Tips for Navigating a Move Closer to a Senior Loved One

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Long-distance caregivers have to make a number of difficult decisions. Among these, deciding whether or not to move closer to care for a loved one in person is one of the most challenging. Should you uproot your life so you can provide more frequent, hands-on care? Could they move in with you instead? Would your loved one be better off in a professional care setting? To help you answer these questions and arrive at the best decision for you and your family, check out the following tips presented by Suzie Wilson of HappierHome.net.

Determine Their Care Needs

First, make sure you have a clear understanding of your loved one’s needs. Will moving closer enable you to fulfill all of their care requirements, or do they require care beyond your capabilities? Remember that independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care can offer support for various age-related challenges. For example, if your loved one is dealing with mental health struggles, moving into a care community may help alleviate the effects of loneliness and isolation.

AARP explains that it’s often hard to distinguish when a senior needs additional help. If possible, visit your senior in person so that you can assess their care needs more closely. Keep an eye out for signs of mobility challenges, mental health concerns, financial issues, medication mismanagement, and social withdrawal. Based on these observations, you’ll have an easier time deciding if you should move closer to help them out.

Hire Professional Help

If you decide that moving closer to your loved one would be best for them, it’s time to start planning your next steps. First, consider hiring some professionals to help your loved one until you’re finished moving. Depending on the level of assistance they require, this might mean hiring an in-home caregiver, housekeeper, or just someone to run errands and provide transportation. You could even hire an aging-in-place specialist who can make suggestions about in-home care and home accessibility modifications to improve your loved one’s quality of life.

Remember that your loved one’s home will need care as well. Hire some maintenance professionals to help handle home maintenance tasks, such as mowing the lawn and cleaning the gutters. This is also a good time to tackle lingering maintenance issues, like windows that are letting in cold air.

Plan Ahead for an Easy Move

Moving isn’t easy – especially while you’re juggling the care needs of a long-distance loved one. Plan ahead to ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible. The planning process begins before you even start looking at homes for sale. For example, get pre-approved for a mortgage so you have a better idea of your home affordability. Plus, a preapproval will ensure you can move quickly when you find the perfect home in your price range. And if you’re looking for a home in the Boston area, enlist the help of an experienced, trusted realtor like Christine McCarron.

Once you’ve purchased a home near your loved one, create a master list of moving tasks and try to map out a rough timeline for the move. Line up professional movers as far in advance as possible so you have time to get quotes from a few different companies. You may also want to hire professional cleaners to get your new home in shape before you arrive with all your stuff.

One necessity for your new home is purchasing a home warranty. You may be wondering, is a home warranty worth it? A warranty will protect you from having to pay expensive out of pocket costs for a host of home-related repairs and replacements. You’ll be able to rest easier in your new home knowing that it’s protected.

Most long-distance caregivers think about moving closer to their loved ones at one point or another. If caring from afar is no longer enough, moving near your loved one could be an effective solution. Just be sure to consider your options carefully, plan ahead, and hire professionals to fill the gaps as you prepare for this big move.

Christine McCarron will facilitate the transaction, give you pros and cons of the various options, educate you on the process, and is available anytime to answer questions and ease concerns. Call 617-999-2447.