When you need to help an elderly family member or friend to move places, there are many things to consider that you still haven’t even thought about. Even for young people, moving is a stressful process that changes the dynamics of one’s life. Now, imagine that for older people. It will be even more stressful and tiring.
To make sure that you can provide the help the elderly need to move, here’s our list of the best tips to make the process easier for them and for you and ensure a smooth moving process.
Don’t rush the move
With older people, you can’t expect them to get on with moving as younger people can. It’s not just that they don’t have the physical strength needed with preparing moving boxes and planning the move anymore. Elderly people are often attached to their old home because they spent a considerable part of their lives there, building memories and enjoying the times.
To help them with the move, make sure to be patient and allow them to move at the right place. You can also ask questions about the difficulties they face with moving.
Moving can be emotional
Sure, when you’re young, moving can be a great thing. It’s a chance for you to see the real world, be independent, explore life on your own, explore the possibilities, and be yourself. However, it’s a bit more complicated for the elderly. For them, it can be more emotional and sad than great and promising.
Elderly people can be emotional with moving because they don’t want to leave their old home with all the memories in it. Maybe they don’t want to live alone. If they’re moving in with another relative, maybe they aren’t comfortable with it and afraid of being a burden to them. It can be many things.
For younger people, change is a great thing, but for the elderly, most of them are uncomfortable with change. Help them cope with the emotional issues by allowing them to see the good side and the sense in moving.
Take it a step at a time
Handling things at once can be too much for elderly people. Remember, it’s an emotional process, and they might also not have the physical capability to do things in a rush. You can try to make it easier for them by dividing the moving process into moderately difficult yet manageable tasks.
They know what they want
There’s a big chance that you might be the one doing most of the work of moving, but that doesn’t mean you get to make all the decisions. So, make sure not to be bossy and not to tell them to do things. Instead, even if you’re helping them, always remember that they are in charge.
Don’t tell them what to do. Instead, offer suggestions that will help them decide how they want to go about the move. You will be doing a lot of work, but at the end of the day, you’re just helping. It’s still their life decision and their move.
Help them be in touch with their friends and loved ones
They may be moving homes, but that doesn’t mean they can leave without thinking about their friends. To help them cope with the inevitable move, make sure to help them establish a nice line of communication with their friends by organizing address cards and letting their friends know that your elderly friend is moving.
In this way, you can allow them to be in touch with their friends even from a distance. Not only that, you can even try setting up visits, so they can still enjoy good times from time to time. If you can, you can also take them to their old home at times to enjoy things that they were used to in past years.
Know your stuff
Make the moving process easier by knowing more information about the new location. Know the measurements, know what will fit and what won’t, and what’s allowed and not allowed. It’s so you can help your elderly friend bring the things they need and leave unimportant things behind. It makes moving less costly, makes organizing the new place easier, and allows you to do things efficiently.
Help them adjust
Once they get to their new home, they won’t be comfortable in the first few days and weeks. There will be a tough adjustment period, and that’s where you can come in. If they will be moving in with other people, help them get acquainted by making introductions and making everyone more comfortable with each other.
You can also let them know the changes they might have to adapt to within the new location, so they won’t be second-guessing themselves.
Get the right professional help
You may have a lot to offer to your elderly friend or relative in terms of help, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need professional movers, as there are many ways they can get things done much easier and more efficiently.
They can pack valuables securely, get the furniture to the new location fast and without damage, organize everything at the new location, provide you with vehicles for moving, and many more.
If you have an elderly friend or family member who needs to move homes, hiring Karratha removalists is something you need to consider to make things easier not only for your elderly friend but for yourself, too.
