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Downsizing, To Move or Not to Move? That is the Question

Posted by Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor @rosemarya, Apr 12, 2020

At some point as we age, we will have to make a decision about leaving our homes and downsizing. Maybe in our own town or to another town. Maybe to smaller home, condo, apartment, or assisted living/senior community.

When the time comes to downsize, seniors can struggle with a multitude of emotional, physical, and financial challenges.

How do you make an informed decision about when to downsize?
What tips do you have to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

artmatters | @artmatters | Jan 16, 2023

I know that I must downsize at some point. I’m 73 and already getting help with the house and the yard. My goal is to be able to manage and afford a house with a yard for my dog Sophie. She’s still a puppy at six years old and loves to run and play. I am hoping that this thought will help keep me focused on mobility and independence. Besides, I’m a very picky eater and can’t imagine eating someone else’s food!
Cybele

REPLY
total99 | @total99 | Jan 30, 2023
In reply to @fiesty76 "@Rosemary, Thanks for this link for guide to downsizing. Something that takes a great deal of..." + (show)
@fiesty76

@rosemary, Thanks for this link for guide to downsizing. Something that takes a great deal of thought. At present, I am just so thankful that I have "stayed in place" and not hurried into an independent sr. living establishment.

Jump to this post

My wife and I recently downsized by going from two homes to one. One was a second home. This move has been a good one for us: closer to children and grandchildren.
e decided that in our seventies we were not ready to go into a continuing care retirement center,(CCRC) where we had been on the waiting list for several years. When it became available, we decided we were just not ready for it. It seemed too confining. and maybe more than we wanted right now. Some people want all the activities. and socializing. That is not what ww want right now.

What did we do? We found a senior care coordinating care company in our local area. Through them we now have concierge physicians, home help, and a second set of
eyes of nurses eyes for hospitalizations.

My wife had a 6 day hospital stay last month. The visiting nurses(both very experienced)came daily. They monitored my wife's care and read the hospital charts daily. They talked with the hospitalist as needed.

Yes, this is an expensive service. But we have help at home as needed.

We like having our own home.

This still costs less than going into a CCRC

REPLY
2 replies
mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | Jan 31, 2023
In reply to @total99 "My wife and I recently downsized by going from two homes to one. One was a..." + (show)
@total99

My wife and I recently downsized by going from two homes to one. One was a second home. This move has been a good one for us: closer to children and grandchildren.
e decided that in our seventies we were not ready to go into a continuing care retirement center,(CCRC) where we had been on the waiting list for several years. When it became available, we decided we were just not ready for it. It seemed too confining. and maybe more than we wanted right now. Some people want all the activities. and socializing. That is not what ww want right now.

What did we do? We found a senior care coordinating care company in our local area. Through them we now have concierge physicians, home help, and a second set of
eyes of nurses eyes for hospitalizations.

My wife had a 6 day hospital stay last month. The visiting nurses(both very experienced)came daily. They monitored my wife's care and read the hospital charts daily. They talked with the hospitalist as needed.

Yes, this is an expensive service. But we have help at home as needed.

We like having our own home.

This still costs less than going into a CCRC

Jump to this post

Hi Total99,
*Good for you and your wife* that you have chosen to do this! I hope that when the time comes for my husband and me to have to make a change, we can stay in our own home and have help come in! Wishing you and your wife all the best! MaryAnn from Boston

REPLY
total99 | @total99 | Jan 31, 2023

Good for you'

And thanks for the good wishes.

REPLY
poppy67 | @poppy67 | Jan 31, 2023
In reply to @fiesty76 "Thank you, @Rosemary for raising this important question. Like, Dana, I've been exploring for the past..." + (show)
@fiesty76

Thank you, @rosemary for raising this important question. Like, Dana, I've been exploring for the past 2 yrs, the concept of downsizing and moving into an independent sr living estbl. near my daughter and family out-of-state. I also own a spacious home and while I can still manage the upkeep and regular maintenance required, more of my circle of close aging friends are facing similar deliberations and several already have moved, some to be closer to immediate family and others because of the need for more supervised care.

The question for me is timing. Would it be better to sell and move while I still have some wits about me and can take care of the decisions required in listing the house, arranging an estate sale, selecting the next residence or do I wait because my cost of living, maintenance and lack of state inc. tax makes it financially more feasible to stay put awhile longer. I bought long-term care ins. yrs ago and have been so fortunate that the premium has only gone up once and that to a small degree.

If I wait until I have fewer wits about me...which might not be long! vbg...my daughter would be ever so capable in handling what had to be done. However, I still vividly remember the difficulties I lived when handling my mom's later daily care and medical needs, home maintenance & repairs and later estate issues while living out-of-town. Living out-of-state would have only compounded the issues requiring action.

My longest divorced friend here of 40+ yrs recently began building a new home out-of-town to be near her children and grands. The new house is under construction; most of her belongings and furnishings for the new house have been moved and and placed in storage in the new location. Having completed her estate sale with her house listed for sale, she now is finding that there is almost a freeze on residential house sales in this area.

