More families now choose to live intergenerationally, and retirees have more choices when it comes to where they want to settle down. To accomplish this, sometimes parents, grandparents and other loved family members must complete a long distance senior move to relocate to a family member’s home, live nearby, or finally land in the perfect retirement spot. Interstate moves are complex affairs, and when you add in the lives of older family members, additional challenges tend to arise. National Van Lines understands these situations, and how emotional this process can be for all involved. We’ll look at the top five challenges, and how our agents and partners address them to safely and carefully transport and take care of you and your family.
5 Challenges Associated With an Interstate Senior Move
As stated, any interstate move presents its own set of challenges, and senior moves come with added challenges that are common among older adults.
1. Downsizing isn’t easy
Cutting back on possessions is a big part of long distance moves. Seniors have collected a lifetime of memories and it’s no small task to go through it all, especially when some items hold deep emotional meaning. Start by reviewing this simple guide to decluttering before a move to help as you decide what needs to come with you for the future, what can be let go, and what might need to be stored for the family.
2. Storage concerns
After deciding what you should keep and what should go, if you’re downsizing you’ll want to consider where to store those items that you want to keep for yourself and the family that may not fit in your new home. National Van Lines works with climate-controlled storage facilities to protect your useful, meaningful, memorable items.
3. Planning a new space for your future health
Whether you’re moving into a smaller home, an apartment, or with family, your health is a priority. Consider the functional layout of your new space, and what you’ll need to move safely and comfortably through it. Look for apartment buildings and condos with elevators, and when moving in with family, arrange first-floor accommodations if possible. Moving into a new space is exciting at any age, and considering your health as you choose where to spend this time in your life is an important component.
4. Live with family or in a senior-living development
Many housing developments specializing in retirees and older adults have options that may include on-site nursing staff, or staffers who regularly make wellness checks. These are often community-based apartments or townhomes that have lots of events. As your life is changing, building a new community is important.
You and your family will want to prioritize your long-term health and safety for your retirement years. There are benefits to family living, just as there are with remaining on your own, but nearby. Choosing the path that fits this phase of your life is what matters most. With either choice, professional movers know how to get in and out in a friendly, minimally-disruptive manner.
5. Professional help or DIY long distance move
While you and your family can do this move yourselves, professional movers can make the process so much easier. You’ve already worked hard for many years, and the moving pros can help you with everything from packing to unpacking, route planning and more—and it can be done on senior budget-friendly terms.
While the thought of a long distance move for older adults may initially seem a bit overwhelming, we hope you can see that with structured preparation and the right team—such as ours at National Van Lines—that such a move will be very possible and efficient. In a short space of time, you and your family can begin your new lifestyle, creating new memories.
Hire Our Experienced Long Distance Senior Movers Today
With over 95 years of experience behind us, National Van Lines brings you experts in long distance relocations for seniors. Call us today for more details at 800-323-1962, or request a free quote.
