Making the Move Easier

Article submitted by Mary Ewing, Founder & CEO Always Home, Inc.
For more information, they can be reached at 615-371-6140, or visit their website: www.alwayshome.net.

Have you, or someone close to you - an elderly relative, a family friend - ever faced the daunting task of transition and downsizing from a long-held single family home? For seniors, with or without family support, this event - even the resolve to tackle it - can be overwhelming and fearful. Beyond the emotional elements, the physical and mental challenges of managing all aspects of this transition process, including the orderly disposition of the old house and the move and set-up in one's new home, bring, typically, a real dose of stress and tension.

Every day, in communities across America, seniors and their families struggle with this decision. For some, it is a necessity, brought on by disease or illness, a fall, maybe the loss of a spouse or caregiver, or a circumstance involving a family member, such as a disability. For others, it may arise from the realization that they are not able to physically manage the household, as they once could, and that a move to a condo, retirement or assisted care community might be just the right solution, while they are still in control and have their independence.

Beyond the anguish behind even making this decision to move and to downsize, the next "reality check" for most is, "How am I (are we) going to accomplish this transition (?) ... "What resources are available to help me to manage all of the moving parts (?)" ... "Am I going to overlook something, feel overwhelmed and lose control(?)" ... "Should or can I rely on family members/ friends (?)" ..."Do I want to?" In many instances, the senior, if decision maker, concludes, "I am staying here; this is way too much for me to handle."

A few short years ago, a new industry was born. Known as "Senior Move Managers," these companies arose with the single-minded purpose of providing hands-on assistance to seniors/ their families in overseeing and managing these home or life transitions. Compassionately handling and coordinating the physical tasks, then too helping support the senior through the psychological and emotional aspects of leaving a long cherished home and relocating, these Senior Move Managers become, effectively, an extended family member.

Their services are similar: preparation for selling the current house; sorting/ packing/ cleaning/ routing/ disposing of all household effects, as directed by the senior/ family member; organizing the move; overseeing movers and the actual move; interfacing with family; coordinating an estate sale; (new) floor plan modeling and "turn-key" set-up in new residence; and then, most importantly, savoring and celebrating the accumulated treasures of each client's life, as we walk through our process with them and the wonderful memories that they hold.

This is a business, not about boxes, but about people and process. It is about providing very customized services, always with professionalism, dignity, sensitivity, and compassion. At the core, Senior Managers' objectives are: to facilitate a smooth hassle-free transition, within each client's timeframe, and to relieve as much burden and anguish from the process, as possible. Amongst seniors, who choose freely to downsize, because they are ready, and others, where health and/or circumstance leave no other option, there will be no shortage of need for the types of services and support available through Senior Move Management firms. I am delighted to represent one of those firms, "Always Home, Inc.," which was founded here in middle TN in 1998 and which provides all of the above.