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Moving to a Senior Living Community: 4 Tips for Downsizing Before the Move

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Moving to a senior living community is an exciting venture. Whether it is out of necessity for assistance with daily living tasks or by choice to downsize and enjoy luxury retirement, moving can be a lot of work. When preparing to move to a senior living community, downsizing your belongings may be necessary if your new apartment is smaller than your current home. The task may seem daunting, but by following a few simple steps, you can navigate this challenge with ease.

Important tips for downsizing before your move include starting early and planning ahead, taking inventory of your belongings, prioritizing, and involving others. Again, this may sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

Victoria Landing is a luxury retirement living community in Melbourne, FL. We understand this is a big life change, which is why we want to help ease your transition. By following the guidelines we are offering for downsizing before your move, taking it one step at a time, and having faith that you are entering a new and exciting phase of life, we believe that your move will be surprisingly easy for you.

Starting Early and Planning Ahead

● Begin this process well before your move-in date. If you just came across this article and your move-in date is fast approaching, don’t panic. These steps will still benefit you. However, the sooner you can begin the process of downsizing, the better. Not having to rush can help the process be less stressful.

● Create a timeline and checklist. In the military, this is referred to as backplanning. Figure out when you need to have your tasks completed and work backwards to create a timeline that works for you. Checklists are exceedingly helpful so you don’t forget anything. It also gives you a sense of accomplishment and forward movement every time you check a box!

● Break it up into manageable tasks. Even if your list has 200 items on it, if each task is manageable, you will accomplish it. Don’t create an impossible list of things you think need to be done before moving.

Take Inventory of Your Belongings

Ok, this step is kind of fun, at least for those of you who enjoy organizing. You get to categorize items in your home. Notice, we said “get to,” not “have to.” The more positive your attitude, the easier this process will be!

● Keep, donate, sell, discard – Separate items by those you will keep, donate, sell, or discard. Discard broken items and torn or stained clothes. You can host a yard sale, estate sale, or sell items online to get rid of things you don’t want or need but are good quality and desirable. You can make a little fun money! Make a donation pile, but also add to it after your sale. Donate anything that doesn’t sell. Keep the essentials that you will need in your new home and sentimental items.

● Essential and sentimental items – Unless you simply want new kitchenware and linens, hold onto them and take them with you. You still need them! Also, you can hold onto sentimental items without being a hoarder! Photo albums are important keepsakes. If you don’t have room to store them in your new place, speak to family members who may want them or are willing to store them for you.

● Take inventory – You may want to take photos or make a list of items you keep and where they are stored. If you have valuable items, photos can be useful for insurance purposes.

Prioritize What Truly Matters

Knowing what to keep can be tricky. Don’t be mad if you keep too much. You can always get rid of things during packing or after the move. Don’t throw something away if you feel unsure. Marie Kondo’s book “Spark Joy” is a great guide to help you organize and know what to keep and what to discard. A quick tip to follow is this: if it is a duplicate or has not been used in 6 months or more, it is safe to discard; if it is used often or has sentimental value, hold onto it. If you are extremely sentimental, however, you may need a trusted loved one’s help to determine what you should keep. Find a healthy balance between practicality and sentimentality.

Involve Family and Friends

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Your family and friends don’t expect you to undertake a move by yourself. Accept offers of help and ask for help when needed. Nobody knows you better, and they can help provide you with emotional support as well as decision-making support during this life event.

As mentioned above, family and friends can be pivotal in helping with sorting and decision-making. A move can make you more sentimental than usual, especially if you are leaving a home that you have lived in for a long time. You may need someone who is more impartial to help you sort through your belongings to make those “keep, donate, sell, and discard” piles.

This can also be a very special time of telling stories, talking about shared memories, and even sharing genealogical information with family members. If possible, don’t dwell on this step to the extent that it makes your move harder, but don’t rush it either. Your family and friends will understand.

Is There More To Do?

Yes, there is more to the process. Instead of overwhelming you, we are breaking this article into 2 articles so it is easily digestible. By the time you finish the above 4 steps, you will be ready to take on the next 4 steps, which will be addressed in our July blog! We hope you look forward to it because we are looking forward to helping you with this transition and, hopefully, seeing you soon at Victoria Landing!

Summary

In this article, Victoria Landing has offered you the first 4 steps to our guide for downsizing before your move. Your move will be made easier by starting early and planning ahead, taking inventory of your belongings, prioritizing what truly matters, and involving family and friends. Although downsizing your belongings, you are not downsizing your life. Victoria Landing is a vibrant senior living community, and we are excited to have you join us!