Tips for Downsizing Your Seniors Home

October 26, 2022 by ·

Whether you are the spouse of someone moving to assisted living or an adult child assisting a parent, you may play an important part in ensuring a seamless transition. You will most likely experience feelings and emotions as you go through the procedure. That’s understandable given that moving to assisted living signifies a significant shift in family relations. However, it may also provide fresh opportunities for your loved one’s long-term health and peace of mind for you and your family.

Even those seniors not moving to assisted living may need to downsize from a house to an apartment to have a place easier to move around and easier to take care of. As an adult child, you’re acting as companion care at home for your senior. Be a source of solace. You’ll want to be there for your parents while they go through this transition in their relationship. Your mother or father will likely feel guilty and anxious about their life partner leaving the house. By listening and being there, you can alleviate some of the concerns and provide a shoulder to rely on, as well as provide some practical advice on downsizing to assisted living that will make the transition easier for everyone involved. Here are some tips you can use to help your senior downsize. 

Go Slow When Downsizing

Assisted Living Saraland, AL: Tips for Downsizing

Assisted Living Saraland, AL: Tips for Downsizing

Take your time. Once you’ve decided to move to assisted living, don’t rush to downsize in a single day. Discuss with the individual who will be relocating how pleasant it will be to live with less to worry about. Consider it all a new beginning, a fresh start for a life full of potential that isn’t burdened by the baggage of the past.

Always Create a Game Plan First

Make a strategy. It doesn’t have to be rigorous; it’s simply a method to get started with little objectives you can achieve together each day. Include your parents or spouse in the plan. One space at a time? A closet per day? Start in a storage area where goods that haven’t been utilized in years are more likely to be found. Invite grandkids in assisting to organize stuff and keeping the tone light. Continue if your loved one grows fatigued or seems to be unhappy with the procedure. Tomorrow is a new day.

Do It As a Team

Assist your loved one in sorting. Invite friends and relatives over so your loved one may share memories and experiences while downsizing to assisted living. Again, don’t expect to do everything in a single day. Begin with three piles: one for the items that matter the most to you, one for items that your loved one is willing to part with, and one for “maybes.” Don’t be concerned with what’s in each pile just yet. Simply consider it an exercise in the early stages of letting go. Encourage family members to express their desires if they have any.

Look for Their Favorite Items and Be Conscious 

Assist your loved one in sorting. Invite friends and relatives over so your loved one may share memories and experiences while downsizing to assisted living. Again, don’t expect to do everything in a single day. Begin with three piles: one for the items that matter the most to you, one for items that your loved one is willing to part with, and one for “maybes.” Don’t be concerned with what’s in each pile just yet. Simply consider it an exercise in the early stages of letting go. Encourage family members to express their desires if they have any.

Talk About Donating Items Together

Encourage them to make a donation. Even if the grandkids say they aren’t interested, Mom may find it tough to part with her finest china. When downsizing to assisted living, the concept of “throwing everything away” is not pleasant. Consider instead donating the china or valued object to someone who might not otherwise have something so wonderful. Your loved one may like contributing stuff to a charity, church, or other groups. Heirlooms, fishing equipment, power tools, sewing machines, and other items that once provided delight to your elderly relative may now bring joy to someone else.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to an Assisted Living facility near Saraland, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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