Helping Your Parents Make the Move to an Assisted Living Community

If your parent has reached the time in their life where they need help with daily personal care activities, moving into assisted living is the perfect solution. You will have peace of mind knowing their needs are being met and they are safe and comfortable.  However as much of the task of helping them move will likely fall on your shoulders, you have probably begun to realize that paring back a lifetime’s worth of possessions is a bit overwhelming. Not to worry, there are many good books on the topic as well as useful tips on the Internet.  

Organizing experts caution that the job can be complicated and fraught with emotion because as you see a pile of stuff to sort through and toss; your parent sees treasures and memories.  Begin by creating a list of things your parent will need at their new place (keep in mind the size) and adding in the treasured items and personal belongings they want to keep. If something is hard for them to part with, help them to think of a family member or friend they would like to give it to.  Also remind them if they sell the item, they can use the money toward something better suited for their new home such as a smaller couch or coffee table.

Now the experts recommend going from room to room and to start sorting by keep, toss, or donate piles.  In addition rather than always asking your parent what they want to keep or get rid of, winnow down the selection, and then ask them yes or no questions.  Presorting items also helps to avoid keeping lots of multiple items.

By measuring the size of your parent’s new suite, you can create a floor plan to realistic show how well their furnishings will fit.  Include the amount of cupboards and storage space they will have to help you know how much is too much. Remember you do not want the new place to be so crowded that they can barely move safely about.

Keep in mind that if your parent is moving into a community such as MorningStar at Arcadia, we do the cooking and serve the food.  Also, our well-designed suites come equipped with mini blinds, carpeting, and overhead lighting. All that’s missing are personal furnishings and treasured items. And in case you were wondering, we are pet friendly.

If you are looking for one of the best senior living communities Phoenix has to offer, visit our website to learn more about our beautiful assisted living and memory care community.     

MorningStar at Arcadia represents the best in senior living with a unique mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” We have built our foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve…all of which contributes to creating a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting. Call to schedule a visit to one of the finest senior living communities Phoenix offers.