Consider the following scenarios:
- At age 55, Susan is facing a difficult decision. Her 80-year-old Dad can't live alone anymore (even he admits it), but should his next move be to live with her, or in some sort of home?
- At age 75, Larry's still running his own business, but he wants to move from the suburbs. His family's dispersed and he'd rather work closer to his office – maybe even buy a city condo with an extra room for him to work from home. He's looking for advice on practical downsizing.
- Mary and Allen are both retired and want to leave Maine to be closer to their children and grandkids in New Jersey. But the idea of packing and moving has them frozen with indecision.
Enter the Senior Move Manager
Starting in 2010, until 2030, the population of adults age 65 and older will explode, jumping about 80%. Lots of these people will be facing scenarios like the ones above, or others that cause them to downsize and even leave homes they've known for many years. Some will move just a few minutes away and thus can stay with their friends, their religious affiliation, and other familiar landmarks. Others will face a total upheaval from everything they've known.
Fortunately, starting in 2002, a group of people developed whose skill it is to help in the decisions that need to be made when moving has to be considered. "Senior move management [has emerged] as a highly valued service for older adults and their families," said Mary Kay Buysse, executive director of the National Asssociation of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), in her article "Moving an Aging America". It appeared in the December 2008 of the industry's publication, Direction.
Where Are Seniors Relocating?
According to Buysse's article the top places to which move managers help seniors relocate are:
- Assisted living communities (84.86 percent)
- Independent living communities (84.32 percent)
- Active adult communities (68.85 percent)
Interestingly, one of the least likely places seniors end up moving? A loved one's home. "Family member's homes" was 7 out 8 on NASSM's list, at only 24.86 percent.
Helping Seniors Move
Senior move managers can play a number of roles for older adults and their families. Before the move, Buysse's article cites a few of the services a move manager might provide:
- Developing an overall moving plan, or helping to decide instead on an "aging in place" plan (for those who want to stay in their home)
- Organizing, sorting and downsizing possessions
- Arranging ways to dispose of one's items, including estate sales, auctions, consignment shops, donations, or a combination of choices
An excellent service that move managers can provide is drawing a floor plan of the new home, and showing the customer and/or family where the furniture is going to be placed. That helps people visualize, and perhaps even feel familiar with, the new locale. It's also a great way to get a sense of what really isn't needed or won't fit, or what it might be important to purchase.
As to the actual move, here are some other options Buysse's article mentions:
- Interviewing, scheduling and overseeing movers
- Arranging shipments and storage
- Professional packing
- Unpacking and setting up the new home
People can choose just one or two select services, or all of the above.
Of course there are always question about expenses. This depends on how far and how much one is moving; how many services the move manager is providing, and other details. Generally, though, NASMM notes that most recently the average cost of moving someone to a two-bedroom unit ranges between $1,500 and $4,000.
To find a qualified senior move manager, check the NASMM website: www.nasmm.org.
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