Moving away from your life-long home to an assisted living community in the Temecula area is a life-changing event. For most elderly adults, they’re leaving behind what’s familiar for a new phase of life that may be bring on the feeling of uncertainty and the unknown. The move will also likely mean a loss of space.

“Most people are going to move from a 2,200-square foot home to a 900-sqaure foot home,” says Linda Diller, President and Owner of Senior Move Masters, "the tape measure is going to tell you that not everything is going to fit in their new home." So, how can you make the process of downsizing easier for your loved one? It all starts with having a plan and being prepared to make the move.

Diller explains eight tips on making the move to a Temecula assisted living community easier.

1. Take a deep breath.
   Acknowledge that this is a challenging time – both emotionally and physically. Your loved one is moving from their life-long home where they raised children, created memories and are leaving behind friends and neighbors. It’s going to require patience and time.
2. Allow enough time.
   Start the process of downsizing early. If you can, start even before you know you need to downsize. It may take more time than you think. “People are going to take a trip down memory lane when they go through items,” says Diller.
3. Set a schedule.
   Set a schedule for you and your loved one – and stick to it. Some people will try and set up road blocks to avoid the process. But, by setting a schedule for you and your loved one, you can hold yourselves accountable. Try to commit to three days a week for an hour each day. “It may not seem like much, but it’s an exhausting experience,” says Diller.
4. Start small.
   Break the process into small pieces. Start by tackling the junk drawer in the kitchen. When going through the items, ask yourself, “How is this item serving me in my life today?” Diller notes that elderly adults need to keep in mind that their lifestyle will be changing. They may not need four frying pans of the same size anymore, just one that means the most to them. Recognize that this isn’t a time to accumulate everything in life, it’s no longer the case that “everything bigger is better.”
5. Save the memories.
   Your parent may have 15 spoons that they’ve collected, but Diller generally uses the rule of “Just keeping three of them and taking a photo of the rest.” She says, “If you want to preserve the event itself that created the memories, a photo can trigger the same happy feelings. You aren’t getting rid of the memories associated with the item – just the physical item itself.”
6. Invite family members over.
   Whether it’s a holiday, family reunion or just getting the family together for the weekend. Designate a colored sticker for each family member and create a list for everyone, such as “Green is for Suzy.” Have the family members place their sticker on the item they’d like to keep. “Be prepared that family members may not want anything,” says Diller. “They may already have everything they need or have different taste.” She also mentions that you’d be surprised at some family members, such as a cousin who loves the hutch in the corner and is excited to take it home with them.
7. Be informed.
   When donating items to thrift stores and consignment stores, be prepared by educating yourself on their donation guidelines. Each donation place has their own specific set of guidelines of what you can and cannot donate. Diller says, “The more informed an elderly adult is, the less likely they are to be taken advantage of.”
8. Ask for help.
   It’s important that your loved one asks for help from others when downsizing their home. “Elderly adults need to know their limitations,” says Diller. This generation has always done everything for themselves and everyone else – this is the time for them to actually ask for help. By asking for help, it can help prevent injuries. She mentions that some elderly adults have fallen off a stool by trying to reach for a box up high, or getting a cut from a cardboard box.

“I’ve yet to meet any person that has regretted the decision to downsize their home,” says Diller. “They actually wished they would’ve done it sooner.” She notes that when an elderly adult downsizes their home, “They’re going to feel so much lighter – mentally, physically and visually. It’s a great feeling.”

Although your aging parent may have hesitations about downsizing their home to move to a Temecula assisted living community, it may be just what they need.