More and more older adults are realizing the upside of downsizing. Moving to a smaller home means a smaller mortgage, lower taxes and utility bills, fewer household chores and extra time to do what matters most.
Nevertheless, relocating from a family home to a one-bedroom apartment or cottage can feel uncomfortable. The prospect of donating your possessions may tempt you to stay put. In fact, 75 percent of seniors say the amount of stuff they have makes them “somewhat” to “very” reluctant to move. But you should never let “things” limit your happiness.
Downsizing can be easy and even cathartic when you follow our downsizing guide for seniors in Concord, New Hampshire.
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Why Downsize?
Saying goodbye to a family home is tough. You may have raised your children under that roof or even lost a spouse. However, downsizing is an effective way of cutting monthly costs and stretching your retirement nest egg. Besides the mortgage, homeownership requires outgoing expenses like taxes, insurance and upkeep.
Speaking of which, home maintenance can become difficult as we age. You may not always be able to cut the grass or clean the gutters. When mobility issues threaten our independence, outsourcing tasks like yard maintenance and housekeeping can be expensive.
Moving to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) like Havenwood Heritage Heights offers immense peace of mind. At most CCRCs, residents are offered a robust lineup of services and amenities for a flat rate. They are also afforded access to a continuum of care, should their needs change in the future.
When Is It Time To Downsize?
There is no “right” time to move to a smaller space. However, most seniors agree that earlier is always better. Waiting until you face a mobility problem or serious health issue will only make the transition harder.
If you are toying with the idea of downsizing, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do I feel comfortable driving myself to appointments?
- Do I struggle to clean my home or maintain the yard?
- Is my social calendar dwindling?
- Are there empty rooms in my house?
- Do stairs or slippery floors increase the likelihood of a fall?
- Is my mortgage draining my savings?
If you find yourself feeling isolated or only using a portion of your home’s square footage, now may be the best time to start downsizing.
Downsizing Step-by-Step
Step 1: Start Small and Plan
Decluttering can be overwhelming, especially if you are moving from a large family home to a one-bedroom apartment in a senior living community. To avoid feeling overburdened by the task at hand, start small. Give yourself time — we suggest at least three months — to tackle one closet, one cabinet or even one drawer at a time.
Making a plan can be helpful as well. Schedule several one- to two-hour work sessions per day and stick to this timetable. If you overwork yourself, you are more likely to feel stressed and fatigued. Recruiting friends and family can ease the burden as well. Pro tip: Ordering pizza makes the decluttering session feel more like a party than work.
Step 2: Be Decisive
It will be tempting to hold onto knick-knacks, photographs and other possessions with sentimental value. Being decisive helps you let go. Begin by creating three piles: keep, throw away and donate. Garbage should be put directly into trash bags while other items should be placed in labeled boxes.
While sorting, use the OHIO rule. This stands for “Only Handle Items Once.” For instance, avoid moving an old sweater from the donate pile to the keep pile. It is also important to avoid a “maybe” pile. “Maybe” piles only foster indecision and sap your emotional energy. If an item is no longer useful in your life, it should be donated or thrown away.
Selling your stuff is another great way to declutter. If you have high-dollar items, consider hosting a yard sale or taking them to a consignment shop. Websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are also great places to make an extra buck. Save the money you make or treat yourself to something nice.
Step 3: Look Forward, Not Back
Sifting through a household of memories is bittersweet. Photographs will remind you of your daughter’s first birthday. A trinket will remind you of your 50th wedding anniversary. Though you should recognize these emotions, you should also remember the “why” behind your move. Downsizing will better your future and place less stress on your family if and when your health changes.
One way to stay positive is by imagining your new space. Think about the layout of your apartment home or cottage. How will you decorate it? Where will you hang your photographs or paintings? What rug will look best in the living room? Get excited about the opportunity for a fresh start.
Packing a “first day” box can also ease the transition. Placing toiletries, prescriptions, cutlery, dishware and other essential belongings in one place will help you feel more at home on your first day.
Other Downsizing Tips
If paring down your possessions feels like a gargantuan feat, here are a couple more suggestions to soothe the stress.
- Take photographs. If you are struggling to part with something that simply will not fit in your new space, take a photograph of the item. The photograph will remind you of the good memories.
- Pass it down. Consider gifting family heirlooms to your grandchildren or nieces and nephews.
- Opt for a furnished space. Many senior living communities offer fully furnished apartment homes. This can make the transition even easier.
- Get involved. When moving to a senior living community, filling your social calendar ahead of time can make you feel less lonely.
Upsize Your Retirement at Havenwood Heritage Heights
Havenwood Heritage Heights is a continuing care retirement community in the charming city of Concord, New Hampshire. As a CCRC, we offer a continuum of care, ensuring that residents receive the support they need no matter what happens in the future.
At Havenwood Heritage Heights, we understand that downsizing a family home is difficult for many seniors. With that in mind, our dedicated and compassionate staff works tirelessly to ensure that the move to senior living is as seamless as possible. We offer more tips for transitioning to a senior living community in our latest blog post.
