Moving a Senior? 5 Important Reasons to Call a Senior Move Manager First!

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.

Spring Cleaning ChecklistThe weather is starting to turn, and it's time to indulge in the annual spring-cleaning ritual. Its extra important for seniors to conduct spring cleaning checklists and let go of items that pose potential threats. So, clean out your garage, straighten up your parents' home and prepare your living area for the season ahead! Take a look at BrightStar Cares guide to tidying up as the seasons change. Dispose of Harmful Items First things firstget rid of any items that may be harmful. We often overlook things that have been in our homes for a while and dont realize they may become dangerous as time goes on. Here are nine things, according to AARP (Opens in a new window), that you should get rid of during this years spring cleaning: Hazardous WasteAerosol cans, batteries, motor oil, antifreeze and paint all need to be properly disposed of so they dont contaminate the environment or accidently harm elderly folks, children or pets. Exposure to these substances and other household chemicals (Opens in a new window) can lead to headaches, allergic reactions and, in severe cases, respiratory illnesses. Go to Earth911.com to find a safe place for disposal. Piled-Up Plastic ContainersDo you have piles of plastic containers sitting around just in case? Take a closer look at that plastic. Containers with recycle codes 3 or 7 may contain BPA, a hormone-disrupting chemical that leaches into food as containers age or heat up in the microwave or dishwasher. Replace containers made before 2010 with new plastic or glass ones, that dont contain BPA.Expired or Unused MedicationsWith age, there often comes a greater reliance on medication. But what happens when you no longer need certain medicines? Too often, people let expired medication gather dust. Instead, toss old drugs in an eco-friendly way. Dont flush them down the toilet or put them in the trash. Take them to official collection sites on National Take-Back Initiative Day, April 27. If you keep expired medications around, you risk someone accidentally taking the wrong drug. Old SpicesDried-up, decades-old spices wont make you sick, but they wont add flavor or nutrients to your food, either. According to experts at McCormick (Opens in a new window), seasoning blends last one or two years. Herbs and ground spices are good for one to three years, and whole spices last up to four years. Saving these age-old spices only adds to the clutter in your loved ones home. Moldy MakeupMakeup is only safe for a limited time. After that, infection-causing bacteria can start to grow, especially in eye makeup. Mascara only lasts two to three months, lip gloss six months and foundation six months to a year.Crusty Contact Lens CasesDid you know that 92% of contact lens cases are contaminated due to poor hygiene and lack of cleaning? Eye experts (Opens in a new window) say cases should be cleaned with a fresh soaking solution and dried every day. After three months of use, its time for a replacement.Old PillowsPillows older than 18 months contain fungi, dead skin and dust mites that can aggravate allergies, asthma and sinusitis. Try folding your pillow in half and squeezing out the air. If it doesnt spring back, its too old. Beyond allergies and asthma, the Sleep Foundation (Opens in a new window) asserts that old pillows also contribute to sore musclesa big concern for many elderly folks. Expired Canned FoodCanned food certainly last longer than produce, but these goods will expire after a while. Be sure to read the labels on canned products to learn how long it will keep for. Canned tomatoes and fruits are good for 18 months, while canned meat and vegetables last up to five years. Throw old, expired food awayif its expired, it shouldnt be eaten or donated. Germy Kitchen SpongesAccording to a study done by the Agricultural Research Service (Opens in a new window), microwaving your sponge can kill 99.9 percent of germs. These cleaning implements are rife with bacteria thriving in the damp crevices. Some of these bacteria are linked to severe gut and skin infections. To reduce the bad stuff, microwave your sponge daily in an inch of water for a minute on high heat.Spring Cleaning Tips for Older AdultsOnce your loved ones home is free from any harmful materials, its time to get started on the rest of your spring-cleaning list. Here are just a few more tips for making the most of the season: Cleaning Up for Fall SafetyAround 36 million falls (Opens in a new window) are reported each year, and thats only counting those among older adults. With such a staggering number, its clear that falls are not just passing dangerstheyre a public health concern. This years spring cleaning is a perfect time to evaluate your loved ones home safety and focus on fall prevention. As you help them tidy up, consider the following tips for a safer living space (Opens in a new window): Clear walkwaysRemove any boxes and cords from walkways. Even if theyre easy to avoid for you, they could be a tripping hazard for seniors. Tidy up high-traffic areasConsider moving pieces of furniture like coffee tables and ottomans from high-traffic areas. Try putting side tables right beside furniture instead of obstructing walkways. Examine the floorsHave you noticed loose floorboards or rugs? Repair any damaged flooring or carpeting as soon as possible and use double-faced tape to fasten loose rugs to the floor. Invest in non-slip matsPlace non-slip mats in areas prone to getting wetoutside the bathtub, in front of the kitchen sink and in entryways. Checking Safety Equipment Heres another thing to add to your spring-cleaning checklistfire safety. Its a good idea to check smoke alarms and fire extinguishers regularly, and you might as well lump this task in with spring cleaning. Ensuring your loved ones home is fire-safe will give you added peace of mind. Try these tips from the U.S. Fire Administration (Opens in a new window): Install a smoke alarm inside and outside each sleeping areaReplace smoke alarms that are older than 10 years Ensure carbon monoxide alarms work and are less than seven years oldCheck all electrical cords and replace those in poor condition Make sure outlets do not feel warm to the touch Develop a fire escape plan that identifies an outside meeting place Clearing ClutterYoure armed with lots of spring-cleaning tips, but maybe you dont quite know where to start. Its understandable tidying up an entire home is overwhelming, especially when youre doing so on behalf of a loved one. If youre feeling stressed, implement these strategies while spring cleaning (Opens in a new window) for a senior loved one: Start small: Try not to think of spring cleaning as one giant project. Instead of resolving to clean the whole house today, start with a drawer, cupboard or closet and go from there. Create three piles: As you sift through your loved ones things, place them into one of three pileskeep, donate and toss. Organizing items this way avoids one big, overwhelming pile of stuff youll have to sort out later. Downsize: Consider using this time to downsize. For every new item your loved one adds to their home, ask them to choose something to throw out. Encourage them to donate unused items in good condition and get rid of trash right away. Manage your time: Spring cleaning can last more than one day. If youre on a time crunch, dedicate just a few hours over the weekend to clean. Dont feel like you have to do everything at once spread the responsibility over several days. Ask a professional: You dont have to do it alone! Look into professional organizers in your area and ask them for help decluttering your loved ones home.  Call 24/7 BrightStar Care today to learn more 303-300-6666.