Independent Senior Living: Tips for Making Your Move
You decided to move into independent senior living, researched, and found the right community for you. All that is left to do now is the moving part. However, this could be the most stressful if you have not properly prepared. In fact, according to a survey conducted by OnePoll, “45% of respondents say that moving is by far the most stressful event in life.”
It will be okay, though, because you do not have to go through this process alone! Our team at Uplands Village, a retirement living community in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee, is here to help ease your moving stress and make your transition into your new community as smooth as possible. To help you get started, we are sharing tips for making your move into independent senior living.
Tip #1: Start Packing Sooner Rather Than Later
Over the years, we all collect things we do not use or need anymore. You likely have decades’ worth of memories and belongings in your home. Because of this, it is important to realize that it’s not feasible to pack and sort through your entire home in one afternoon.
By giving yourself plenty of time before your moving date, you will be able to carefully go through your belongings and decide what items to pass down to family members, donate, throw away, or pack to bring with you to your new home.
The sooner you start this process, the less stressed you will be as your moving day approaches. It may be helpful for you to set certain deadlines for yourself. For example, schedule specific times for family members to come and collect heirlooms, set up a donation pick-up time, or dedicate certain time frames for yourself to focus solely on sorting and packing. This can help keep you on track, so you are ready when moving day does arrive.
Tip #2: Be Open to Downsizing
You can’t sort through your entire home in one day because you will likely have to downsize: you have collected too many belongings over the years, and it may not be possible to bring all of these items with you to your independent senior living community.
Work with your new community before moving day to get information on your new home. Once you know more about the layout of your new home, you can downsize your current belongings accordingly.
A good way to do this is to “eliminate” any rooms you will not have in your new home. What we mean by this is that if you have office furniture but will not have an office space in your independent senior living home, you should consider donating, selling, or passing down this furniture to a friend or family member.
Tip #3: Get Involved in Your New Community
Before your actual move-in date, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with your new retirement living community. Engage with the community’s residents and team members by participating in community events and activities or by joining them for a meal. The more you do this, the more connections you will make and the more comfortable you will feel when you move into your new home.
After your move, continue to do this and become active in the community. Find and participate in activities that align with your interests. By doing so, you will meet like-minded people who enjoy similar hobbies, giving you the perfect foundation to build friendships.
This will enable you to form meaningful, long-lasting friendships and lead an engaging lifestyle – which is likely part of the reason you chose to transition into independent senior living in the first place.
Uplands Village offers endless activities and engagement opportunities for residents with a wide range of interests. From kayaking and hiking to woodworking and pottery, we have something for everyone.
It may take some time to feel completely at ease in your new home, but that is okay. Making this transition is a big step. Our team at Uplands Village is here to help guide you through every step of your independent senior living journey. If you would like to learn more about our retirement living community and all that we have to offer, we invite you to reach out to a member of our team today!