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Moving home can be hard work and stressful at the best of times. For people who are getting on in years and perhaps not as fit and agile as they were, it's likely to be harder still, and they may need a lot of help.

If you are helping an elderly family member or friend with a move, here are some tips that might make the process easier for you and them.

Be considerate

For many people moving is (in spite of everything) a positive step because they are leaving home to begin adult life, or buying a larger place to start a family. However, for the elderly, it is likely to be tinged with sadness. Perhaps they are moving into a care home because they can no longer cope alone, and the move seems like admitting defeat. Perhaps they are moving in with a grown up child and are worried about the emotional impact on all family members. Acknowledge their feelings and try to accentuate the positive.

Leave plenty of time

Things are likely to take an older person longer to do. Not only are they probably not as quick physically, but moving is likely to stir up a lot of memories as they come across forgotten photos and objects that they may want to linger over. Be patient and don't force them to rush.

Break the move up into manageable tasks

Your elderly friend or parent may find the idea of moving overwhelming - help by tackling one thing at a time. For example, start with sorting one drawer and then another until a whole room is done before moving onto the next. Keep focused and tick things off as you do them so that you can both feel a sense of achievement.

Make sure they are still in charge

While you may be doing or delegating much of the heavy lifting, and may be chivvying along to keep the process going, try not to be too bossy or patronising. Remember to ask how the person moving would like things to be done rather than making assumptions. Suggest concrete useful jobs for them to do, such as making the telephone calls to removal companies, labelling boxes, or going through the contents of a particular drawer. That way they will be involved in the process and not feel useless. They may be pleased to learn that many removal companies offer discounts to senior citizens.

If necessary, help them to shed items

More than likely, an elderly person will be moving to somewhere smaller, in which case a lot of their possessions are going to have to go. Naturally this can be difficult. You may be able to help them to decide which items they can part with by suggesting what to do with them (selling, donating to charity, passing to a family member). You may also be able to help by offering to store items until their fate can be decided when the time is right.

Nobody likes saying goodbye to the items they've collected over the years, so be tactful. If necessary, you can put large - but sentimental - items into storage and reassure your elderly person that they can visit the storage unit at any time.

Be armed with information

For example, try to have the dimensions of the new place so you will know what will fit where. Know what is allowed, what is included and so on so that you don't end up with too many things being held on to 'just in case'. Having this information to hand can also help to reassure the mover, who may be anxious about the unknown.

Let them keep in touch

In addition to leaving their previous home, the senior will probably be leaving a network of friends and acquaintances. Make sure you organize change of address cards to be sent out, and remember to ask your elderly mover if they would like to add a message before the change of address cards are posted. Reassure your mover that you have contact details for the important neighbours and friends that shaped your elderly mover's life in their old home. Encourage their friends to visit your mover in their new home.

Help them to settle in

Arriving in a new place, especially if they will now be sharing with others in a care home or your family, can be awkward. Help by making introductions and remembering some of the questions about where things are and how things are done, which the elderly person might be worried about. Help them also to arrange and display their things to their liking to make them feel at home.

Try to make it fun!

Although the process can be fraught, there will still be aspects to enjoy if you approach it with the right attitude and enough time. You may find that listening to stories about the past, or planning the future, brings you closer together. Intersperse difficult jobs with breaks and serve favourite foods. Listen to their choice of music while you work. Choose some attractive new storage items. It doesn't all have to be difficult!

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Helping The Elderly Move House | reallymoving.com

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Tips on helping the elderly move house. reallymoving.com provides a range of removals advice articles to help you when moving house.