How to Get Things for the Move

You have decided to move your loved one into a senior living community. We know that was a likely challenging choice. We at Willows Bend know your parent will get more out of life, get the level of care he or she needs, make new friends, and enjoy the next chapter in their lives.

Now, there are several things to take care of to get things in order BEFORE the move that will make for a smooth transition for your Mom or Dad.

Make an appointment with their Primary Doctor.

Before moving in, no matter what level of care your parent needs, it's a good idea for them to see their primary physician. Ask the doctor to evaluate your parent's medication list to ensure all prescriptions are current, necessary, and don't conflict with each other. Taking the proper doses of the medications they need — and only the medications they need — is vital to their quality of life.

Talk about and sign personal paperwork.

Before your loved one moves, it's a good time to sit down and talk about a will, power of attorney, a health care directive, and other important issues that we all tend to put off. Get the paperwork done, signed, and filed away now, and you won't have to worry about it when the time eventually comes that you'll need it.

Talk about what to do with the house.

If Mom or Dad currently live in their home, what to do with the house when they move to their new community? If their house is paid off, there's no great rush to decide, and the topic can be difficult to broach. But now is the time to float a trial balloon to get their feelings on selling their home or keeping it. The money from the sale will go a long way toward securing their financial future.

Fill out a change of address form.

Friends and relatives will want to send cards and letters to Mom or Dad in their new home. They'll wish to have their personal mail delivered to them instead of piling up at the house.

Get the dimensions and floorplan of new unit

With the exact measurements and floorplan, you can map out which furniture to bring and how it will look in your new home. They'll also need their linens, cookware, dishes, television and radio, personal items, and anything else they'd like to make their new place feel like home.

Consider using a senior moving specialist.

Deciding what items from home to bring and what to leave behind can be a difficult choice. Services like Gentle Transitions, Caring Transitions, Home to Sweet Home, and others specialize in moving seniors. From a complimentary consultation to creating a move plan based on the floorplan of Mom or Dad's new home or helping you strategize what to bring and what to downsize -Senior Move Managers offer professional services that make moving to a senior living community easier.

Attend some events in the new community.

Take Mom or Dad to a couple of events in their new community before they move. That way, they can meet and mingle with residents and staff and get a good feel for the place before moving in.

Here at Willows Bend Senior Living, we want to help make the transition from home into one of our senior communities as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

Get in touch today.?