Senior Living Downsizing 101

Moving out of your comfort zone into an assisted living care facility can seem like a scary change at a glance, especially when it comes to considering what to take with you and what to leave behind. We’ve gathered some tips from our senior living experts in Lake in the Hills to make the move a bit easier and help you ensure the new space feels like home for you or your loved one.

​First things first, you need to know how much storage space you’ll have at your new home. Melody Living assisted living units each have generous closet space with spacious floor plans, but you want to be sure you’re filling your storage space with meaningful, necessary, and useful items. Consider the floor plan of your new space and plan out where larger pieces of furniture or décor might fit. Schedule a tour of the community and walk through the various unit options to help identify what size or layout will work best for you.

​​Next, go through what items you want to keep and what you are willing to part ways with. Determine your necessary items first, the ones that you use often. Then, identify whether or not these things can or will be available through the community (washer and dryer, microwave, stove, etc.). For everything else, use the One-Year Rule. For example, if you haven’t used the item in question, even once in the past year, it probably isn't a necessity.

​Now, what do we do with all the items you’ve decided to leave behind during your big move? Here are a few ideas.

Donate Them or Host an Estate Sale
The easiest and most efficient option is to donate any unwanted items or coordinate an estate sale for a bit of extra cash. For donations, most thrift stores will take items without needing an initial inspection and some can even pick them up from your location. Most thrift stores have drop-off locations to make dropping off your belongings more streamlined.
 
Give To Family
Let your family and loved ones go through the belongings you are ready to let go of. An easy way to keep things organized is to give each person a set of colored stickers to label each item. Then, each person can take their chosen items and you know everything will be going to a good home where they will continue to be taken care of for years to come.
 
Opt for a Storage Unit
If you have a lot of items that you aren't quite ready to let go of yet, or your family may not be ready to take, such as larger items that are more difficult to transport, consider renting out a storage unit. Make sure you find a unit that offers ample security to ensure the safety of your belongings until you’re ready to address them again.

​Historical Items to Museums or Collectors
Are you a collector or avid hobbyist? If you have a large collection of items that might be considered historically valuable, or have gathered a large back stock of items from a lifelong hobby; share them with a club or museum that will take just as good care of the items as you would.
 
Don’t feel like you need to give up your hobby, but go through to see if there are any pieces that might be useful to a local club or someone just starting out to share the love of your hobby or collection.
 

​Downsizing may seem like a daunting task to undertake, but we hope these few tips will help make it a bit simpler and give new purpose to the items you choose to let go of. Be sure to schedule a private tour for you and your loved one to see how our senior retirement apartments can be the perfect space for a new beginning in Lake in the Hills. To learn more about Melody Living assisted living in McHenry County, feel free to give us a call at (847) 957-7070 or schedule a private tour on our contact page.