A Simple Guide to Senior Moving

When the subject comes up senior citizens moving there tends to be a lot of emotion that comes with this transition in life. Oftentimes, as we get older we tend to need more help and less space to take care of. Whether you are a senior citizen yourself, or a family member or friend of a senior citizen, it is important  to consider all of your options. Whether you are moving in with family members, a 55 and older community, an assisted living or nursing home, there are certain things that should be considered. Over the course of a lifetime we tend to collect many items, some of which we hold near and dear to our heart and others things that we have simply not thought of getting rid of over the years. That being said, you will want to give yourself plenty of time to go through the items in your house and decide whether they are essential and you do not want to part with them or if they can be donated to other family members and friends.  Another great option is to donate your items to a nonprofit organization that helps provide items for people in need. In this article we will specifically be talking about some of the challenges that seniors face when moving in the greater Tucson, Arizona area, however, My Tucson Movers tips apply to any such move whether you are here locally or you are somewhere across the globe.

Should I hire a moving company or rely on family and friends?

We have all been there, moving and trying to save some money, so we enlist the help of friends and family to help us pack all of our belongings, and have a vehicle parade of sorts to the new location, in which an unpacking party generally results in a house full of half opened boxes, pizza and beer. By the time you’re a senior citizen, your family members may have small children your friends may not be as agile and strong as they once were and while it may be tempting to save some money by enlisting the help of friends and family you may also find that they tire out quicker than they used to and they won’t be quite as helpful as you may like. We do not always recommend hiring a moving company, but in certain situations, such as when you have a lifetime full of items in your home that will need to be moved, professional moving companies are just that: professional. My Tucson Movers have been in business for years and have moved thousands of people, and to be honest, experience trumps everything when it comes to moving. We know how to move items safely and efficiently because we have all of the necessary equipment such as boxes, bubble wrap, tape, dollies and other equipment that will help us move larger items in a safe manner. The last thing you want to do is ask a friend to move your large entertainment center and have them either get hurt, or damage a doorway because nobody remembered to measure. 

Moving Safety

When it comes to moving safely, aside from your own physical safety, you should have a good plan to protect your belongings. Many people will substitute bubble wrap with newspaper but honestly, bubble wrap will give a better barrier in case anything is dropped. There are also items that can help you move larger and bulkier items such as dollies to roll heavy and awkward items, sliders that you can put under the legs of heavy furniture to glide them across the ground rather than trying to pick them up and throwing out your back.  If you have a large item to move and you are unsure as to how you can do so safely, please reach out to us and we would be happy to advise you on the best way to move bulky items and prevent injury.

How to decide what to bring

The first thing that you should do is measure the new space that you will be moving into. You can measure the furniture items that you plan on taking and really consider whether it is realistic to bring everything that you want. Then you will have to make some tough decisions about what to bring and what should be donated as well as one should just be tossed out. The less items you bring the easier your move will be so this is a great time to re-evaluate all of the items you have accumulated over the course of your lifetime.  Once you have decided what items will be taken with you it will be easier to make a plan as to how to safely do so. You will want to make sure that you are packing as efficiently as possible. If you have luggage that you will be bringing to your new home you may as well use that rather than moving boxes to move some of your items. The same goes for any plastic bins that you may have or Tupperware, which are great because typically you can see through them and see what is in each bin. If you plan on using boxes make sure that they are sturdy and there are no weak spots such as holes in them. The last thing you like to do is pack a box, pick it up and then have the bottom fall out of it.

How to protect yourself while moving

While we have gone over how to safely move different items whether they be boxes or large entertainment systems and the different tools that can be used, your personal safety is important as well.  When you are moving, even if you hire movers to come in and pack and transport everything for you, it will still be an exhausting experience for you, if you are not prepared.  When you move, your doors will be left open which in a place like Tucson, Arizona means heat will be a factor. You will want to wear light breathable clothing, have plenty of water on hand and stay in the shade as much as possible. If you feel dizzy or sick in any way it is important that you sit down and rehydrate. You should also express that you are not feeling well to someone else so that they can keep an eye on you and make sure to take the time to recover.

My Tucson Movers would be happy to assist you in your move. Please feel free to reach out to us to chat with one of our moving experts so that you can move safely, quickly and start your next adventure in your new home.  We wish you all the best.

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