How to Organize Your Belongings When You Move Into Retirement Housing

 

Moving from a house to an assisted living community can take some adjustment. While many senior citizens report being happier after they make the move to senior retirement communities, the transition to retirement housing often includes a decent amount of downsizing. Most people will not have the same amount of space. While this may seem like a daunting challenge, it is possible to do this in an orderly fashion.

1. Start with a plan. When you know you are going to move and have time to plan for it, you should take advantage of that. Map out a plan for what your goals are in the days and weeks leading up to your move to retirement housing. It is impossible to maintain certain levels of productivity, some days you will get more done than other other days. That is ok. If you go into the process knowing that, you will be less frustrated with it and yourself. Set goals for each week. Reach out to people around you to help. This can make everything easier. Having everything in writing can also help you make sure no details get forgotten.
2. Take stock of what you have. Before you even start doing anything with your belongings, you need to know what you have. Step one should be to catalogue everything and make lists of it. Then you can go through the lists and decide what you want to take to the retirement housing and what you can do without. Most assisted living homes do not have storage so you need to get rid of the things you do not need.
3. Spend some time in the retirement housing before you move. If you can, go and spend a little time in your new space. Look around and try to see what items will and will not fit in you new space. The “fit” is not just a question of the amount of room these items need but how they will look and feel in your new space. You may also see that some of your items will be superfluous in your new home.
4. Your second task is to get rid of your belongings with little sentimental value. There are a lot of items you have that will have some sentimental value but you also have stuff that does not. Go through the items that are just stuff and either give them away or donate them to charity. Charities around the country use donated items to fund their work and you can take this off of your taxes. Go through your household items and clothing. Almost everyone in the United States has clothing that they never wear anymore. Consider arranging a charity pick up of these things that you will not need in the retirement housing. You may be doing a great service for people in need by donating these items. Even knick knacks can be sold in thrift stores that are run by charities. Keep records of your donations
5. Assign every item you are taking a purpose. Now this does not have to be something practical. As you are packing your belongings for the move, ask yourself, “what is the reason I want this?” It could be as simple as to retain a memory or connect with a time in your life. It could be as simple as evoking a feeling like happiness. If you no longer feel such a connection with an item, it is time to say goodbye to it.
6. Put some items away without getting rid of them. If you have some belongings that you have mixed feelings about, pack them away and see what you think about living without them in your life. If you find yourself missing those items, take them with you. If you do not, give them away or donate them.
7. Use this as a way to connect with family and friends. As you go through your belongings, you may think of memories you had not thought of in a long time. That can be fun and will give you a good excuse to reach out to people you may not have been in contact with in a long time.

Downsizing your belongings will be easier with these seven tips.