As people get older, they tend to become more set in their ways and more averse to change. This is natural, but it can be frustrating if you have parents who live in a home that is too big for their needs. If you’re trying to figure out ways to help you parents downsize to a smaller home that will be easier for them to manage and care for, here are a few tips to help you achieve your goal in a mutually-beneficial way:
Find a Similar Neighborhood
It would be best if you could find a smaller home in the same neighborhood that your parents are currently in, simply because this would minimize the discomfort that occurs when moving to an unfamiliar place. However, it is not very likely that you will find significantly smaller home in a neighborhood full of larger ones. If your parents currently live in a quiet, safe, tree-lined neighborhood, try to find something similar. Of course, if they currently live in an neighborhood that’s on the decline, it is best to look for a home in a safer area. While you’re looking, make ranch-style homes with the least amount of steps a priority as stairs will become more difficult to scale in their golden years.
Encourage Simplicity
Your parents have probably collected a lot of items over the years, and they may be reluctant to let some of it go. If you want to make sure that your parents can actually fit their belongings into a smaller home, it is important to guide them through the painful process of purging unused items. Have your parents consider each item based on its sentimental value and whether or not they have actually used the item within the past year. Handing things down to younger generations is often much easier than selling or donating in these situations.
Let Us Help
Many older people hate the idea of moving because it causes a significant amount of stress and uncertainty. Master Movers can help relieve stress by taking care of your moving needs so that you can spend your time helping your parents relax and plan their lives in their new home. We offer the following services that can make any relocation much less stressful no matter if your parents are moving down the street or to another state.
- Thorough and protective packing
- Secure storage
- Careful loading, transport, and unloading
Our goal is to take care of the headache-inducing part of moving so that you can focus on other important matters, including helping your parents become more familiar with the area where their new home is located. For more information about how our moving services can make your parents’ relocation an easier process, give us a call at (503) 762-1288.