Moving as an Older Adult? A Move Manager Can Ease the Process

Jared Oriel Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

When we were in our 20s and moved from one house or apartment to another, we called a couple of friends, threw boxes in car trunks, and paid with pizza and beer. As older adults, that isn’t

usually an option. Plus, mobility issues and just sorting through a lifetime of stuff can make moving more complicated when you're 50-plus. 

"Oftentimes the belongings in our home aren't just ours from our different stages of life. We've inherited the belongings of ancestors, parents, grandparents, and we feel the responsibility

that we're the keeper of the family's memories and of the stories," says Erin DiCarlo, a certified senior advisor, certified dementia practitioner, Realtor and president of the

Massachusetts-based Dovetail Companies, which provides one point of contact for all the services needed during a major life transition.

Move managers can help organize and sort items when you're ready for downsizing, arrange for disposal of unwanted items, supervise packing and unpacking — even put clothes and dishes away in

their proper places. Here's a breakdown of what they can help you with and how to find the best one for your situation.

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Professional move managers can help families in the early planning stages of moving, when older adults are figuring out what their next best step should be. Yes, your children, your siblings

and other family members want what's best for you and can help. But they don't necessarily know the landscape of senior living opportunities.

That can help avoid scenarios where elders who end up in an independent living apartment when they really need more hands-on support from an assisted living or even memory care environment.