Moving is stressful for anyone. It doesn’t matter whether this is forced, coerced, or something a person has been looking forward to for years. Moving can cause a significant amount of stress no matter your age. For a senior making the transition from an apartment or house to assisted living, they are going to face their own stresses.

Assisted living is one of the best elder care options available for aging men and women who have difficulty with daily life. They may still be able to tend to their own basic care for the most part, but if they need any assistance at all, have trouble keeping the home clean, no longer wish to cook meals for themselves, or anything else like that, assisted living is a wonderful option to consider.

When that aging person is planning to move, they are going to have to downsize. There is really no way around that. Unless they are incredibly wealthy and can afford to rent numerous rooms in a facility, even if that were allowed, most seniors will have to get rid of some of the items in their home, which could include furniture, glassware, mementos, clothing, and so forth.

How do you learn to let go?

After a lifetime of building these memories, especially if you have lived in the same place for many, many years, it can be extremely difficult to pack things in boxes, give them to your adult children, grandchildren, friends, or neighbors, or have a tag sale to sell some of the items.

It can feel as though you are dying, and the last thing anyone wants to feel like is that. So, does an aging person really have to let go of all of these memories when they move to assisted living?

No, they don’t have to let go of it all.

It may not be practical to put everything in storage or to have an adult child or somebody else keep items in their basement, over the garage, or wherever else they have extra space, but it is possible to do that.

Storage facilities are all across the country. Depending on where the senior lives, it might actually be relatively affordable. Is it reasonable, though?

That all depends on what the plan is for the future. If this aging person is dealing with Alzheimer’s, for example, memory care assisted living is a wonderful elder care option to consider. And, if that’s the case, there could be incredible value in looking through a lot of these mementos and memories as they pack them up and get ready to move into their new facility.

It wouldn’t make much sense, though, to keep them stored away. It would be best to find people who may hold those items of some value — either personally or financially.

An elderly person doesn’t have to be forced to let go of these items. If they are reluctant, are struggling to let go, give them time. Help them to find a solution for now.

Once they have transitioned to assisted living and understand the true benefits it offers, they may be more willing to revisit these items — furniture, pictures, knickknacks, and other things — and be ready to let go.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering a move to Assisted Living in Carefree, AZ please contact the caring staff at MD Senior Living today. 480-267-9200