt engaging in their favorite hobbies, talking and socializing, or going out and about.If your loved one is exhibiting depression, loneliness, isolation, or the inability to cook or clean without assistance. This goes along with being unable to do the things they once loved to do. Making a Transition to Assisted Living for Seniors Also Makes the Transition Smoother on YouWhile making the decision to move a senior into assisted living is a tough choice, making a transition now rather than later helps adjust and keeps your ageing loved ones safer. You can start the touring process with assisted living communities; finding friendly staff, comfortable features, activities and friendships for your loved ones, as well as a clean environment with a pleasant dining experience and peace of mind.Youll soon find that assisted living residences only require a small initial adjustment before theyre the best opportunity for socialization, dining, activities, personalized care and effective care action plans in place (leaving you in charge without physically doing it all yourself) which is a large burden off of your shoulders.

In a market where home prices have increased, and interest rates stifled buying power, downsizing appeals to those ready to ditch their mortgage and big spaces. An article on Business Insider cited the National Association of REALTORs, which stated that Baby Boomers were the leading sellers in the market. For seniors, downsizing may feel overwhelming. However, partnering with Senior Moves and the team of senior move managers simplifies the process and helps every client feel excited and empowered about their move to a new, smaller home. Table of Contents:What is Deliberate Downsizing?How We Help Downsize and DeclutterHow to Downsize Personal PossessionsTop Tips for DownsizingA Comprehensive Checklist for Seniors DownsizingShould I Downsize My Home?Synopsis:Many seniors downsize in retirement, moving to a smaller home with fewer responsibilities. Senior move managers help retirees and seniors as they work through downsizing. From helping seniors understand what items to keep to creating a checklist of possessions, professional senior move managers offer helping hands and a helpful and compassionate heart during the move.What is Deliberate Downsizing?When clients choose to downsize deliberately, they are ready and prepared to decrease their possessions to move to a smaller space. Clients who initiate deliberate downsizing want to live with less and are happy to sell or donate items they no longer want or need. Not every client is prepared for deliberate downsizing. For some, downsizing feels overwhelming. Helping seniors prepare to minimize possessions is a process. However, professional senior move managers help clients understand they can keep the items that mean the most to them. Downsizing efforts focus on uncovering items that are not cherished, special, or necessary.How We Help Downsize and DeclutterThe team at Senior Moves guides the downsizing process for clients. We work side-by-side with every client to help them understand what possessions bring them happiness (and must be kept), and we listen to them during this process.Conversations are so important for downsizing preparation. Every possession holds a memory, and distinguishing the items with the most powerful and impactful memories serves as a litmus test for helping seniors decide which items to move to their next home.During the downsizing dialogue, Senior Moves team members help seniors uncover items they are thrilled to discard. We all have possessions or items that weigh us down and take up space, yet discarding these items can be a task we would all rather avoid.Senior move managers discover all the items in a home that help seniors lighten their load. Once they learn that important items move on with them, sorting through other items with less emotional value feels a bit freeing.Senior Moves believes that possessions should never be tossed away without a conversation. There must be a method, a process, and, most importantly, a big heart when helping anyone downsize.As senior move managers and seniors sort through items, the process lends to natural decluttering. Old papers, broken items, outdated clothing, and other unwanted or unnecessary items should be sorted into piles for donating to charities, recycling, or for the weekly trash pickup. Feel the Love: How to Downsize Personal PossessionsSenior Moves recommends that any individual preparing to downsize should start thinking about the items they own with a heart scale. Think of how much love or joy the item brings; the emotional pull could be tied to a garment that looks amazing or a card that holds significant joy. Use our Heart Chart to help understand how to rank the emotional value of items:Heart RatingMeaningFive hearts denote absolute joy or love towards an item. These are the items you cannot live without and cannot imagine losing. Examples include photos, precious notes/cards, favorite clothing, family mementos, etc.Four hearts distinguish really loved items. While you could live without them, they still hold deep meaning. Examples of four heart Items could include favorite books, special knick knacks, etc.Three heart items are those that you would rather keep, but if you didnt have room for them, it wouldnt be the end of the world. Think of this heart rating as a neutral feeling. You dont dislike the item, but you definitely dont love it. These items might be donated or tossed.One heart feels the least love. If the emotion for the item is this low, move on from it. Senior Moves Top Tips for DownsizingSeniors should not try to downsize on their own. A houseful of possessions requires helping hands. When we help seniors downsize, we follow a few guidelines. Here are five tips for downsizing the Senior Moves way: Never try to sort items in one day. Downsizing is a slow process. We always allow seniors time to process emotions