Tips on Moving an Aging Parent In With You
Moving an aging parent into your home can be especially taxing for both financial and personal reasons. After all, it’s certainly not the easiest thing in the world to care for or watch a beloved parent decline in health. Nor is it easy to move them into your home without breaking the bank. In addition to prepping your house for its new resident, you’ll have to figure out exactly how to box up and physically move all of their belongings into your home. We know this can be a stressful time in life, which is why we’ve put together a list of tips to help make the moving process as painless as possible for both you and your parent.
Moving
When moving a parent in with you, you’ll need to decide exactly how to relocate their items to your house. Chances are, your aging parent won’t be able to box up the majority of things themselves. They’re going to either need your help or a professional packer’s assistance. If you have the time on your hands – and can recruit other family members to help – I suggest packing as much as you can yourself. For discounts on moving boxes, visit Moving.com’s box center .
If you’re planning to hire movers, consider also enlisting them to pack up your parent’s things. Many moving companies offer some sort of customized, full-service packing option. A full-service move means that the movers will provide all packing materials, and will pack everything for you. You can also opt for a customized partial-packing option, where the movers will pack as much or as little as you wish. While the full-service option is generally more expensive, it may be worth the extra few bucks if it ends up saving you a good amount of time, headaches and stress – especially if you live far away from your parents. To select a reputable moving company nearby, visit Moving.com’s network of licensed and insured professional moving companies.
Planning on moving your parent yourself? Then I suggest renting a moving truck and enlisting friends to help. To find great rates and special discounts on renting a moving truck for a DIY move, check out Moving.com’s “Rent a Truck” center .
Toss, sell or donate extra belongings
Whether pack rats or not, chances are good that your parents have collected a LOT of belongings over the years. Not all of that stuff – particularly the large furniture – will be coming to your house. So that leaves you with two options: you can either get rid of it or store it. If you choose to toss any of your parent’s belongings, you can do so by donating as much as possible to various non-profits, such as Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill and Salvation Army. For heavy furniture, I recommend calling the donation sites to ask about their free pick-up services. Also, keep in mind that these donation sites won’t accept just anything. A few items that are typically not accepted include: Upholstered items with rips, stains, tears, and/or pet odors; hazardous materials/chemicals; lighting that doesn’t work; and encyclopedias or textbooks. If you decide to donate, remember to keep your receipts as these donations are tax-deductible.
To sell the belongings, I suggest hosting a garage sale, consigning or selling through an online marketplace, such as Craigslist, a neighborhood listserv, Amazon or Ebay.
Storage
For the belongings that you don’t wish to toss, such as antiques, valuables or family heirlooms – I suggest putting these items into storage, especially if your own space is limited. Self-storage units offer a safe and secure way to store everything, from knick-knacks to furniture. Many of them also provide amenities, such as climate control and 24-hour surveillance. You can find a storage unit here .
Prepping the home
Perhaps one of the most expensive and time-consuming tasks will be prepping the home so that it is safe and accommodating. If they have mobility problems and difficulty walking up stairs, hearing, seeing or moving around, you’ll need to make sure that your home is compatible with these special needs. Some tips and considerations:
- Stairs – If they have trouble climbing stairs, consider installing an electric stair lift. These chairs offer a safe way to get up and down staircases. The electric lift is a motorized chair that attaches to the stair railing and provides an easy option for those with mobility concerns. They do cost a pretty penny, though, so expect to pay in the thousands.
- Bedroom – Do you have a designated bedroom for the parent? If there is no extra bedroom available, you may need to call a contractor to see how much a renovation or an addition to your home will cost. It may be possible to turn an existing room into a bedroom – or you may need to add one to the house. A bedroom on the first floor of the home is best for a parent with mobility problems.
- Bathroom – Make sure there is a bathroom on the same floor as the bedroom, so that they won’t have to climb stairs at night. You may need to renovate a guest bedroom’s existing bathroom to accommodate your parent’s needs and avoid falls. Make sure to place non-slip mats on the bathroom floors; talk to your contractor about installing a walk-in tub; plug night lights into the outlets so that your parent can find their way at night; add a stool for seating; remove rugs that slip; install safety rails inside the tub; and replace the shower head with one that is hand-held.
- Other rooms in the house – Plug night lights into various outlets throughout the house; remove any slippery rugs; install a ramp on your front door stoop or back entrance; and make sure your hot water heater is no more than 120 degrees fahrenheit.
Finances
Moving an elderly parent in with you won’t be cheap. Home renovations for aging parents quickly add up – especially if you plan on adding bedroom and bathroom suite additions to the house. In addition to necessary renovations, an aging parent’s health care needs can send costs soaring. According to the experts MetLife Mature Market Institute , the average cost of a parent’s in-home health aide will cost you roughly $21,840 a year – as reported by the AARP . The organization also notes that the average female caregiver loses $324,044, “in terms of lost wages and lower retirement income” by taking the time to care for an aging parent. Men caregivers age 50 and older take a hit of $283,716.
Obviously, the benefits of being able to house and care for an aging parent far outweigh the costs. And thankfully, there are a few ways you can save some money when moving a parent in with you. The AARP reports that financial benefits could include tax deductions for certain expenses (i.e. “ dentures, hearing aids, walkers and the cost of transporting the parent to the doctor”). The article also mentions that those who pay over half a parent’s expenses for food, housing and medical supplies, may be able to claim a parent as a dependent and therefore, qualify for a large deduction as well.
Moving your elderly parent in with you will almost certainly be a challenge. Just remember that a little planning and preparation can go a long way in making the transition easier for both parties. Best of luck!