Moving house is a hard and challenging task. From leaving a home full of memories to the costs and troubles of transporting belongings, moving elderly people is also one of the issues that can be difficult for individuals. Moving for the elderly must be done with precise planning and considering their physical and bodily limitations. Before, we prepared a home safety checklist for seniors living alone, in this article from the Human Health Mag website, we have prepared a checklist for preparing your home for elderly parents to move in and will provide you with tips that, by observing them, you can make the elderly relocation much easier.
The Importance of Using a Checklist for Moving
Using a checklist for preparing your home for elderly parents to move in is one of the best methods to reduce stress in the elderly and increase efficiency in this process. Moving requires coordination and precise planning and can be challenging, but having a moving task list helps you plan every detail carefully.
This list helps you not to forget anything and perform all stages from packing to relocation in order and with more organization. Additionally, using a checklist as one of the moving tricks optimizes the time and costs of moving, allowing you to go through this process more peacefully. Ultimately, having a moving checklist assures you that all tasks are done on time and nothing is overlooked.
Principles for Preparing the Checklist for Preparing Your Home for Elderly Parents to Move In
Preparing a moving checklist can reduce stress and challenges resulting from this process. Precise and orderly planning helps ensure everything is done correctly and on time. In fact, having a moving task list not only helps prevent forgetting duties but also ensures all moving stages are carried out in order and prioritized. To prepare a complete and efficient checklist, several key principles must be considered, which we will mention below.
- Setting schedules and priorities
- Gathering and preparing necessary supplies
- Inspecting and preparing the new place
- Itemizing belongings
- Coordinating with service companies
- Informing neighbors and friends
- Collecting important documents
- Updating address
- Paying attention to final details
Below is a detailed explanation of each essential principle for moving:
Setting Schedules and Priorities
Planning the move starts with precisely setting schedules and prioritizing tasks. You must decide which items should be packed first and which last. This helps you properly manage the order of moving and avoid any stress or worry.
Gathering and Preparing Necessary Supplies
To have an efficient checklist for preparing your home for elderly parents to move in, special attention should be given to gathering and preparing the required moving supplies. These include sturdy boxes, tape, labels, and other essential items for packing and moving belongings.
Inspecting and Preparing the New Place
One of the most important pre-moving tasks is inspecting and preparing the new location. You should ensure that the new place is properly ready and has the required conditions to accept your belongings. This can include cleaning, necessary repairs, and checking available facilities.
Itemizing Belongings
To avoid losing or damaging items, preparing a moving task list and carefully itemizing belongings is essential. This list includes all items in each box and their exact location. This helps you quickly find needed things at the new destination.
Coordinating with Service Companies
Another important principle in planning the move is coordinating with service companies such as transportation, cleaning, and equipment installation. You should be in contact with these companies and have a precise plan for cooperating with them so that all stages are performed harmoniously.
Informing Neighbors and Friends
Informing friends, neighbors, and the new building manager is an important principle in moving planning. This action helps you anticipate and manage potential issues like parking shortages or limited elevator access. Also, by informing friends, you can benefit from their help on moving day.
Collecting Important Documents
In the checklist for preparing your home for elderly parents to move in, collecting and securely storing important documents such as identification papers, financial documents, and contracts is particularly important. These documents must be kept in a safe place separate from other belongings to prevent loss or damage during the move. It is better to keep these documents in a handbag or a special box that is always accessible.
Updating Address
One of the pre-moving tasks is updating your address in all services and organizations. This includes banks, postal services, utility companies, and even friends and family. This prevents wrong sending of documents, packages, or invoices to the old address and ensures you continue to access all your information and services.
Paying Attention to Final Details
At the end of the moving task list, you must pay attention to the final details. This includes paying all pending bills, terminating previous contracts, and ensuring closure of all accounts related to the old address. Also, make sure you have thoroughly cleaned your former home and handed over all keys to the owner or building manager. These final steps help you move to your new home with peace of mind.
