It’s amazing how much stuff we can accumulate in our homes over the years. If you or a loved one is planning a move to an assisted living community, the idea of downsizing decades’ or a lifetime’s worth of belongings can appear to be a daunting task. Luckily, there are a few downsizing strategies that you can employ ahead of your move to make the process much easier.
Read on to discover the benefits of downsizing your or your loved one’s space and tips to help you get started.
The Benefits of Downsizing
Downsizing isn’t just about making your upcoming move easier. It has many hidden benefits, too, including helping you stay organized, reducing time spent on maintenance and giving you more convenient access to items you use every day.
More Organized
Have you ever known exactly what you’re looking for, but have no idea where to find it in your home? Downsizing to a smaller space provides the perfect opportunity to get organized. You can clear out clutter you no longer need, making room for what’s most important. You may even find some long-lost treasures you forgot about.
Less Maintenance
With a larger living space, it sometimes feels like the list of chores never ends. Between dishes, dusting, mowing, vacuuming and everything else, something always needs attention. In a smaller space there are fewer chores to do and less stuff to manage, freeing up time to spend your days in the way you find most meaningful. Plus, at assisted living communities, residents often benefit from services such as laundry, housekeeping and maintenance.
Convenient Access
Fewer belongings in a right-sized space can make it easier to find the items you need and enjoy everyday. As our mobility needs change, endlessly searching for items in an attic, garage or storage space becomes not only time consuming but increasingly inconvenient. In your new home, everything you need will be within reach.
6 Strategies to Downsize for a Move to Assisted Living
Make a Plan
Start putting together a plan as early as possible. This will include taking an inventory of your possessions, contacting third party organizers, movers or sellers and setting goals for what you want to accomplish and when.
Tackle One Room at a Time
Work through the home one room at a time. This helps narrow your focus and provides a sense of accomplishment after each room is complete. It can also help with your organization, allowing you to keep your possessions together in a logical way instead of having everything mixed together.
Ask for Assistance
Downsizing may come with some difficult decisions, and it can be especially helpful to have a second set of eyes. If you’re feeling stuck, enlist the assistance of trusted family or friends. They will likely understand your emotional state during this transition, and can help you think through what’s worth keeping and what it’s time to move on from.
Don’t Hesitate to Donate
The process of downsizing can do a lot of good for both you and your community. When you have items like clothing, dishes, kitchen tools and sporting goods that are in good shape, consider donating them to a local organization instead of throwing them away. Simply box them up and drop them off, and your unwanted possessions can find new life in another home.
Avoid New Acquisitions
When you’re planning a move to an assisted living community, it’s tempting to get ahead of yourself and start picking out new furniture and decor. Make sure you’re keeping the goal of downsizing in mind before you start buying (or before your loved one starts buying!). By holding off, you’ll have fewer things to organize and move, and often you can make better decisions about what you really need once you’re settled in your new residence.
Pack a “First Day” Bag
Spare yourself the frustration of digging through random boxes to find your everyday essentials and pack a “first day” bag that has everything you need to be comfortable. Some key items to consider packing include medications, toiletries, important documents, a change of clothes, cash or credit cards, snacks and drinks. This preparation takes some of the pressure off unpacking right away while keeping you ready for anything you might want immediately.
Explore Assisted Living Options at Friendship Village of South Hills
At Friendship Village of South Hills, our goal is to empower our residents to live well. Our experienced assisted living team is available to offer extra support with daily tasks and care needs, and we offer a wide range of health services such as skilled nursing and rehabilitation, on-site. Take advantage of our exceptional amenities and services, including a personalized wellness plan and on-site dining venues.
If you’d like to learn more about assisted living at Friendship Village of South Hills for yourself or a loved one, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
