Making Senior Moves Easy: A Complete Guide

Moving is stressful for anyone. But when you are helping a parent, grandparent, or yourself transition to a new chapter of life, whether that is downsizing to a condo, relocating to be near family, or moving into assisted living, the emotional and logistical challenges can feel overwhelming. I’m Catherine Sheeran, Director of Senior Services here at Interstate, and I understand how much courage it takes to begin this journey. After guiding hundreds of families through this process, I want to share what I have learned about making senior moves as comfortable and manageable as possible.

Here is the good news: while all moves can be difficult, and senior moves come with their own unique challenges, you do not have to face them alone. With the right planning and support, you can have a move that feels more manageable and far less stressful than you might imagine. Let me walk you through everything you need to know.

When to Start Planning

The number one question I get from families is when they should start planning. My answer depends on whether we are working with a comfortable timeline or responding to an urgent situation.

If You Have Time: The 90-Day Rule

I always encourage families to give themselves about 90 days. If you know you are moving in on March 1st, starting by January 1st gives you a comfortable cushion. The more time you have, the more breathing room you create for yourself.

Why so much time? Because there is so much more to a senior move than just packing boxes. You will need time to sort through paperwork, make thoughtful decisions about what to bring, coordinate with family members, and handle all those little logistical tasks that tend to add up. Having adequate time means you can move at a pace that feels right, rather than rushing through important decisions.

If You Are in Crisis Mode

Sometimes moves happen fast. A health emergency or an unexpected need for assisted living can change everything overnight. If you find yourself in this situation, please know that we can help you through it. When someone is moving to assisted living because of health reasons, we can actually pack, move, and unpack in a single day when necessary.

The work that stays behind, like clearing out the house, organizing the estate sale, and getting paperwork in order, can happen afterward at a more relaxed pace. And I will be honest with you: sometimes this work actually moves faster when everyone is already settled in their new home, because they can focus on the task without worrying about disrupting their daily routine.

The Ideal Timeline: From First Call to Move Day

Let me walk you through what a well-planned senior move can look like. Remember, every family is different, and we can always adjust this timeline to fit your unique situation.

First: Know Your Destination

The timeline starts with knowing where you are going and what size space you are moving into. Will your couch fit? Are you bringing the piano? If you are moving into a condo, maybe you want to bring it. If you are moving to senior living, it probably will not fit, and that is okay because most communities have pianos available for residents to enjoy.

Take a few days to thoughtfully select what furniture you plan to bring, focusing on the larger pieces first. Making sure everything will actually fit in your new space saves a lot of heartache later.

Week 1-2: Tackle the Paperwork

This is one of the most challenging parts of any move, and because it can feel tedious, families often underestimate how long it takes. You will need to go through all your paperwork and create a pile for shredding, including old bank statements, outdated financial documents, and anything you no longer need.

More importantly, you will want to centralize all your important documents: wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and account numbers for different banking items. People often call this a “knock box” or next of kin folder and having everything in one place brings tremendous peace of mind.

I have worked with clients who kept every bank statement for decades, and together we sorted through what truly needed to be saved. Sometimes we discover that important documents like car titles are not where we expected them to be. This is exactly why giving yourself time for paperwork organization is so valuable.

Week 3-4: The Family Distribution

Now we figure out rightsizing together. What items do you want to keep? Who in the family would treasure what? I have seen wonderful moments where a young grandchild starting out in their first apartment is thrilled to receive furniture that carries family history. These handoffs can be beautiful when we plan them thoughtfully.

The key is coordinating pickup dates so that items going to family members are out of the house before your move date. This way, you are not trying to manage too many things at once.

Final Weeks: Making Decisions Visible

We use color-coded stickers that are stickier than a Post-it note but will not damage your furniture. That visual system helps make decisions tangible: one color means you are bringing it, another means you are not.