By following these principles and preparing a checklist for preparing your home for elderly parents to move in, you can carry out this process easily and without stress, avoiding any hassle or loss of belongings.
Sample Checklist for Preparing Your Home for Elderly Parents to Move in
Preparing a moving checklist helps you carry out the relocation process in an organized and stress-free manner. This checklist includes all the necessary tasks and steps you should pay attention to before, during, and after moving. By following these steps, you can avoid forgetting tasks and potential problems, and carry out your move with peace of mind. Below is a sample moving checklist for preparing your home for elderly parents to move in:
Moving Planning
Planning for a move can be a stressful and time-consuming process, but with a precise and well-organized checklist, you can complete this process easily and without problems. You should start planning and preparing several months before the move to ensure everything goes correctly. Here are the suggested steps for moving planning in chronological order:
Two Months Before Moving
Two months before moving, you should begin planning and preparation to manage all details properly.
- Determine the best moving time according to personal conditions and choose an appropriate date
- Gather and prepare packing supplies (sturdy boxes, tape, labels)
- Decide which items should be packed, sold, or donated
- Research and select a reputable moving company
- Ensure insurance coverage for belongings and transportation
- Choose travel method if moving to another city
One Month Before Moving
At this time, focus your planning on the following details
- Inform friends, family, and neighbors about the moving date
- Update your address with banks, utility companies, and postal services
- Prepare a moving checklist and task list to ensure all steps are covered
- Make a list of chemicals and hazardous materials not allowed by the moving truck
Two Weeks Before Moving
Two weeks before moving includes packing and preparing various belongings:
- Pack items you won’t need until moving day. It’s best to start with less-used rooms like storage and guest rooms.
- Pack fragile items, audio/video equipment, paintings, decorations, and furniture using appropriate protective methods
- For fragile dishes, wrap them in fabric, newspaper, or plastic, and place towels or cloths inside the box for cushioning
- Use special boxes and protective foam for packing audio/video devices like TVs and monitor
- Cover paintings and decorations with towels or sturdy cardboard and place them in suitable boxes
- Cover furniture and bedding with sheets and protect legs with cloth
- Label boxes clearly with contents and corresponding room
- Clean and prepare the refrigerator for relocation
One Week Before Moving
During the final week before moving, finalize packing and coordinate last details:
- Pack non-essential kitchen items you won’t need before moving day
- Collect and keep important documents in a safe place
- Confirm and coordinate final arrangements with the moving company
- Finalize contracts related to new services at the new location
- Clean, check facilities, and make any necessary repairs at the new place if accessible
- Arrange child care with relatives if needed
One Day Before Moving
This day is the final preparation and packing day:
- Complete packing and ensure all items are gathered
- Pack daily use items and hygiene supplies
- Prepare an essential box for the first night at the new home
- Pack dry food and empty refrigerator and freezer
- Prepare drinks or snacks for the moving time
- Choose a place for pets to avoid chaos during the move
- Thoroughly clean the old place and hand over keys to the owner or building manager
Moving Day
On this day, focus on supervising the move and securing belongings:
- Supervise correct packing and moving of items
- Ensure the safety of belongings during transport
- Check the condition and coordinate with the moving team
- Plan departure time and transportation route to the new place
After Moving
After moving, focus on unpacking and final arrangements at the new location:
- Open boxes and organize belongings in the new place
- Ensure no items are lost or damaged
- Organize security systems such as installing alarms and checking locks
- Update all information with the new address
- Become familiar with local services at the new address, like post office, health centers, and public services
- Plan and arrange items in the new home according to room layouts and belongings
- Check and confirm connection of water, electricity, gas, and internet services
By following this precise and organized plan, you can complete your move easily and without stress and avoid any potential problems.
Important & Essential Tips for Moving a Senior Parent Into Your Home
For moving elderly individuals, consider the following moving checklist and follow the mentioned points:
- Planning Using the New Home’s Floor Plan
Before moving elderly family members, review the floor plan of the new house. Measure the dimensions of items such as furniture. Also, decide where each item will be placed in the new home. Inspect all rooms and list the items and home safety equipment for elderly that need to be placed in each room. This way, you can plan which belongings should be moved along.
