Many older adults think about moving to a senior living community or have had talks with their family members about moving, but often have the feeling that they are ‘not ready.’ At The Fields, we hear you. (We also hear “I don’t know why I waited!” but that’s another article.)
Just because you’re not ready now, doesn’t mean you can’t work on getting things in order when or if you move. And even when you’ve taken care of the things below, it still doesn’t mean you have to make a move. It’s always best to be prepared. So if you want to or have to make a move, you’ll have the important pieces all ready to go!
Research
You have 2 assignments here.
- Research your senior living options. Think about where you want to live. In your hometown? Close to your kids or family? Tour a few communities and attend an activity or event to get a feel for what your life would be like if you lived there. Talk to the other residents to get their perspective and what it was like for them to make the move and settle into their new home.
- Research what your monthly and annual expenses are and get a good handle on what your monthly income and current assets are worth. When you start looking around at senior living communities, you might experience some sticker shock. But, when you take stock of all that is included (and what you are currently paying for utilities, home & yard maintenance, home security, taxes, etc.) you will start to see the value.
Waiting Lists
Depending on where you want to be, what type of apartment or townhome you want, and what service level you need (senior living, assisted living, memory care or enhanced care) you may encounter long waiting lists. When you do your research and shop around, ask about waiting lists and get on a few of them. There’s no guarantee something will be available for you when you are ready, but this gives you a little more priority and increases your odds of getting the home you want when you want or need it.
Paperwork
No matter what stage you’re at in life, it’s a good idea to have a Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive in place and up to date. This will also be helpful if you move into a community where you’re receiving home care services, as they will need copies of these documents.
That’s it! You may have noticed there is no ‘to-do’ item for the house. Even though getting the house ready, or needing to downsize, is a reason many people feel they’re not ready for a move, a lot of times, when people make a transition, it’s not because they’ve finished downsizing and their house is in perfect condition to sell. When you decide you’re ready, you’ll figure out quickly what to do with your house and your stuff. There are realtors and move managers who specialize in working with seniors who can make your move and the sale of your home a breeze!
We know it’s not easy, and that’s why we’re here to help. Consider us a resource full of options to help you navigate different options available to you, even if it’s not with our community