I find this system helps families see the bigger picture. One client put a sticker on every lamp she loved, but then realized she was not bringing enough tables to put them on. That visual moment helped her understand she needed to choose her favorites rather than bring them all. The stickers turn an overwhelming mental task into something you can see and adjust.

Common Challenges Families Face

After hundreds of moves, I have noticed patterns in what tends to surprise families. Knowing about these ahead of time can help you prepare:

• Underestimating the time needed: Sorting through decades of possessions almost always takes longer than expected, especially when emotions are involved. Please be patient with yourself.
• Overestimating the new space: Senior living units are cozy and comfortable, but they typically do not have the storage space of a family home. I have seen people arrive with boxes that simply cannot be unpacked because there is no room. Planning ahead helps avoid this.
• Holding onto collections: Just because you loved a book does not mean you need to keep the physical copy. Most senior living communities have wonderful libraries and letting go of some books creates space for the items that matter most to you.
• Waiting too long to ask for help: Some families wait until they are overwhelmed before reaching out. The earlier we can get involved, the more smoothly everything tends to go.

Planning Around Mobility and Health Needs

If you are moving someone with mobility issues or health concerns, having the right support in place makes all the difference. I recommend making sure family or a trusted caregiver can be there to focus on your loved one while we handle the moving process.

I remember one client who broke her arm just days before her scheduled move. Her daughter was there to help, but what made the day work beautifully was that we had a good plan in place. We moved her favorite recliner into her new senior living apartment first, and she sat comfortably directing where everything should go. She could point and say where she wanted her plates, her coffee maker, her favorite mugs. By the end of the day, everything was unpacked and arranged just how she wanted it. Her daughter got to be a supportive presence rather than a stressed-out project manager. That is what a good move day looks like.

If your loved one already works with a home care agency, consider booking their regular aid for move day. That person knows when she needs to drink more water or when she is getting tired. Our movers are focused on the physical work of the move, so having someone dedicated to your loved one’s wellbeing ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

What Are Concierge Services?

We use “concierge services” as an umbrella term for all those tasks that do not quite fall under decluttering or packing but still need to get done.

These are the “what about” questions that can keep you up at night:

• What about finding a new veterinarian for your beloved pet?
• What about selling a car when you no longer drive and navigating the DMV website feels impossible?
• What about donating antiques to specific organizations that would treasure them?
• What about document shredding?

In all my years of doing this work, I have yet to encounter a question we could not solve together. Ten years of networking in the senior space means I know the right people to call. Families tell me that knowing someone is handling these details brings them real peace of mind.

Move Day: Setting Yourself Up for Success

On move day, your job is not to pack. That is our job. What you need is a rolling bag packed as if you were going on a short vacation. Think of it like a carry-on bag for an airplane containing everything you absolutely must have access to:

• Medications
• Passport and important papers
• CPAP machine if needed
• Financial documents
• And here is my favorite tip: pack a roll or two of toilet paper

Why toilet paper? Because when you arrive at your new senior living apartment, there is almost never anything on the roll in the bathroom. Trust me on this one. It is a small thing, but having it on hand makes those first moments in your new home so much more comfortable.

The idea behind this bag is simple: if the absolute worst happened and the moving truck disappeared, you would still have everything essential. That is not going to happen (I do not think we have ever lost a truck!), but people naturally feel anxious during a move, and having those critical items close by provides wonderful peace of mind.

A Final Word

Moving is never easy, but senior moves do not have to be overwhelming. When we communicate clearly, surprises disappear. And without surprises, things go smoothly.

I understand that all moves can be difficult, and senior moves come with their own unique set of challenges. It may feel overwhelming right now, and that is a completely normal way to feel. But if you let us create a personalized move plan and guide you through some simple steps, I promise you will find yourself with a move that feels more manageable and far less stressful than you feared.

That is what we are here for. You do not have to do this alone.

Learn More

If you have questions about planning a move or simply want thoughtful guidance from someone who has walked this path many time, you can schedule a meeting with me here.