If your parent has reached an age where they can no longer live independently, you may be planning to move them into your own home. This allows you to spend more time with your parent than if you were to move them into an assisted living facility, and it's often an easier transition for your parent, too.
Still, moving your parent into your home comes with some challenges — both logistically and emotionally. Here are five tips to help you navigate this somewhat stressful endeavor.
1. Sort Through Items in Advance
As soon as you are certain your parent will be moving in, you can begin the process of sorting through items and getting rid of anything unneeded. Your parent probably won't need to keep all of their kitchen items, decorations, and yard care supplies since you have these things in your own home. Donate or sell such items so you don't have to waste time and money moving them.
Getting rid of things may be emotionally challenging for your parent. To help ease their mind, consider whether there are a few of their things you can keep in place of your own. For instance, if they have a nicer yard rake than you do, then you can donate your own rake and keep theirs. Your goal is to whittle down both your possessions and your parent’s possessions until what you have left can fit in a single home.
2. Consider Renting a Storage Unit
If your parent is really struggling to get rid of things, consider renting a storage unit. Pack anything that your parent does not urgently need into boxes, and put the boxes in storage. Even if the items are not actually needed, you can store them for a few months and then get rid of them once your parent is settled into your home and better able to deal with the stress of parting with their things.
3. Make Sure Your Parent's Furniture Will Fit
Keeping a few pieces of your parent's furniture — like their bed and their dresser, for example — is a good way to make them feel more at home in your house. Just be careful to measure all of your doorways and all of the furniture beforehand to ensure it fits. You do not want to pay to have a bed moved only to find out it won't fit through your front door. Not only is this a waste of money, but it may be stressful for your parent who must then suddenly part with their bed.
4. Hire Professional Movers
Once you have your parent's items parred down to the essentials, hire a moving service to transport everything to your home. By hiring movers, you free up more of your own time so you can deal with the emotional aspects of moving your parent. Leaving the move to someone else should leave you feeling less stressed, too, which makes it easier for you to adapt to having your parent in your home full-time.
5. Prepare Your Home in Advance
To ensure move-in day goes as smoothly as possible, take some time to prepare your home before the movers arrive. Decide where all of the big items will go so you can direct the movers where to place them. If the weather is bad, put cardboard down to protect your floors. Secure any pets, and also make sure the driveway is clear so the movers have a place to park.
These simple preparatory tasks help the movers get in and out faster so you can begin the settling-in process with your parent.
It may take the whole family some time to adapt, but having your elderly parent living with you is a great way to show them the love and respect they deserve. Follow the tips above for success, and contact Helping Hands Moving, Inc. if you are looking for a moving company in Colorado.
