Your home says a lot about you, and it holds memories that have made you who you are today. Thinking about packing and moving from your family home can cause anxiety and sadness, but a new environment with the right support and amenities could be just the change you need.
Continue reading for four downsizing tips to follow as you prepare to transition to a floor plan that better suits your needs.
1. Outline Your Financial Goals and Lifestyle Aspirations
If you are like many older adults, you want to maximize your opportunities and make financial decisions that ensure your continued well-being. Downsizing into senior living could cut costs, provide you with an active and vibrant environment, and ease long-term financial concerns. This is especially the case when you move into a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) like Canterbury Woods Williamsville.
When you choose this path, you can more easily anticipate future costs, even in the face of unknowns. A CCRC provides a continuum of care that meets your changing needs as you age. Whether you are in independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing or rehabilitation, your expenses will remain relatively consistent and stable.
This transition can make the most sense when you move into a senior living community that offers amenities, services and personal growth opportunities that uphold your vision for the next stage of your life.
2. Start Small, Begin Early and Create a Plan
Downsizing often takes years. In fact, professionals recommend that you allow at least six months to complete the process.
Some of the benefits to starting early include:
- You can allow yourself time to sort through sentimental items, relive memories and make solid decisions about where (or to whom) these cherished items might best belong.
- You can methodically pare down your possessions with a scheduled decluttering that focuses on one room at a time at a pace that is right for you.
- You are able to enjoy the simplified, decluttered life in your larger space before your move.
Starting small might mean first tackling the clutter in a closet or storage space. Possessions you haven’t used in years are perhaps easier to let go of, whether they are thrown away, donated, sold, or given to a family member or friend.
Having a plan for this process honors your emotional attachments to your home and possessions. It also allows you the space to adjust to the change slowly rather than all at once.
3. Be Realistic As You Pare Down
It is easy to develop attachments to possessions. They begin to represent a certain time in your life, a certain cherished relationship or a meaningful milestone.
As you sort through your things, it is important to find the balance between honoring the feelings that come up and making realistic decisions about the items you’ll carry with you during the transition to senior living.
One suggestion to bridge this divide is to take photos of possessions that are difficult to let go of. You can even capture an image of a certain room or nook of your home that you’ll miss. Another strategy is to give meaningful items to family members or friends who might also cherish the memories they represent.
4. Hire Professionals or Ask for Help from Loved Ones
The plan you create might require moving furniture, renting a storage unit, facilitating a yard sale, or other tasks that seem daunting to accomplish on your own. Do not be afraid to reach out for assistance.
For purely logistical purposes, you may want to hire a Senior Move Manager® who can provide expertise and experience in the downsizing and relocating process.
Loved ones can be a tremendous help too. Along with completing necessary tasks associated with moving, your family members and friends can provide the emotional support you may need during this time. In some cases, the downsizing process can bring up feelings of grief, regret or nostalgia. Having someone you trust by your side can make all the difference.
A Worry-Free Lifestyle at Canterbury Woods Williamsville
The process of moving into a smaller space may initially cause some stress, but settling into the beautiful environment of Canterbury Woods Williamsville might be exactly the thing that makes for a calmer transition. Come see how to take advantage of our incredible lifestyle, elevate your quality of life, and give yourself comfort and solace for years to come.
