Without a doubt, Moving is a difficult process and it becomes even more when you have older adults moving with you. Unfortunately for most of us, we will have to face this situation at least once in our lifetime. For this reason, the expert movers in Pinellas County have created this quick guide in order to ease the difficulty and inconvenience of moving, especially for seniors.

Convincing them that it is time to move

There are lots of reasons why senior citizens decide to move. These would include retirement plans, health and lifestyle changes, and the need to become physically close to their loved ones. However, there are instances when Older Family Members become the main reason for the delay of your move. If you experience this, the best way to deal with the problem is to openly discuss the matter with them. Give them a clear explanation or reason why it is time to move. For instance, if the senior citizen is to be moved primarily because of health problems, explicate to them that the new place will provide better health assistance and quality care.

In case the older family members refuse to move mainly because they just don’t want to leave the community where they have spent most of their lives in, talk about how great the new community is in terms of recreational activities, community services and other benefits it would provide them. If the new community is offering programs that are related to improving their lifestyle, discuss these programs as well. Furthermore, try not to miss even the most infinitesimal detail such as easier access to cleaning services, homecare, and transportation, as these might be the push factors for convincing them to move.

In order to increase your chance of convincing seniors to move, always consider that both you and the older adult have varying points and feelings regarding the matter. Be considerate about their thoughts, and make certain to include these every time you address the subject of moving. In addition, remain calm and never let your agitation enter the discussion. Outward displays of anger or raised voices during conversations will normally leave both parties getting hurt emotionally, which will do no good. Although moving from one place to another can be a highly emotional situation, always compose yourself despite the physical, emotional and mental tensions that may arise.

Moreover, always be honest and try not to make false promises. Do not tell them that they can move back home if they do not really like the new place, especially if such option is not actually a possibility. Rather, reassure them that your family will be there as a support group to help them adapt to the new community. Lastly, give the senior ample time to absorb and accept the decision. After all, this is not a simple matter. Do not be hard on them, and re-discuss some points of the matter if necessary.

Here are Ways on How to Help Seniors Move

If you make the seniors understand the reason for the move and they, subsequently, agree to it, the next step is to help them pack their things. From the point of view of movers in Pinellas County, helping seniors usually requires extra understanding, and of course, patience.

1. Be gentle in helping them sort – Some seniors tend to keep things that young people might not understand why. With this, be gentle in suggesting which possessions should be kept and packed.

2. Be kind – Although this should be a given, be extra kind and patient when helping them pack their belongings. Understand that some may have poor eyesight, and may be incapable of doing laborious works. Instead of pointing out these incapacities, have the initiative to do the arduous task of packing.

3. Take small steps – If you are not available everyday to help them, advice them to take small steps when they are packing for themselves. For instance, they can pack one light box a day, or pack the things in a specific area for 30 minutes daily. With these, you are not only habituating the seniors with the idea of moving, but you are also making sure that everything will be in order prior to the date of moving.

4. Introduce them the layout of the new home – If you already know the layout of the new home, introduce these to your older family members for them to know what they should expect once they arrive. It will also help them decide which things should be moved given the available space of the new home.

5. Be patient – Packing things could be emotionally difficult for seniors, especially if the house is home to precious memories. Allow them to say their own goodbyes to things that they may have just found upon packing, and at all, listen to their stories behind these. This is actually a very important process to help them accept the reality of moving.

Following this quick guide will surely help you assist seniors when moving. However if you need a professional hand to safely move seniors and their belongings, you could always hire expert movers in Pinellas County as they will certainly make the whole moving process easier and less stressful!