When older adults and their families try to understand all the steps involved in moving to assisted living, it can feel overwhelming, to say the least.
There are decisions to be made about where to move, what to bring, how to sell the current home, and everything in between. For families who are already balancing work, caregiving, and personal responsibilities, figuring out where to start can be especially stressful. That’s where senior relocation services can come in. Families who work with a professional can get help coordinating the many details involved in a move, including downsizing, preparing a home for sale, and developing a realistic move-in timeline, while also connecting with the right resources along the way.
Senior relocation specialists, also called senior move managers, understand the unique considerations that often come with a later-life move. They can help families make thoughtful decisions that take their loved one's feelings into account while also managing the practical details. For families moving a loved one to assisted living, having that support can make the transition feel a little more manageable.
Senior relocation specialists can help organize a move to assisted living and connect families with helpful resources.
Senior moving services may include downsizing, organizing belongings, selling unwanted items, coordinating movers, and setting up the new apartment.
Senior real estate specialists can help older adults and their families navigate the real estate aspects of a move.
Working with senior relocation and senior real estate professionals can help families create a smoother, more coordinated transition.
What Is a Senior Relocation Specialist?
What Services Do Senior Relocation Specialists Provide?
How Senior Real Estate Specialists Can Help
When Might You Need Senior Relocation Services?
Planning Your Move to Assisted Living with Allegro Senior Living
While moving can be challenging at any age, senior moving often involves additional considerations. For example, an older adult may have lived in the same home for many years or even decades and deciding what to bring along and what to leave behind can be an emotional process. There's also a long list of practical tasks to manage.
Hiring a senior relocation specialist means having someone who can organize the process and coordinate the resources needed for a successful move to assisted living. Depending on the company, services may include downsizing and organizing, selling or donating unwanted items, coordinating with movers, preparing the home for sale, and setting up the new apartment.
Unlike a moving company, which typically focuses on transporting belongings, a senior relocation specialist helps manage the overall transition. They also differ from real estate agents whose focus is buying or selling the home. A senior relocation specialist can work alongside real estate agents, movers, senior living communities, family and friends, and anyone else involved in the transition to help families manage the full spectrum of practical details related to the move.
Senior relocation services can vary depending on the individual and the company providing them. In general, a senior relocation specialist helps coordinate several parts of the moving process including:
Downsizing and organizing: When deciding which items should go to the new home, a senior relocation specialist can help organize belongings and furniture and determine what should be kept, sold, or donated.
Managing unwanted belongings: Depending on the items involved, a relocation specialist may help arrange donations, auctions, or estate sales.
Preparing the home: A home may need cleaning or other preparation before being put on the market. A senior relocation specialist can help coordinate these services and keep the process moving.
Coordinating the move: Senior relocation services may include coordinating movers, arranging transportation, and helping make sure belongings arrive at the new residence.
Hiring a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) can be helpful when it comes to selling your loved one’s property. SRES are real estate agents who have specialized training in working with older adults and can help with the sale of an existing home and, when applicable, the purchase of another.
Senior real estate specialists may also work alongside senior relocation specialists. While the real estate professional focuses on the property transaction, the relocation specialist will help coordinate the practical aspects of the move itself.
Working together, these professionals can help families coordinate both the real estate transaction and the details of the move.
Some families may begin looking for senior relocation support as soon as they decide that a move to assisted living is necessary, while others may seek help once they've chosen a senior living community and need to figure out how to get from the current home to the new one. Relocation support may be particularly useful when:
An older adult has lived in their home for many years.
There are decades of belongings to sort through.
Family members live in another city or state.
Family members don't have the time to coordinate every part of the move.
The home needs to be prepared for sale.
The older adult needs help coordinating the practical aspects of the move.
The family wants additional support with downsizing.
For an adult child helping a parent move to assisted living, having a senior relocation specialist to coordinate the logistics and a senior real estate specialist to handle the home sale can provide valuable support and peace of mind.
With the right support, the move to assisted living can be a lot less overwhelming than anticipated. Professionals like senior relocation specialists can help families focus less on the details of a move and more on helping their loved one feel comfortable and supported as they adjust to their new surroundings. If you or a loved one is considering a move, the Allegro Senior Living team is here to help you prepare for the transition.
Start by downloading our complimentary Successful Transitions Guide for practical tips on making a successful move. When you're ready, connect with one of our community advisors to explore our assisted living options and schedule a personalized tour.