Before the Snow Flies
When our Siena on Brendenwood move in coordinators ask folks about their timeframe for making a housing transition, we are often told, “before the snow flies”. This comment is made to us ironically in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Some people mean it, but for many it just seems to be the easiest thing to say to hopefully avoid other more difficult questions and more so to avoid facing some life-changing decision making.
The next steps to making a move can seem very overwhelming at first. These are the questions that are likely to be ones you have not put much thought into yet, but know you need to have a smooth transition. Let’s break it down.
For accomplishing the tasks to make a move to a senior lifestyle community, many people rely on the assistance of family members. Others may have a good friend that has been through the experience themselves. You can rely on the guidance of a trusted professional, such as a financial advisor, to help with coordinating efforts. However, as you proceed realize that many of the tasks need firm decisions to be made and could potentially take time to accomplish. Devising a plan to do these things will help ease a great deal of the stress involved in making the transition.
The first major consideration you must solidify is how much living space you will need. This will drive how you decide what to bring from your current home and what, if anything, you may need to purchase. New items purchased can even be delivered directly to your new home at Siena. It’s never too early to begin thinking about the process of downsizing. Many people’s first consideration here is to offer things to family members and friends. There are an increasing number of charitable organizations that items can be donated to. If retaining some funds from your items is right for you, then maybe an estate sale or auction is the way to go.
Once you have identified how much living space you need and have begun the process of downsizing, it becomes time to consider the process of selling your current home and coordinating the physical move to your new home. Since many people considering this type of move may not have moved for many years or even decades, you again should obtain referrals from family or friends who have recently sold a home and moved.
Devising a plan and recording information as it is obtained will help you to begin feeling comfortable with the decisions to be made and offers a less stressful transition. If you are feeling overwhelmed, tell our move-in coordinators your concerns. Let us do some of the leg work with you to move some of the challenges you are facing out of the way. With our guidance, we hope to assist you in making the decision to make a move not only “before the snow flies”, but truly when the time is right for you.
