A large home can be a burden for a senior since it requires more upkeep and not all the rooms are used. If you’re helping an aging parent move to a more manageable apartment, they’ll need to downsize. Use the following tips to streamline the moving services and ensure your loved one has what they need to feel at home in their new apartment.

4 Downsizing Tips for Seniors

1. Measure the Apartment

First, learn the limitations. Ask the apartment complex for the measurements of each room. You can then measure furniture and larger items to see if they’ll fit. If a sofa is too long for a living room or a king-sized bed isn’t going to fit through the bedroom door, sell or donate these pieces. You’ll also save on moving service fees without these cumbersome items.

2. Start Small

Clutter creates roadblocks, so start by sorting through small belongings, like trinkets, books, vinyl records, and utensil sets. Also, clear out smaller spaces, like laundry rooms, closets, and bathrooms, since they’re easier to manage.

Save attics, garages, and basements for later. These rooms often contain collectibles, photo albums, antiques, and other sentimental items, so your loved one may need more time to decide which to keep, store, or discard.

3. Remove Extra Rooms

If your loved one is moving from a five-bedroom home to a two-bedroom apartment, the bulk of the items in the extraneous rooms may have to go. If your parent intends to pass on desirable items like furniture or electronic devices to you or other relatives, collect these pieces before the move or transfer them to a storage unit.

4. Use Yes & No Piles

Once you’ve cleared all of the clutter and items that won’t fit in the apartment, establish “Yes” and “No” piles to categorize everything else. Don’t use a “Maybe” pile—it will quickly become the largest and hold up the process.

Family heirlooms, hobby items, financial documents, and anything else deemed essential should stay in the “Yes” pile. Old tools, dated appliances, extra linens, and clothes that don’t get worn can go in the “No” pile to be donated.

Remember to let your loved one make these decisions, though you can give them your opinion when asked.

 

To help your senior parent enjoy a smooth transition to their new apartment, count on Easy Moving & Freight in Union, KY. The professional movers have more than 15 years of experience handling local and long-distance moves in Boone County. Plus, they offer discounts for seniors. Call (859) 393-1413 to schedule an appointment, or find out more about their moving services online.