How to Downsize and Move into Independent Living

Moving into an independent living community is a wonderful opportunity to free yourself from the furniture, clothing, and personal items you don’t need anymore. Use this guide as you downsize and prepare for your move.

Plan Your New Space

Since independent living apartments are smaller than a house, they should be decorated and furnished appropriately. Use your new floor plan to measure what will fit and what décor you can bring along. Consider using furniture that serves a few different functions, such as an ottoman with storage.

Start Small

Many people quit their decluttering efforts because they take on too much all at once. Instead, take baby steps. Spend 10 minutes a day going through one small area—whether it’s one cabinet, dresser, or stack of papers. Tackle one thing at a time and get rid of what’s no longer needed. This way, you accomplish something, no matter how small.

Focus on Your Legacy

There are likely possessions and family heirlooms that you will hesitate to get rid of. Try making a list of the top five or 10 most meaningful things in your home and then writing down a story about each. This way, you’ll start realizing it’s not the item that holds value, it’s the story. This can clear the path for decluttering and saying goodbye to certain belongings if they don’t fit into your new home (or if your family members don’t want to take them off your hands).

Donate

While it’s tempting to just sell everything, you can consider giving some items to people who really need them. In addition to finding some local charities to donate to, you can use Freecycle, Facebook Marketplace, or the Buy Nothing Groups on Facebook.

Prepare for the Move

When the time comes to make the move into senior living, there are a number of logistics to handle and tasks to take care of. Take a look at our moving preparation checklist to get started.

If you’re ready to explore independent living, get in touch with us today.