As we age, it becomes increasingly important to simplify our lives. That’s why many seniors choose to downsize from their large family homes to smaller apartments or condos.
Downsizing comes with many benefits, including lower living expenses, less upkeep, and a smaller carbon footprint. Plus, it can be incredibly freeing to declutter your life and get rid of possessions you no longer need or use.
If you’re considering downsizing to a senior living community, we’ve put together the ultimate checklist to help you get started. From decluttering your home to finding the right community, this guide will cover everything you need to know about making a successful downsizing move.
THE ULTIMATE DOWNSIZING CHECKLIST FOR SENIOR LIVING
1. The first step in downsizing is decluttering your home.
This can be a difficult and emotional process, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to get rid of everything.
Start by making three piles:
- things you want to keep,
- things you want to sell or donate,
- and things you want to throw away.
Then, go through each room of your house and decide what stays and what goes. Remember, this is your decision – don’t let anyone else tell you what you should or shouldn’t keep.
2. Once you’ve decluttered your home, it’s time to start packing up your belongings.
Again, take your time with this process, and don’t feel like you have to do it all at once.
Start with one room at a time and pack up the things you know you won’t need right away; you can always add more boxes later as you continue sorting your belongings. Don’t forget to label each box with its contents and the room it belongs in, so unpacking will be a breeze.
3. If possible, print out a floor plan of your new living arrangements.
This will allow you to be able to decide what you have room for and what must go.
Be sure to think about things like foot traffic patterns and how much natural light each room gets. This will help you determine which items you want to keep and which you can live without.
4. Take an inventory of your belongings.
This is an excellent opportunity to eliminate anything you no longer use or need.
If you have trouble letting go of things, consider donating them to charity or giving them to family or friends who may have use for them.
5. Don’t forget to measure!
Make sure all your furniture will fit in your new home before moving. Nothing is worse than getting everything all moved in only to realize that your favorite chair won’t fit through the door.
6. Find the perfect senior living community for YOU.
There are many different types of communities out there, so take your time touring different communities and getting a feel for each one.
Pay attention to the staff and residents – do they seem happy? Are they engaged in activities? Do the facilities meet your needs? Once you’ve found a community that feels like home, all that’s left to do is move in!
Downsizing can be a daunting task, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding experience. By following our simple checklist, you can make sure that your downsizing move is successful – and that you end up in the perfect senior living community for YOU.
If you’re ready to downsize in Virginia, Downsizing VA can help.
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