When you are the adult child of elderly parents, it can come as a relief when they inform you that they are moving out of their family home and into an assisted living center. However, as much of a relief as the news may be, there is also a lot of work to be done to help them as they go through the transition and moving process. If you want to really be there for your parents and provide then with the help and support they need, get to know some of the steps you can and should take to do just that. 

Do Not Push Them to Make Any Fast Decisions about Possessions

One of the hardest parts of moving from a family home to an assisted living home can be the paring down of possessions. When your parents are trying to decide what they will take with them to assisted living and what they are going to leave behind, the last thing you want to do is to be pushy with them about what to do with what is left behind. 

It is going to be hard enough on your parents not to have everything they own with them at their new residence, and it can add stress and worry if they have to make additional big decisions under pressure. Step back and play a supportive role with your parents so they can rely on your help without feeling as if they are being pushed into something they do not want to do. 

Wait to List Their House on the Market

Because you are responsible for helping your parents with their transition from their home to assisted living, they are likely entrusting you, at least in part, to help them decide what to do with their house once they get moved out. It is a good idea to wait to list their house on the market for sale if at all possible. 

Leaving their house in your parents' name and empty will give your parents a sense of security. They will be of the mind that they could come back to their house if assisted living is not what they expected or wanted. This can make the whole transition go more easily and smoothly. 

Rent Them a Self-Storage Unit

Finally, whether you decide to leave their house vacant or not, you do not want your parents' possessions to remain in the house unattended and unprotected. Whatever items that your parents cannot take with them to assisted living but which they are not ready to part with should go into a self-storage unit. These units are secure, easily accessible for you or your parents, and will keep those items in their possession even after their house is eventually sold. 

Now that you know some of the ways that you can help your parent as they are transitioning to assisted living, you can be sure you are doing everything you can to support and assist your parents. 

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