SAN ANTONIO — The local housing market is exploding right now and that’s causing baby boomers in our area to seriously consider selling longtime homes well before they intended. These seniors are hoping to cash in and pad their retirement funds as houses sell at lightning-quick speeds. Aging Americans are also using this opportunity to “rightsize” and move into senior living communities or smaller condos.
Baby Boomers, that is those between the ages of 55 and 75, make up 41% of those currently selling homes according to the National Association of Realtors. You may have never heard of it but “Relocation Stress Syndrome" is very real for seniors choosing to make this major life change and can cause anxiety, hopelessness, and confusion. This kind of move often involves the entire family, which can make it an emotional experience.
To help families cope with this extremely stressful and emotional “rightsizing” event, Caring Transitions, in San Antonio, a company specializing in senior relocation and transition services has developed a “Move Grandma Now” checklist.
“My parents announced one weekend that they were ready to sell the family home after they had lived there for 57 years,” said Paula Jacobs. “That was really a shock to all of us and it was a huge challenge. It’s definitely tougher than a standard move.”
“We hear from families all the time who just don’t know where to start when it comes to helping mom and dad move,” said Ray Fabik, President of Caring Transitions. “You can tell right away this is a stressful time and it’s a big challenge. That’s why we decided to come up with this checklist to help make the transition smoother.”
Check out their “Move Grandma Now” checklist…
- Don’t make seniors feel guilty. Don’t say things like “Why did you hold on to this for so many years?” while sorting through belongings. Statements like this can cause stress and make seniors feel like a burden.
- Save Photo Albums for last. They can surface too many memories at once, which slow the process and trigger waves of emotions.
- Set a timer. Grab a kitchen timer and set it for one hour. Take a break once that hour is up.
- Color-code with Post-It Notes. Seniors have a tough time reading small writing. Color-code with post-it notes so pink is pack, green is sell, and blue is give away.
- Bring a door stopper. Doors get in the way, especially for older folks. Bring doors stoppers to prop doors open to allow for easy room access for Grandma, and for large boxes and furniture.
- Keep a schedule. Many seniors like a routine and stress if it’s altered. If the senior goes to bed at 10pm every night, don’t try to keep packing late at night.