Planning Your Next Step: Preparing to Move to Senior Living

Many older adults consider moving into a senior living community at one point or another. Whether they’re looking forward to a more worry-free lifestyle with access to healthcare or they are simply wondering how a new lifestyle could benefit them, this time can be full of questions and concerns. However, it can also be full of joy in spite of the stresses. 

This is often the case at The Highlands at Wyomissing®, with residents being overcome by joy and excitement instead of worries and anxiety. This is because our team is here to make this time easier – and more enjoyable. Check out some of the helpful tips we share with older adults who are preparing for a move.

5 Tips To Prepare for Senior Living
1 | Establish what you want from your future.

At The Highlands, we want residents to consider exactly what they’d like to experience both now and in the future. To make your search easier, list exactly what you want. As you tour communities, mark down what they have that you listed, what you didn’t like, and services and amenities you may have found out you want simply from touring.

Some of the services and amenities you should consider can be found at The Highlands, like:

Transportation
Home maintenance, housekeeping and groundskeeping
Delicious meals
Casual, formal and private dining rooms
Indoor heated saltwater swimming pool and gym
Gift shop, library, paint and art studio
Community garden and outdoor walking trails
Cultural Center

Don’t forget about support for the future. 

Do you want access to a range of levels of care, like those personal care communities and memory support provide? If so, you may want to consider a Continuing Care Retirement Community like The Highlands.

Next steps.

After your tour, make your decision based on your list, your finances and whether or not it’s a senior living facility that feels like home to you.

2 | Tackle downsizing confidently.

When preparing to move, ask family members to help you downsize and prepare for your move. Moving managers can also help you throughout the downsizing process and share their insight on what items you need, what you don’t and how to get rid of any items left behind. 

Go from room to room in your current home, place items onto piles labeled trash, donate/give away, and pack.

Make sure anything you are packing will fit into your chosen floor plan. Make a list of everything you’re bringing and clearly label boxes so the moving company and loved ones moving you will know exactly what will need to go where on moving day.

3 | Take care of necessities.

As you approach your move, be sure to forward your mail, transfer or cancel any consistent food, toiletries or medication deliveries and subscription services.

4 | Involve yourself within the community you choose right away.

At The Highlands, residents find that getting involved isn’t just easy to do, but it also eases the transition by helping them to make new friends, learn more about the community they live in, and experience all the community offers. 

Strive to try new things, get back into any hobbies you’ve been wanting to continue, chat up team members and residents.

5 | Focus on all the good to come.

As you near the final stages of moving, look forward to all the new possibilities, friends and services and amenities on the horizon. After all, there’s so much to come, especially if you choose The Highlands.

We make moving exciting.

If you’re among the many who can’t wait to make a move to senior living, we have good news – every day gets even better when you choose The Highlands. To learn more about Residential Living at The Highlands and why you should move, visit our website or contact us today.

The Highlands at Wyomissing® is a not-for-profit senior living community in beautiful Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. We offer a Life Care contract covering Residential Living, Personal Care, Skilled Nursing, Short-Term Rehabilitation, Home Care, Physician Services, and Memory Support.