Moving in a senior age may be more difficult than at other stages of life. As the years go by, vitality is lost and, instead, you gain aches, pains, discomforts and illnesses that can make it more complicated to move your life from one place to another.
It’s not just young people who move. Whatever the reason, grandparents need special care that is specific to their condition when it comes to transporting an older adult’s belongings.
Just as they are special with family members, the treatment they receive in a process of this type should be just as special. There are considerations that must be taken into account when moving a senior citizen.
Before
There is a lot to consider before moving, such as the proximity of hospitals, pharmacies, supermarkets, shopping malls, bakeries, restaurants, among others to the new residence.
It is also vital to be as close as possible to a family member or friend, in case help is needed. It is essential to obtain support from trusted third parties.
It should be remembered that moving is a difficult and stressful task that often challenges the stability of the person who is moving, so you may consider hiring a moving company that is responsible for organizing in detail all the load, but especially for lifting boxes that can be heavy and that could cause serious injuries to the spine of the elderly if they take care of it personally.
A very smart idea is to get rid of the unnecessary before moving, to take only what you are going to use. Throughout your life you tend to accumulate things that remain stored for a long time, so you can consider donating or selling them, to make it easier to transport your belongings.
Also, you should visit the place where the elderly person will move to, to assess accessibility. Answer the following questions honestly: Is it easily accessible? Is it comfortable for the grandparents? Is it safe? From the entrance to the last corner of your home, it should be senior-friendly.
During
When the time comes, it is essential to have help. It is impossible for an elderly person to lift large amounts of weight because, as mentioned above, he/she may injure him/herself.
Sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and other people you trust can provide support by making a list of the belongings, moving boxes and furniture to be taken to the new destination; but the personnel of a moving company can also do it if you have hired such service.
This type of company can organize, pack and carry the objects to be moved, protecting those that require special treatment.
You can inquire about the insurance of certain heirlooms. When it comes to your most precious possessions, you can never be too cautious.
After
Time to unpack. Avoid Grandpas from bending, stooping or straining; remember that an older person may be in good shape, but will get tired quicker than a middle-aged person, so they won’t be able to participate as much.
During the move, the health and well-being of the elderly must be taken care of. Do not underestimate any symptoms, no matter how slight they may seem.
Check the list of belongings that was picked up, once you have all the boxes inside the new home, to verify that everything has arrived.The first thing to do is to organize at least one of the rooms. A bed must be assembled for them to be able to rest every time it is necessary.
The workday after moving does not have to be intensive, you can go at your own pace and at the pace of the seniors. Consider distributing the work over several days to avoid decompensation, stress or health problems.
Final recommendations
- A move causes changes that can affect emotions, so be as kind as possible.
- Keep everyone participating in the activity hydrated, especially if they are elderly.
- Keep older adults’ medications on hand in case they are needed in an emergency.
- Talk to trusted neighbors to ask for a resting place if grandparent needs it and furniture and beds have already been moved.
- Don’t overlook meals. You may be young or middle-aged and forget to eat, but a senior citizen needs to eat on time and in a balanced way.
