How to Help Your Elderly Parents Move

By eHow Relationships & Family Editor

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There comes a time when your aged parents become too infirm to live independently anymore. Moving out of their home is a wrenching experience for them, as it signifies a loss of independence. Some may worry about losing their beloved pet. Others worry about what will happen to their possessions. Make the transition as smooth as possible for them by handling the details.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Step1

Go back to the plans you made together earlier (see 290 Plan for Elderly Parents' Care). Help them choose the best living situation. Depending on their health, that could be a smaller place with no stairs closer to you or another relative, or a nurse-staffed assisted-living community.

Step2

Help them sort through their belongings. Deliver or mail items they want to give to relatives or friends; store anything they're not sure about, pack up the rest (or hire a moving company) and have it sent to their new home. See 97 Plan a Move.

Step3

Figure out if there's a way for them to keep a beloved pet-- animals provide valuable emotional support. Choose a new place or community that takes pets or bring the pet home with you if they're moving nearby.

Tips & Warnings

Arrange for them to be near you or other family members if possible. They'll need help if they're living independently, and you'll want to keep close tabs on the care they receive.
Sometimes it's better if your parents are not around to say good-bye to the old homestead. Take them out for the day with the assurance that the movers will handle everything.
The Assisted Living Federation of American offers more information at alfa.org.

Comments

oliveoil said

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on 5/29/2008 Another option you have with caring for your parents is ResponseLINK Emergency Medical Alert System. They provide 24 hour assurance that if your parents need help, it is only seconds away with a push of a button. They also keep all of your emergency contacts at hand so that means no more lost contact numbers. They call the contacts you choose in the order you specify. You can also have the peace of mind that your parents are reminded to take their medications and that they are reminded to have their meals at a certain time if that is a concern as well. When I checked into it for my own parents, I found that it was easily affordable, and was easy to get set up with a subscription without a long term contract.

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