3 Tips For Downsizing When You Move To Assisted Living

There is a lot of thought that goes into moving into assisted living, and that includes logistics. Before deciding to move into Lakeside assisted living, you likely lived in a larger home that had a lot of storage space. Over the years, you also likely accumulated a lot of things whether it be furniture, knickknacks, memorabilia, décor, or so on. It’s natural; people tend not to notice how many things they have until it’s time to move. As the moving process begins, you may start to get overwhelmed. Here at Solterra Senior Living, we get it. 

To help make your transition easier, here are three tips for downsizing when you move to Lakeside assisted living:

MAKE A LIST

Before you even start going through all the things you have, make a list of things you want to bring with you. Recruit a friend or loved one to help you with this list.

This list should include things that are sentimental to you and things that are practical, such as things you use in your everyday life. It’s not an easy task to think of all the things you’ll want to bring with you, but the odds are that if it didn’t make the list, then it’s not something you need to bring with you. If you or a loved one can’t even remember it now, you probably won’t miss it when it’s gone.

DON’T MAKE RASH DECISIONS

It’s okay if you need to take a few days to figure out whether you want to bring something with you or not. Organize your items into three different piles—one for the things you know you want to bring with you, one for the things you don’t need or want anymore, and one for things you’re unsure of. For those things that you’re unsure of, set them aside for a few days in a place that’s out of sight to you. 

See how well you do by not using them or seeing them for a few days. You may not even notice that they’re gone, which means they probably don’t need to come with you.

HAVE A SAFE SPACE FOR THE SUPER SPECIAL

Whether it’s a homemade gift from a grandchild, the first birthday gift your spouse bought you, or anything else that you consider extremely special and a keepsake, have a special place for this. Try to put them all in a trunk or storage container and find a size that can fit into your new assisted living or in a loved one’s house if they’re okay with it. In this box, include anything you want to hand down to your children, grandchildren, or another loved one in the future. These are things you can’t put a price on. Additionally, by having a safe space for all these super special things, you are also making sure that during the chaos of moving, it won’t accidentally be thrown away or lost in the shuffle.

Moving into a new community can be hard, but Solterra Senior Living is a vibrant, exciting place to live! Set up a tour of the grounds on our website and see what your new home could look like.