and think through each item.Have a professional help schedule donations. Senior Moves manages donations for all clients. In addition, think of charities where you wish to donate unwanted items. What you dont love could be the five-heart item in someones life! Spread the love!Understand that extra trash pickups may be necessary. Senior Moves helps clients work with waste management companies to schedule pick up for bulk items.Remember to recycle. Dont just throw items in the trash. Consider recycling items that can take on another life through sustainability. Senior Moves also helps clients sort recyclable items.Consider giving some items to family members. Some seniors pass on furniture or other items to their children or grandchildren. This is a great solution for saving loved items that would not fit in a new and smaller space.A Comprehensive Checklist for Seniors DownsizingSenior Moves strives to be certain that no item goes uncheckedliterally! Our senior move team uses a comprehensive checklist to track items during downsizing. Not only does this help us understand where items are located once they are packed, but we also can help seniors track donated or discarded items.Our tracking system helps our clients know every item's location (and destination). Nothing is misplaced, lost, or wrongly donated (or discarded).Should I Downsize My Home?Not every senior is ready to downsize, but some clients simply cannot wait to make the move to a smaller home. As Kiplinger reported, others upgrade to a larger space; about one out of every three seniors go bigger in retirement.For those ready to downsize or thinking about moving into a smaller home, contact Senior Moves to inquire about our downsizing services. Our senior move managers guide you through downsizing, helping you ease into a move. Reach out today for a consultation.

Welcome to A Call to Order Professional Organizer, where we specialize in providing compassionate and personalized senior organizing services designed to help you master change with grace and confidence. In this heartfelt guide, we'll explore the transformative power of senior organizing and offer practical tips tailored to your unique needs. From decluttering and downsizing to creating harmonious living spaces, our team is here to support you every step of the way on your journey of change.Embracing Change with CourageChange can be daunting, especially as we grow older and face new challenges and transitions. Whether you're downsizing to a smaller home, moving into assisted living, or simply seeking to streamline your surroundings, embracing change requires courage and resilience. At A Call to Order Professional Organizer, we understand the emotional complexities of change and are committed to helping you navigate this journey with compassion and care.Tips for Mastering Change with Senior OrganizingStart with Reflection: Before embarking on your journey of change, take some time to reflect on your goals, values, and priorities. What do you hope to achieve through this process? What aspects of your current living situation are serving you well, and what areas could benefit from improvement? By gaining clarity on your intentions, you can approach the organizing process with purpose and intentionality.Create a Vision: Once you've reflected on your goals, create a vision for your ideal living environment. What does your ideal space look and feel like? What elements are essential for creating a sense of comfort, harmony, and joy? Use this vision as a guiding light throughout the organizing process, helping you stay focused and motivated as you work towards your goals.Take Small Steps: Change can feel overwhelming when viewed as a monumental task, but breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps can make it feel more attainable. Start by tackling one area of your home at a time, whether it's a single room, closet, or drawer. Celebrate each small victory along the way, knowing that every step forward brings you closer to your ultimate goal.Declutter with Compassion: Letting go of belongings can be an emotionally charged process, especially when they hold sentimental value. Approach decluttering with compassion and kindness towards yourself. Ask yourself whether each item serves a purpose or brings you joy, and if not, consider letting it go. Remember that decluttering isn't about getting rid of everything, but rather creating space for the things that truly matter to you.Seek Support and Guidance: You don't have to navigate this journey alone. Reach out to friends, family members, or professionals who can offer support and guidance along the way. A Call to Order Professional Organizer is here to provide personalized assistance tailored to your unique needs and preferences. Whether you need help decluttering, organizing, or navigating a move, our compassionate team is dedicated to supporting you every step of the way.Embrace the Process: Change is a natural part of life, and embracing the process can lead to growth, transformation, and new opportunities. Embrace the journey of change with an open heart and a positive mindset, knowing that each step forward brings you closer to a life that reflects your values and priorities. Trust in your ability to adapt and thrive in the face of change, knowing that you have the support and resources you need to succeed.At A Call to Order Professional Organizer, we understand that mastering change requires courage, resilience, and support. Our compassionate team is dedicated to providing personalized senior organizing services tailored to your unique needs and preferences. Let us be your partner on your journey of change, guiding you with empathy and expertise as you create a living environment that reflects your values and priorities. With our support, you can embrace change with grace and confidence, knowing that you have the tools and resources you need to thrive in your new chapter of life.