Moving can be stressful for anyone, at any age. However, moves involving seniors often require special considerations. Many seniors are hesitant to move from their family homes, whether to a new location or care facility. As a result, they often require more careful planning and clearer communication than younger movers and their families.
Senior moving companies can save families time and energy in their move with their established senior moving processes, communicating clearly and offering secure packing and storage facilities to give seniors the assurance they need for their move.
Consider this list of what to look for when choosing a senior moving company to prevent unnecessary issues when moving a senior loved one to a new home or living facility.
1. Vetted Move Management Services
Seniors have spent years acquiring items that now hold significant nostalgic or monetary value. They want to know their belongings are in trusted hands when they hire a moving service. When vetting a senior moving company, look for backgrounds in move management that relate to the needs of senior living.
For example, many senior moving companies have training and experience in social work while others have a transparent online review record that demonstrates their skills with senior residents. Search Google reviews and business sites for “seniors” or “senior moving” to find a moving company with relevant and preferred experience.
2. Creative Solutions to Clutter
Unfortunately, the accumulated belongings seniors may have collected may not fit in their new location. The storage available in smaller residences and care facilities is often far more limited than in family-style homes. The struggle to downsize possessions is one of the key stressors impacting seniors and their loved ones as they attempt to move.
Experienced senior moving companies can offer creative solutions to downsizing possessions. For example, they can impartially help seniors decide what to keep, donate, and dispose of. If that is not satisfactory, many senior move management services offer storage facilities to store overflow and excess until the family can decide what to do with it.
The right senior moving company will lead with creative and empathetic solutions to the problem of downsizing superfluous, non-essential items. They will clearly communicate the senior’s options for situations involving numerous belongings, including secure storage facilities that can allow seniors and their families to focus on more important matters.
3. Versatile Packing Services
Even with a creative solution to overflow, many seniors may still have a lot of belongings to be relocated. Due to their physical and mental limitations, many seniors have trouble packing and unpacking these belongings, potentially endangering themselves in the process.
Choose a senior moving company that offers packing and unpacking services to avoid placing undue stress on you or your senior loved one. While many seniors prefer to unpack belongings themselves, specialized senior movers can help with heavy items, item storage, and other processes that would otherwise be unnecessary and stressful.
4. Safety Features
Many seniors live with mobility limitations that will impact their ability to move. Experienced senior movers know how to accommodate these limitations while offering assistance with equipment and training designed to make the process easier.
For example, senior movers should have experience moving heavy and antique furniture in tight spaces while regularly communicating their objectives to seniors and their families. Finding a moving service experienced in safe moving practices is a must, regardless of the occupant’s age.
However, it is an especially vital consideration when moving seniors. For families, this may require making accommodations for seniors until their environment is safely arranged by skilled movers.
5. Company Licenses
Accredited senior moving companies should have company licenses and safety certifications. These documents certify that their employees are properly trained to conduct safe moving services, their vehicles and services are insured, and their payment processing is secure.
These licenses should be easily verifiable on request or via the company’s website. Always check before hiring a moving service to make sure that they have taken the necessary precautions to guarantee a safe and smooth service. Check for expiration dates and any applicable state or location limitations.
6. Additional Services
In addition to packing, transporting, and unloading services, senior moving companies may offer additional features that seniors and their families can use to their advantage. For example, many companies offer furniture arrangement, electronic hookup, and post-move services such as handyman and repair services to guarantee that the home is safe and ready for its new residents.
Contact an Experienced Local Moving Company to Learn More About Senior Moving Services
At MG Moving Services, we understand the stressors involved with moving seniors to a new location. We offer expert packing, unpacking, and storage services to make sure that our clients are comfortable in their new homes. We can connect our clients with accredited senior move managers to help with additional services such as decluttering and post-move organization.
Contact our experienced team today and ask about the specialty services we provide. Our experienced agents can explain how we help seniors and their families take the stress out of their move to their new homes or living facilities.