Over the next several weeks we are sharing tips and words of encouragement around the process of rightsizing. This can be a very emotional stage of life. Leaving a home where you have lived for many years is very difficult. Warm memories and positive life experiences are no doubt part of the years spent in this home.
Perhaps you are at the rightsizing stage personally. Maybe you are navigating it with your aging parents.
Take some time to answer the following questions honestly. Warning – this exercise is likely to evoke some strong emotions!
1. Am I mobile?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
2. Can I still work in my garden? (Do I want to?)
- yes
- no
- sometimes
3. Can I cut my grass and shovel my snow? (Do I want to?)
- yes
- no
- sometimes
4. Can I go shopping by myself?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
5. Can I look after my own banking and bill payments?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
6. Am I comfortable with living here alone?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
7. Do I need help doing things such as dressing, walking, bathing?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
8. Do I have problems going up or down the stairs?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
9. Do I have independent outings?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
10. Am I a prisoner within my own house?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
11. Can I clean this house? (Do I want to?)
- yes
- no
- sometimes
12. Can I do my laundry? (Do I want to?)
- yes
- no
- sometimes
13. Can I still cook for myself? (Do I want to?)
- yes
- no
- sometimes
14. Is this house just too big for me?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
15. Do I truly enjoy my home the way I used to?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
16. Can I financially carry this house (utilities, taxes, etc)?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
17. Do I wonder if it would be wise to get the equity out of my home?
- yes
- no
- sometimes
18. Does the house require expensive repairs?
19. Is the house in need of modernization?
20. Has the neighbourhood changed?
21. Do I have friends and family nearby?
22. What would be good if I move?
23. Why should I stay?
24. Based on how I have answered these questions, what makes the most sense for me?
- Stay where I am and re-visit this survey in 6 months? or a year?
- Stay where I am and add some aging in place services.
- Selling my current home in favour of a bungalow or smaller house.
- Selling my current home in favour of a condo or life lease.
- Selling my current home in favour of an independent apartment rental.
- Selling my current home in favour of an independent apartment rental with some extra in-home services to help me out.
- Selling my current home in favour of a move to assisted/retirement living.
Read more about the rightsizing process:
- Understanding Rightsizing – an emotional life decision. Read more
- Rightsizing – your time to transition to a peaceful clutter free lifestyle. Read more
- Proven plan of action for navigating the rightsizing process. Read more
- Your step by step guide to mastering the rightsizing process. Read more
Our website offers some further thoughts on Senior’s Moves by Heart of the Matter.
How can our services help in the Rightsizing Process?
We often tell people that our Senior’s Move services are not “all or nothing”. We always offer a complimentary initial consultation and maybe learning a bit more about how we can help would be a good way to start your rightsizing process. We’d love to sit down with you and your family and discuss the results of your survey questions.
We can offer:
- encouragement from a neutral 3rd party
- help in creating a workable timeline for your process
- loads of resources that you can explore yourself or have us assist with (everything from junk removal, to on-line/live auction contacts, free furniture pick-up etc etc)
- physical help to sort things out
- floor planning assistance (helping to figure out what will fit in the new home)
- assistance with the evaluation process
- taking away donations to the Thrift Shop after work sessions together
- providing packing supplies
- packing
- booking our reliable movers
- watching over the move day process
- full unpack and set-up of new home
- taking away all used packing supplies for recycling
- and much more!
Contact us today to book your complimentary initial consultation. We want to be your success partners!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Your face is marked with lines of life, put there by love and laughter, suffering and tears. It’s beautiful.” ~ Lynsay Sands