Should I downsize and move to a retirement community or age-in-place? Whether it be for safety, health, companionship, or financial reasons, change is often necessary…and hard. Moving to a retirement community requires major life changes, but aging-in-place in a large family home also requires major changes.
You have lived in your home for many years and the idea of selling it and most of its contents is OVERWHELMING!
You’ve realized it no longer fits your needs and has become a burden to maintain, but this is where you’ve raised your family and have become so comfortable. Memories are attached to everything you see, smell, and touch.
You are on the fence and have so much to think about!
Working primarily with seniors in their homes since 2013, I have seen the emotions they’ve experienced when they or their family members have decided it was time to seriously consider downsizing and moving to a senior living community.
WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER AS I DECIDE WHETHER TO DOWNSIZE AND MOVE TO A SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY OR AGE-IN-PLACE?
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO DOWNSIZE AND MOVE?
For many seniors, there comes a time when staying in their home is no longer safe or viable. Stairs become harder to navigate, maintenance and upkeep become too much to handle. Furthermore, declining health begins to require more assistance and threaten independence. For some, their spouse has passed away, and living alone in a big empty house feels very lonely. Understandable!
Older adults can rationalize and understand the reasons they should downsize and move into more suitable housing, but emotionally, they have a tough time bringing themselves to make the move.
I always recommend making the decision BEFORE it is necessary and taking some time to fully understand the lifestyle change and downsizing process before it begins.
HOW DO I OVERCOME THE FEAR OF CHANGE WHEN DOWNSIZING AND MOVING?
It’s understandable to fear and resist change when it comes to moving from your home of many years. Talking your situation and concerns over with a professional is a great first step. You need someone who can assess your situation and offer options that coincide with your health and financial needs.
The decision to make such a huge life change is not one to be made lightly. Looking deep inside yourself and asking tough questions is another great step in determining whether you should downsize and move or age-in-place:
- Is your current lifestyle the one you envisioned for yourself in retirement?
- How do you want to spend the rest of your life?
- Would a move make life easier for you?
- Would a move make you healthier and happier?
Here are some ways that friends, family, and industry professionals can help you make the right choice:
- Visit your local chamber of commerce to find senior housing options.
- Visit the senior living communities and apartments in your area – Marketing Directors are always happy to give you a tour and assess your situation and options.
- Talk to your trusted advisors: financial advisor, attorney, physician, relatives, and friends.
- Talk with people you know who have already made the move.
- Document in a notebook the pros and cons of moving and refer to this notebook in the decision-making process.
- Look for senior resource guides and publications – such as the Polk ElderCare Guide and Better Living for Seniors Polk Directory in Polk County, Florida.
- Call your local Department on Aging.
- Locate a Senior Planner or Placement Service (although I dislike the word “placement” – you won’t be “placed”, rather, you will be introduced to all the options available for your wants and needs.
- Consult with a senior moving specialist like Organized Haven to help you understand the downsizing process.
WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE DECISION TO DOWNSIZE AND MOVE OR AGE-IN-PLACE?
Making the major life change of moving out of your long-time family home is a daunting proposition, for seniors especially. There are so many questions, needs, and challenges to overcome — the process can be very intimidating. Luckily, there is an entire industry of professionals available to help seniors and their families through these transitions, such as:
- Elder Law Attorneys and Certified Senior Financial Advisors — they will assess your financial situation and needs.
- Senior Real Estate Specialists® will examine the issues and dynamics you may face after living in the same home for many years.
- Senior Move Managers® will provide you with downsizing and move management services and support. Most will offer services such as organizing, estate selling, liquidation, packing, moving, unpacking, and resettling into your new home. Find one near you at www.NASMM.org!
- Professional Organizers® who specialize in downsizing and moving are a great help and can be found at www.napo.net!
Explore this directory for resources and referrals to such professionals (as well as Senior Living Communities) in the Polk County, FL area: Better Living for Seniors Polk
Moving from a family home is typically stressful for both parents, as well as their adult children. The “kids” are typically the first to bring up the “need” to downsize and move. It can be difficult for everyone to see eye-to-eye. Considering making it a family affair and having effective communication throughout the process. Here are some other options to consider:
- Start with a family meeting and let everyone express their concerns.
- Meet with the professionals mentioned above and gather pertinent information.
- Discuss all your options together and think about what will work best for everyone.
- Consider the feelings of everyone involved — your love for one another will help you find the strength and courage you need to work through this challenging transition.
- Take the process step-by-step and delegate tasks to family members (be accepting of the help you are receiving).
Disagreements with siblings and other family members are common. If you begin experiencing tension, consider seeking advice and guidance from a third party (as mentioned above). Doing so will give you the tools and resources you need to make an educated decision on whether to downsize and move or age-in-place.
No matter the situation, collect the information you need to make the best decision for YOU!
There is so much more we could cover on this topic, and I would love to continue to conversation. What other questions are you asking yourself as you consider downsizing and moving?
PIN IT to remember it!
Happy researching!
💙,
Nicole
By: Nicole Ramer, CPO®, SMM~C®
(Certified Professional Organizer® & Certified Senior Move Manager®)
Great article, Nicole. I love all the resources you provide and the questions you ask someone to consider.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts, Diane!
Wow, great post, Nicole. I love all the resources you provided. The questions do help give people a way to start. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Sabrina! I’m so glad this post is helpful!
From reading your wonderful post, I can tell what value and sensitivity you bring the the work you’re doing. Moving and downsizing isn’t easy because of the emotions that arise. You give such solid advice about having the conversations with your family and doing the research while you’re still able to. It doesn’t necessarily make it easier, but you will feel more informed and your family will understand your wishes.
I had this discussion with my parents while they still could. And when I had to take over their care, I did my best to honor their wishes.
Thank you for the amazing resources and approach to sorting out what’s right for your future. How lucky your clients are to have you and your team to help!
Thank you so much, Linda! What great feedback – I so appreciate your time and input! Our team loves what we do and who we do it for! It sounds like you did a wonderful job for your parents. 🙂
This is so wise to start thinking about this topic, especially before you really have any need. In my experience, a person has a health incident and suddenly they have to “act quickly” and making hasting decisions, which just adds to the stress. Take the time to see what the options are nearby, and maybe to consider where (geographically) you want to end up. Those choices may impact whether you move to a retirement community or age in place.
It can be overwhelming, but I find just talking things through and, as you suggest, doing some research, can help bring the actual decisions into focus.
Such great points, Seana! Hasty decisions that lead to stress also lead to additional negative health effects… it is simply a no-win situation. Thank you so much for joining in on the conversation! 🙂
Great post! I love that you gave so many resources and options. My own mother did research and found a retirement place that she thought she would enjoy. She even already knew a couple of people there but every time her name came up on the list with a place available, she put it off. Then she had a stroke and had to move. But there was no opening then. We scrambled to try to find a place that would work and did find one that was still near her friends and church but what a fearful time.
Jonda, this happens all too often! It is understandably a difficult decision to downsize and move to a retirement community. Fear of the unknown and of change is enough to make anyone put the brakes on a move like this. I’m glad it all worked out for her in the end. Thank you for sharing her story! 🙂