Transforming Transitions

"You've sorted my undies; so I suppose it's OK for you to help me again tomorrow," Margaret said with a twinkle in her eye as her tired body leaned against the walker. Newly diagnosed Parkinson’s was quickly stealing her independence as she struggled to maintain balance.

Her daughter, Carol, evaluated options from her own home out of state. Somehow, from afar, she had to move Mom into the safety and care of a senior living community. Fortunately, Carol was quickly introduced to a unique type of assistance that would go far beyond what a mover could provide. Often partnering with a moving company, a Senior Move Manager® offers expertise, oversight and compassion during a senior’s transition to a new living space.

A Senior Move Manager's® (SMM) work can begin hours, days or weeks prior to the arrival of a moving company. The SMM will get to know Mom, establish trust and help sort her most private and closely held belongings. She'll measure furniture and create a floor plan, make a moving schedule, ensure family members have arranged for continuity of care and oversee the transition in order to ease stress levels on family members.

Senior Move Managers® take pictures before packing a single box so that on Mom’s first night in her new home she'll have the familiarity of knowing exactly where her phone is on the bedside table or that her toothbrush is in the top right hand drawer in the bathroom, just as it has always been.

Before the movers pack the kitchen, the SMM® will sort the food, throwing out expired items that cause illness. Aware that the small area rugs are tripping hazards, she'll make sure they are left behind.

The movers do a very specific job of getting belongings from one location to another, while a SMM® looks at the entire transition. She knows Mom will need a quiet, warm place to go when her doors are open and people are traipsing through her house. She’ll realize Mom hasn't had any food and needs a bite to eat. She’ll even suggest improvements for making her new home as safe as possible.

By evening, Mom’s boxes will be unpacked, her bed made just the way she likes it and her pictures hung on the wall. And after the move, her SMM® will visit to make sure she’s settled in happily.

If your loved one is moving soon, review your options thoughtfully. Hiring a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers will ensure high ethics, compassion, efficiency, organization, safety and responsiveness to your needs and wants.

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