- Donating Extra Items
There may be a long list of extra belongings. Before moving the elderly, prepare this list. Donate any items the elderly person does not need. Local charities are good places to donate extra items such as furniture, couches, and chairs. However, always discuss and get the elderly person’s consent before donating or discarding any belongings. Never throw away or donate their items without permission!
- Creating a Storage Space for Certain Items
Sometimes, the elderly may want to keep belongings they do not regularly use but have sentimental value or want to pass on to future generations. In these cases, create a storage space in the new home for these items.
- Inviting Family Members to Assist with the Move
Moving elderly people is a big commitment and project. Family members should be involved as much as possible in the relocation process. If family members cannot or do not want to help, consider hiring companies that specialize in elderly moving services.
- Preparing Transportation for the Elderly
If the elderly person is moving between cities or countries, arrange suitable travel accommodations. If they require a wheelchair or any assistive devices, ensure these are obtained before moving day. Minivans and large crossover SUVs are the most suitable vehicles for relocating elderly individuals.
- Finding a New Doctor for the Elderly
Healthcare during elderly relocation is critical. If they are moving to a new city or province, assist them in finding a new doctor promptly. It is best to contact the new doctor a few months before moving to secure their agreement. Also, inform the previous doctor about the move.
- Being Kind and Compassionate to the Elderly
Kindness and respect for the elderly person during the move greatly reduces their stress. Make them feel important and valued. Since leaving their old home and memories is difficult, empathize with them to lessen the emotional burden of moving.
- Choosing Reputable Moving Companies
Research and select a reputable company for the move. This assures the quality of services for the elderly and the safe arrival of their belongings. Choosing low-quality movers may damage belongings and might not provide satisfactory care to your elderly loved one during the move.
- Preparing the New Home
To best accommodate the needs of your elderly parents, prepare the new home accordingly. Installing elevators, escalators, a bathtub, adding a bath stool, and replacing the shower head with a handheld one are some modifications that facilitate elderly living in the new home.
- Helping the Elderly Organize Their Belongings
Moving is difficult for elderly people, and moving heavy items is almost impossible. Therefore, after relocation, assist them in arranging their belongings. Suggest which items to keep or discard, but never force them to throw away or keep any items.
- Considering the Elderly Person’s Taste in Arrangement
To understand the elderly person’s preferences for arranging belongings, observe how things were placed in their old home. Ask for their opinion on the placement of beds, wardrobes, decorative objects, kitchen utensils, etc.
Concluding Remarks
Moving is a laborious and stressful task, especially for those unable to move and arrange belongings independently. Therefore, the difficulty and stress of moving elderly people multiply. It is best to provide effective help and careful planning to assist your elderly loved ones in this challenging process.
You have probably seen how many belongings grandparents have — they are treasure troves of memories. Usually, elderly households accumulate many items. The first step is to visit their home and sort and gather these old and large belongings so they don’t become an obstruction during moving.
Many elderly do not actually use these old items but keep them for sentimental reasons. These items are very valuable to them, so never force them to discard anything. During the move, pack these belongings carefully in boxes and transfer them to the new location.
The points covered in this article are useful and practical for preparing a checklist for preparing your home for elderly parents to move in. In addition to the mentioned items, you can add others according to the specific conditions of your elderly person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to move the furniture comfortably with the elderly?
Yes. Although the elderly have limitations due to their physical and physical conditions and get tired easily, but by following some tips, moving furniture for the elderly can be done easily and without any trouble. Applying the tips mentioned in this article will help make the moving and relocation of the elderly easier and more pleasant for you as their children and for them.
How does having a moving checklist help us?
Preparing a moving checklist will help you to carry out the moving process in an orderly and stress-free manner. This checklist includes all the necessary tasks and steps that you need to pay attention to before, during and after the move. By following these steps, you can prevent forgetting tasks and possible problems and move safely.