Four Tips for Seniors on the Move
December 2025
Moving at any age can be difficult, but for senior citizens the process of saying goodbye to a cherished home full of memories, can be both stressful and a bit scary. However, the time comes in everyone’s life when a
home that once felt perfect for you, and/or your family, no longer meets your needs, and it is time to downsize.
To help take some of the fright out of moving as a senior citizen, the relocation experts here at King Relocation
& Logistics treated us to four tips to keep in mind:
- Prepare yourself emotionally. Before you make the final decision to rent or sell your current home and
downsize to a space that is better suited for your needs, it is important to make sure you are emotionally ready
to take that step.
- Think about what it will be like to live in a smaller space, perhaps a condo or apartment in a senior living
community. Look at the amenities it will offer that you might not currently have access to – an on-site gym or spa, chef-prepared meals, and regularly scheduled activities that will help foster friendships and stronger connections with your new neighbors. These are all things you can look forward to in the next chapter of your life, and may help you in making a smoother transition to your new home.
- Start off on the right foot by sorting your household goods and belongings. Once you make the decision to downsize and move to a new home, there is much to do. A good place to start is by identifying which of your current possessions you will be taking with you to your new residence. Furthermore, make a list of the items you want to keep, store, donate or throw away.
- Keep precious keepsakes and valuables such as jewelry, paintings or antiques you want to see or
use every day.
- Consider putting seasonal items that you won’t have room for, but will want to access at different
times throughout the year, into storage in addition to items you don’t use but wish to hold onto for
your family.
- Next, donate or throw away books and music you never plan to read or listen to again, older shoes
and clothing that is no longer stylish or fits, items you haven’t used or looked at in over a year, and
any furnishings that won’t fit into your new home.
Categorizing your items in this manner will make every step that follows all that much easier.
- Give yourself time and ask for help with packing. Once your items have been sorted, you will then face the
task of packing them up for your move. This is not easy, and it is important to give yourself time. Start small
and break up the task so it’s manageable. Consider tackling cupboards and closets before moving on to larger
spaces.
Avoid becoming too tired or exhausted by spending only one or two hours at a time packing, until the task has
been completed. It may take several days to a week or more, but it’s important to give yourself that time. If
there is still too much to do, consider asking a friend, family member or neighbor to help. Also, don’t forget to
label everything in the process – all the way down to what’s in the box and where it will go – either into storage,
or to your new home. This will help prevent confusion on moving day and when unpacking your items in your
new home.
