Moving can be hard; don't be afraid to ask for help
Moving from a home you’ve had for many years can be the beginning of a new adventure, but whether you're just changing locations -- or making a transition to an assisted living community -- the moving process can bring up issues that you may find overwhelming:
· What to take
· What to leave behind
· What to give away
· Do you keep your own doctors?
· Which activities will you continue or discontinue?
· How will you make new friends?
· How will you maintain your unique identity?
"When older people think about moving, each part of the transition can bring up doubts, confusion, and fear," says Bradley Morgan, of Walks Beside Life Coaching.
"Even the thought of moving can create moods and emotions that delay the creation of a new home. Statistics show that left to the new resident, with or without family members, moving requires approximately two years," says Stephan Marais, Bradley's partner.
Thinking about Moving? Consider This Checklist
To help you cope with the emotional demands of moving, Bradley and Stephan have created a checklist of key issues that will help to make your moving experience successful.
To help you cope with the emotional demands of moving, Bradley and Stephan have created a checklist of key issues that will help to make your moving experience successful.
· Is there a specific timeframe for moving?
· If so, are there other resources you need to enlist for help in meeting your goal?
· Which personal items or furniture will help to create the mood you want in your new home?
· Who will help you evaluate which of your possessions will best fit in your new home?
· Is there a room design or configuration you need in the bedroom or living room to feel centered and comfortable in the new home?
· Do you have memorabilia and religious or spiritual possessions that will help you maintain your identity in the new community?
· Who will accompany you on your moving date? And who will visit daily for the first week, or even the first month?
· Is there a specific ceremony, ritual, or blessing that you would like for your new home before you move in?
· Would you like to send personal moving notices to let friends and distant family know about your new home? How do you plan to notify people about your upcoming move and send invitations to visit?
· Will you keep your current medical practitioners, or find new ones in the community? How will your medical records be transferred and maintained?
· If you choose to keep the doctors and dentists you have, how will you get to their offices?
· How will you visit friends and family who don’t live nearby?
· If you have a disability that is visible to others, what are your feelings about this? What do you need to feel strong and sociable? Does it help to know that you are not the only person who is experiencing this? Remember to consider the feelings of your caregivers.
· What activities can you continue to enjoy after moving to your new home? Include exercise and hobbies when you make your list. Also identify the activities you may not be able to perform anymore, and find new ones to enjoy.
· After moving, how will you meet people in your new community? If you have caregiver, can he or she help you meet new people?
Need Extra Support to Cope with Moving? Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
Whether you are moving on your own or have help from friends or family, it’s important to consider how leaving your old home and moving to a new one will affect your emotions and your health.
Whether you are moving on your own or have help from friends or family, it’s important to consider how leaving your old home and moving to a new one will affect your emotions and your health.
If the thought of moving is especially difficult for you, consider getting professional help from a counselor or elder life coach. Working with a professional can help you address specific issues that arise about moving, so you can make the transition with dignity, good spirits and a healthy outlook for the future.
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