Be Prepared With Our Moving to Assisted Living Checklist
Moving is never easy.
Not only is there the hassle of boxes and packing, but there’s the added pressure of downsizing. If you’re moving into assisted living, chances are you’re deciding what you need to take and what you should put in storage.
But moving into assisted living doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, by following our moving to assisted living checklist, we can help ensure that your transition to Cedar Cove is a smooth and seamless one.
Moving to Assisted Living Checklist: 7 Important Things to Remember
The scope of things to do to get ready for assisted living seems overwhelming. But by following our moving to assisted living checklist, you’ll find that you can break down large tasks into smaller ones.
Our moving to assisted living checklist concentrates on 7 main things:
1. Get Financially Ready for the Move
Understanding and evaluating your assets is vital to being prepared for assisted living. There are several different ways residents can fund their stay. While Medicare will typically not pay for assisted living, some residents have found that assisted living is more affordable than they once believed. Selling a home or using retirement savings are some of the ways in which the transition can be financed.
For more information, read our earlier article on how to pay for assisted living.
2. Get a “Moving to Assisted Living Checklist Notebook”
…or if not a notebook, then a useful note-taking app for your phone or computer. Why should you have a notebook?
Because it’s a perfect place to record questions and memories. Perhaps you’re packing your books when you remember a question you meant to ask the assisted living staff. Go ahead and record it. This way you can easily retrieve the information when you need it.
In another example, perhaps an object brings back strong memories. Record these and share these memories with family members—you may be surprised by how much they enjoy taking this trip down memory lane with you.
3. Understand the Floor Plans
How much space will you have in your new location? Understanding the floor plan is vital in helping you determine what can fit and what needs to be placed in storage or given away.
It will also help you determine the best possible layout for your new home. Remember, you should also be sure that your new arrangement is free of anything that would be a tripping hazard, so arrange your furniture accordingly.
4. Set a Time Frame—But Keep Realistic Goals
You want to stay on schedule and be sure that you’re ready for the big day. So, while you’ll need to set some deadlines, realize that you can’t pack everything in one day.
We suggest:
- Have a timeline for relatives to know when they should come by to pick up any heirlooms they want.
- Set small goals and commit to just doing one smaller section of the house at a time.
- Arrange times for donation pick-ups.
- It may help to work in 20-minute increments. Be sure to give yourself a break when you need to.
5. Keep Track of Important Documents
You should always know where your important documents are, such as your will, power of attorney, passports, birth certificates and military records. By creating a designated place for them, you’ll be sure they are in a safe location and won’t get lost in the shuffle of moving.
6. Get Your Children to Collect Their Items
Chances are, you may still be storing some of your children’s personal belongings in your house. Some of these may even date as far back as their college or high school years! Schedule a time for them to come and pick these up before you get into packing. This will give you one less thing to manage.
7. Update or Forward Your Mail
This is a great time to cancel any magazine subscriptions you don’t want. Ensuring that your mail is forwarded, and the change of address is registered means that there should be no interruption in getting the information you need.
Cedar Cove Will Help Ensure That Your Transition to Assisted Living Is a Smooth One
We understand that moving to assisted living is a big step. Sometimes change can be challenging. But remember, while you may be leaving your home behind, you’ll also be leaving behind the extensive maintenance, property taxes and other hassles that come with home ownership. Sometimes, something as simple as a moving to assisted living checklist can help.
So embrace the move to assisted living as a new adventure, one where you will be able to indulge in new hobbies, meet new friends, and never worry about the drudgery of daily housekeeping or cooking tasks ever again.
Ready to get started? Contact us to schedule a tour. But hurry! Our spaces fill quickly.