Now, with the spread of the virus especially hitting the senior living and nursing home establishments, I can only be thankful that I have waited on my decision. However, time does not stand still and my mental debate over timing continues.

I would really like to hear how others are thinking about downsizing and starting to plan ahead.

Jump to this post

I am 67 and moved from a spacious 4 bedroom house to a 55 plus community. We went through the sale of our home, plus estate sale, the search for new home, the actual move and all other details it entails. My health recently declined, due to post Covid. I am so glad we moved when we did (2 years ago) b/c I wouldn’t have the stamina to do it now. We were lucky because we sold our home of 33 years in one weekend. However we had to move out within a month so had to find a new place quickly. We looked at smaller homes, both old and new but decided on a new 55 plus community. We are so glad we did. I sometimes miss the old place, especially around the holidays, but I have my memories and it was time to do it. The new place has given me a new vigor. Being smaller, it hasn’t been overwhelming and it has been fun to decorate. Since it is brand new it is nice to have an updated kitchen, bright clean surfaces such as countertops, cabinets, newly painted walls and updated floors. Our small yard is mowed for us as part of the package and we enjoy maintaining the flowers,etc since it is smaller. Neighbors are friendly but respect our privacy.
I do hope you can make the right decision for yourself and enjoy your senior years. It has helped me to know I no longer have those big decisions looming over me. I read, paint, cook relax and feel more carefree than I have in years. Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide.

REPLY
1 reply
elimseoj | @elimseoj | Feb 1, 2023
In reply to @total99 "My wife and I recently downsized by going from two homes to one. One was a..." + (show)
@total99

My wife and I recently downsized by going from two homes to one. One was a second home. This move has been a good one for us: closer to children and grandchildren.
e decided that in our seventies we were not ready to go into a continuing care retirement center,(CCRC) where we had been on the waiting list for several years. When it became available, we decided we were just not ready for it. It seemed too confining. and maybe more than we wanted right now. Some people want all the activities. and socializing. That is not what ww want right now.

What did we do? We found a senior care coordinating care company in our local area. Through them we now have concierge physicians, home help, and a second set of
eyes of nurses eyes for hospitalizations.

My wife had a 6 day hospital stay last month. The visiting nurses(both very experienced)came daily. They monitored my wife's care and read the hospital charts daily. They talked with the hospitalist as needed.

Yes, this is an expensive service. But we have help at home as needed.

We like having our own home.

This still costs less than going into a CCRC

Jump to this post

Would you mind sharing the name of the senior care coordinating care company? I am fascinated and would like to do the same thing but cannot find any such organization in my area:
Las Cruces, New Mexico / El Paso, Texas.

REPLY
total99 | @total99 | Feb 1, 2023

Ours is in Greenville,SC but it only operates in our area. If you like, I will contact our local company an ask if she can suggest a similar one in your area.

Many decades ago I was stationed at White Sand Missile. Range headquarters just across the pass from Las Cruces.

I loved Las Cruces.

REPLY
2 replies
total99 | @total99 | Feb 1, 2023
In reply to @total99 "Ours is in Greenville,SC but it only operates in our area. If you like, I will..." + (show)
@total99

Ours is in Greenville,SC but it only operates in our area. If you like, I will contact our local company an ask if she can suggest a similar one in your area.

Many decades ago I was stationed at White Sand Missile. Range headquarters just across the pass from Las Cruces.

I loved Las Cruces.

Jump to this post

The Aging Life Care Association has a list of members on their website who do this work by area.
Ours, Jennifer Browning and Associates is in Greenville,
SC.

If you can't finds one, get bak to me and I will ask. Jennifer Browning for help.

REPLY
1 reply
elimseoj | @elimseoj | Feb 1, 2023
In reply to @total99 "Ours is in Greenville,SC but it only operates in our area. If you like, I will..." + (show)
@total99

Ours is in Greenville,SC but it only operates in our area. If you like, I will contact our local company an ask if she can suggest a similar one in your area.

Many decades ago I was stationed at White Sand Missile. Range headquarters just across the pass from Las Cruces.

I loved Las Cruces.

Jump to this post

Thank you! Our daughter works in Greenville, and lives in Anderson! I would sincerely appreciate knowing the company name and she will help me pursue this option too.

We spent 16 months at Mayo in Rochester, MN during my wife's final illness. I am happy to be back in Las Cruces along with the many WSMR military and civilian workers; nevertheless, I still rely on Mayo for the medical care I need.

REPLY
elimseoj | @elimseoj | Feb 1, 2023
In reply to @total99 "The Aging Life Care Association has a list of members on their website who do this..." + (show)
@total99

The Aging Life Care Association has a list of members on their website who do this work by area.
Ours, Jennifer Browning and Associates is in Greenville,
SC.

If you can't finds one, get bak to me and I will ask. Jennifer Browning for help.

Jump to this post

OK! I see the name you provided. Thanks! I did my search and nothing around here. I did other searches too. You seem to have found someone very special.

REPLY
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