Downsizing For Retirement: A Step-by-Step Guide
by Rachel Christian
September 23, 2022
on RetireGuide.com
by Rachel Christian
September 23, 2022
on RetireGuide.com
Is your home still meeting your needs? For most people as they start their adult lives and possibly their families, they start upsizing to larger homes with bonus rooms and big backyards. What happens when the kids move out or your lifestyle changes? The word “downsize” may bring to mind recently retired folks who’ve decided to sell their big family home and opt for a sparkly new condo somewhere sunny, and with a pool a few steps away. While that is definitely one of the ways to do it, there are many more reasons to downsize. You don’t even have to be retired!
Having guests visit for the holidays is an exciting time for the whole family, although some needs may vary from guest to guest. Senior citizens are especially unique in their needs. If you’re expecting a few elderly family members in for the holidays, you’ll need to prepare accordingly. Whether they’re spry or a bit mobility-impaired, you’ll find it’s best to have a safe home ready for your senior guests.
Here are some adjustments for your holiday gathering that will make it safer for your guests.
It’s happened. You’ve received that phone call you’ve been dreading for years now. Your parent or beloved relative is ill. It’s time for you to help out, fill in, assume the role of the caregiver. You are probably feeling scared, anxious, overwhelmed. Perhaps you are feeling a whole slew of feelings you can’t even name at the moment. Take a deep breath, you CAN do this. Here are three strategies which will lighten your load.
Imagine the following scenario. Your 80-year-old father is relatively healthy, but recently you’ve noticed he’s become more forgetful and confused. You and your siblings suspect it may be time for your father to move to a retirement home or an assisted living facility closer to where you live. He currently lives alone in his 5,000-square foot home of thirty years. Your parents were very active adults with many interests and hobbies in retirement. In recent years, since your mother passed away, he has lost interest or the ability to take part in these hobbies. Apart from his bedroom and the kitchen, the rest of the home has gone unused for many years.