Moving from independent living to assisted living is a difficult choice, and it’s made harder by having to figure out what to do with all your belongings. With so much provided in these senior facilities, as well as a downsizing of available space, aging adults are faced with a lot of decisions about what to keep, what to toss and what to donate. Every item can be packed with emotions and memories, both for the elderly person moving and the family helping them through the transition. At JunkDoctorsNJ, we’ve helped a lot of seniors in moments like this, and we’ve learned a thing or two along the way about how to make the transition faster and more manageable.
Before you start, create a list of goals
Before the emotional impact of sorting through a lifetime of memories begins, creating a list of goals can help you look at the task ahead with greater focus. Start by visiting the facility (Assisted Living) into which you are moving and taking stock of the space that awaits you. What are the items you need to live comfortably without feeling crowded? What are the amenities the facility has and doesn’t have? What sort of decorating space does it offer? Answering these questions will enable you to figure out all of the things that you definitely need to take with you, making it easier to separate out the things you don’t need.
Give yourself time
Sorting through 60 or 70 years’ worth of accumulated belongings is no easy task, and it shouldn’t be attempted in a single weekend. Instead, give yourself several weeks. With your list of goals in hand, take stock of everything that needs to be packed up, and start by packing the least important, rarely used stuff first. As the days and weeks go by, keep moving through your list, so that when moving day comes, you’re all set without any rushed effort.
Get family help if it’s available
Your family can be a valuable resource in times like this. They can help you with the sorting and the packing, as well as making the hard decisions, like ensuring your antique armoire finds a new home in the family, preserving an heirloom. They can also help you decide what can be thrown out when the decision feels too difficult.
Call in the experts to finish the job
Once you have everything in mind that you are going to take, turn to an expert junk removal service like JunkDoctorsNJ to handle the rest of the work. Anything you aren’t taking with you and isn’t going to a family member can be quickly removed from your home and loaded up on our truck. You’ll get peace of mind knowing the process will be handled by friendly, efficient professionals. And we’ll make sure anything that is in good order is donated rather than junked, ensuring your items find further life with people who will be happy to have them.
If you are in New Jersey or the surrounding area and need professional junk removal for Seniors & Transitioning to Assisted Living call JunkDoctorsNJ today at 973-336-8083.