A Guide to Downsizing for Seniors Aging in Place

Many seniors are resistant to downsizing their possessions and moving to a new home. Memories, neighbors, and familiarity with their current community make moving elsewhere an emotional as well as a physical challenge.

The trauma, confusion, regret and frustration of moving can be reduced, however. Many seniors find new homes that are much more manageable, meet his or her needs, and relieve the worry of family members.

Downsizing Guide

Moving from a larger home to a smaller one often requires some tough decisions about what to take and how to dispose of the rest. A written plan can help keep everyone aware of what needs to be done, as well as when and who will be doing it. Confusion is a stress producer not needed in a move, and planning reduces stress.

Why are we downsizing? That’s a question that must be made clear at the beginning. Until there is understanding and agreement on this issue, moving may become a constant struggle with a senior who doesn’t believe that he or she needs to downsize and move. Often, it is adult children who have to take the lead in the discussion.

What should a conversation with a senior on this topic sound like? Here are some things to consider:

• Review with the senior how much additional assistance is required to keep his or her in the home. Is the senior falling behind in housekeeping, maintenance and yard work? Does the senior have rooms that are never used anymore? Does he or she feel isolated? Wouldn’t a smaller home be more manageable?
• Are health problems beginning to become significant, particularly those that restrict mobility, and require stamina, strength, and endurance? A smaller home with fewer stairs to climb is an important consideration.
• Have increased medical needs due to chronic conditions require living nearer a physician or hospital?
• Has living on a fixed income become a problem when it comes to maintaining a larger home? Home repairs continue to crop up. Medical costs increase. Is the senior still paying on a mortgage that a home sale could eliminate? Even if the senior has paid off his or her existing home loan, downsizing and selling may still be a good idea.

And a smaller home may require less homeowners insurance expense and result in lower property taxes and lower utility bills.

Plan early. Getting organized for a move takes time. It is recommended when planning a move to allow at least three months to complete the process.

The plan should include goals and timelines.

Determine the cost of moving. Selling a home comes with significant expenses. The home may have to be updated or repaired to make it more saleable. And realtor commissions are around 6% of the final purchase price.

Other costs include the price of the new home, closing costs, paying professional movers if used, and making deposits on utility services. Also, what are the monthly utility rates at the new home? Where can the best mortgage rate be found, and what will the insurance and property taxes be?

Forbes provides a calculator for determining the cost of purchasing a home.

Learn the value of the home that’s being sold. A real estate agent can give you a good idea of the price the senior’s house will bring. They also will suggest which upgrades and repairs would increase the value of the home.

Declutter. A senior accumulates a lot of treasures over the year. Moving into a smaller home forces decisions on how to sort through them. There are some basic ways to streamline possessions when downsizing:

• Determine what is going to the new home
• Give items to the adult children
• Donate
• Sell

Involving the adult children early in the process will help with some of these tough decisions. It’s important not to become overwhelmed with every item that needs to be dealt with. It might be tempting to just decide to do a clean sweep and get rid of almost everything. It’s better to take a break and then decide when calmer and more rested. Also, a room-by-room decluttering schedule can cut things down to achievable chunks without becoming overwhelming.

Get rid of duplicate items (are three sets of glassware really needed?). If something is regularly used, keep it. If used once a year, consider eliminating it.

Adult children can also provide a new home for some items.

Garage and estate sales are a great way to eliminate clutter and make money at the same time. Also, there are charities where donations can be made. Some of these organizations provide pick-up services.

Packing. If the senior and family members are packing up instead of using professional movers, there are a few tips to consider:

• Pack one room completely before moving on. This means making the more difficult decisions up front without leaving items to decide on late in the process.
• Pack dishes and glassware with care. Use extra packing paper and wrap each individual piece. Stack dishes vertically, not horizontally. Pad the top and the bottom of the container with cloth or towels and mark the box “fragile.”
• Pack essentials separately. Consider what will be needed in the first week in the new home. Examples: medications, toilet paper, shower curtain, towels, and hand soap.

Consider a portable storage unit or moving pod, which will provide a less stressful experience because it can be loaded over time.

Label the boxes so that each box does not have to be opened to discover what is inside.

Consider professional movers. There are Senior Move Managers, such as Bethesda’s “Moving with Ease,” who specialize in assisting older adults and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of relocation.

Movers can be hired to pack for you. This will cost money, but could be quite helpful if facing a tight deadline. And professional movers can do the packing more efficiently and with less damage to items.

Find more resources for seniors aging in place on Bethesda’s blog.