How To Plan Long Distance Move For Seniors

Van Lines Move offers a wide range of moving services, and relocating seniors anywhere in the country is one of them. We assist seniors and their families in resolving the challenges they may experience during the long-distance moving. Planning a move for seniors is somewhat different from regular move planning. In this article, we will explore different details associated with the long-distance move for seniors.

Challenges of Long-Distance Senior Moves

Moving can be overwhelming for seniors, and moving them to a new state or city is challenging in many ways. Here, we have listed different challenges that seniors encounter when they move-

• Downsizing-It is important to downsize the homes to make the move affordable. When seniors are asked to downsize their homes, they feel emotionally hurt, and it will be physically difficult for them. People fill their homes with memories, valuables, lifetime earnings, and several items that make living easy. When they grow old, their sentiments will also grow with them. Thus, sorting out the belongings and disposing of them can be difficult.
• Physical fitness- People aged 55 years or more face difficulty in packing heavy furniture and other items. They have limited mobility and strength to carry heavy boxes. So, they require assistance when they move. This limited physical ability to manage packing and lifting can add stress, and seniors will doubt the relocation.
• Leaving a home- When you live in a house for about 30 years, you become a part of it. Relocation means you have to live in a new home and find comfort. This can be emotionally challenging for them at this age.
• Moving expenses-Hiring a moving company for elderly parents or seniors is a wise way to relocate them. But managing the cost of hiring a moving company is difficult. As most seniors are on a fixed income or pension managing such a huge budget can be difficult. And finding cheaper moving solutions can make relocation difficult for seniors.
• Limited support- Some seniors have limited support from their families due to unforeseen circumstances. This will discourage them from taking such a big step of moving to some other place.
• Search for Mover-Finding a moving company that relocates seniors with all the specific requirements is difficult. Seniors have limited access to the resources for finding a reliable mover.

Different Stages of Planning A Long-Distance Senior Move

Planning is crucial for any task that involves hundreds of minor tasks. And moving is a single term that involves many tasks that should be done before the moving day. Each move is divided into different stages and so does the senior’s moving. Here we have divided the long-distance move for seniors into different phases-

Phase 1: Planning and organization

Planning is important when you have limited resources and physical mobility. For seniors, planning a move is a daunting task and many challenges might discourage them from relocating. We have listed the challenges that seniors encounter when they plan a move. To overcome those challenges, it is better to start planning as early as possible.

Better planning requires a moving checklist and a moving planner. These tools help seniors streamline the entire move and smoothly execute it. The moving checklist and moving planner list all the tasks according to the requirements of the seniors. They can start with decluttering and downsizing the house. However, this step can be difficult in many ways but with professional support, they can manage it within the timeframe.

Phase 2: Assessing the Needs of Seniors While Moving

Seniors have special needs when it comes to their health and emotions. Moving emotionally affects people of young age and when it comes to seniors it will be severe. It is difficult to leave a home you have lived in for years and start life in a new place. People get attached to the house as they have created countless memories there. It is important to understand how they will feel about the move. And help them find the solution to have a happy move. And it is better to find a home that will be near the medical facilities that they need.

People of elderly age are not physically fit to lift heavy items like furniture and moving boxes. So, they require professional help to pack and carry the heavy items on the moving day. A senior move coordinator or professional should connect to arrange assistance. Considering the physical and emotional needs of the seniors, there is a need for certain modifications in the new house. To make them feel at home, the new home can be arranged according to their liking and modifications can be made for easy movement.

Phase 3: Booking a Professional Mover

After understanding the physical and emotional requirements of the seniors, the next step is to find the right professional help, a team of professionals experienced in moving seniors. Van Lines Move has a vast network of moving companies that offer senior moving services in different states of the US. But before booking the moving company you need to check their licenses and insurance. Dig a little about the mover you choose like check out the customer testimonials on the websites and platforms like BBB and FMCSA.

If seniors who are moving have some special requirements they can mention it at the time of the survey. The moving company assists seniors in customizing their move like providing assembling and reinstallation services, packing and unpacking, and more. If seniors need daycare service for their move on the moving day, they can ask their mover to arrange such services.

Phase 4: Planning the finances

Finances can be difficult to manage for seniors as they might have a fixed income or pension. Most seniors cannot afford a huge amount to pay professional movers. But this does not mean looking for cheap movers as they can be a scam. The moving companies offer discounts to seniors for moving across the state or locally.

There are other options for managing the finances like arranging low-cost packing supplies or free moving equipment. They can sell their current home and get a good amount on the sale.

They can sell the items that are sorted during the decluttering. Setting a moving budget can be very helpful for them to manage the funds. They must know about the additional expenses that can affect their moving budget. Our experts can help such seniors manage their finances throughout the long-distance moving.

Phase 5 Strategies for Packing

Seniors have a lot of stuff when they have to move. People have sentiments attached to their household items and it is difficult to leave them behind while moving. But there must be a strategy while packing for long-distance moves for seniors. The first step should be downsizing and decluttering the house by keeping the feelings of the elderly parents. Ask them what they need in their new place and what they prefer to donate or put in storage.

Once everything is sorted you can start packing. Keep everything in the box according to their requirement and don’t forget to label the boxes. Proper labelling will allow the seniors to unpack the boxes easily. It can be difficult for them to open all the boxes instantly after the move. An inventory list can also help pack, unpack, and manage the post-move tasks.

Phase 6- Involve family

Many seniors do not have family support for some reasons and that can be painful. The thought of leaving their place without any family support can make them feel lonely. You can talk to them and ask their preferences if they want their family or friends around during and after the move. Connect with their family or friends and ask them to be part of the most difficult journey for the elderly. They can provide physical and emotional support which will make moving easy for them.

Since people of higher age have a set routine for years disrupting it can affect them in many ways. It is better to maintain the routine to make the transition easy for them.

Phase 7: Prepare for the Moving Day

Creating a plan for the moving day is also an important step. You can prepare a checklist that the senior can manage on the moving day. Tell them how will the moving crew take care of everything and what they can do to help. The only thing they can do is sit, relax, and keep an eye on everything going around. They are not required to lift the heavy boxes or walk across the house. They must have access to all the essential items like medicines, food, water, and a place to sit comfortably.

Phase 8- Setting up a new home

After moving into the new house, it is better to assist them in setting it up for a comfortable living. Moving companies or family or friends can help set up the place for the comfort and safety of the elderly people. Later, an introduction to the neighbors and community can be helpful to the seniors. It will make them feel welcome in the new environment and community. They can easily mingle with everything new. The most important thing to do after moving is to set up medical care at the new address to prevent any health complications.

After moving into the new house, it is better to assist them in setting it up for a comfortable living. Moving companies or family or friends can help set up the place for the comfort and safety of the elderly people. Later, an introduction to the neighbors and community can be helpful to the seniors. It will make them feel welcome in the new environment and community. They can easily mingle with everything new. The most important thing to do after moving is to set up medical care at the new address to prevent any health complications licensed, and insured and have years of experience in organizing, managing, and executing the move.

When we move seniors, we make sure that they will remain physically and emotionally well. Our services will be customized as per their requirement and well-being. So, start finding a reliable and experienced moving company for a senior long-distance move at vanlinesmove.com


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