August 10, 2020 —
You’ve toured community after community, sampled lifestyle after lifestyle and you’ve finally made your decision. You’ve found the retirement community that speaks to everything you want and then some. From an array of opportunities to engage with others both within the community and outside of it, an emphasis on lifelong learning and serving others, it’s a lifestyle where you can live exactly how you want, doing what you want, when you want. Now comes the transition. For many, this isn’t a big deal, after all, there’s so much to explore and new experiences to enjoy, however, a move is still a big life event that comes with both joy and is still somewhat bittersweet.
“Those who decide to move to a retirement community are often desiring a change, and while they may not be saying goodbye to the lifestyle they’ve always dreamed of, it’s still necessary to make room for a new adventure,” says Ellen Oddstadt, Director of Resident Services at Kendal on Hudson, the only true Life Plan community in Westchester County. “From packing and moving in, to purchasing new items to upsize your space – to exploring all there is to offer within the community to making new friends and trying new things, there’s a lot to be excited about – and you want to ensure your transition is not only stress-free for you, but simple, too. Those at Kendal on Hudson don’t have the time to stress about the move because they want to jump right in and contribute to our lifestyle, while continuing to live the vibrant lives they did outside of our community. Instead of stressing, they want to enjoy. And we make it simple.”
10 Stress-Free Ways to Make the Transition
There are an array of things seniors can do to ensure the move is as simple as possible. Consider some of the following ways to make the time before the move easier, create a seamless transition and dive right into the lifestyle you know and love – with even more benefits.
Prior to the Move
Once you decide on the community that best fits your lifestyle, try doing some of these things to make your move simpler.
- Ask to see an apartment with a similar floor plan. This can help you to realistically see what you should bring with you, what you may need to purchase to fill your space or how you would like to decorate and style your apartment.
- Clear out your old space. Now is the perfect time to get rid of things you no longer want or need, donate or give away the things that you don’t find useful and simplify. Donate your items to a local shelter and give back to those who may need it, hold an auction and donate the money from the proceeds. It’s a wonderful way to simplify your space.
- Hire some help. Don’t want to deal with the hassle of packing your belongings? Consider hiring someone to do it for you. There are a number of moving services that can take care of moving so you don’t have to.
On the Day Of
Make your moving day easier by moving as much as you can ahead of time. If you are able, move some items into your apartment before your move-in day, that way you can immerse yourself within the community and explore the lifestyle instead of spending time unpacking and settling in – it’s tedious and one of the worst parts of moving for many. It can also be a good idea to simply have the movers pack it up, transport it to your community, unpack it and take care of everything for you.
After You’ve Moved In
Now it’s time to get involved, active and exploring. Talk to residents and the staff and discover everything there is to be involved in. Chat up one of the many residents and learn more about their life experiences and travels. Everything is up to you.
- Get involved in resident committees. Find out what clubs, educational opportunities and travel excursions are coming up. Join in on the ones you are interest in and engage with others who are in the group. If you are interested in a program they don’t offer, create one yourself.
- Explore. Wander beyond the walls of the community and discover everything that’s available in the surrounding area. Scope out the shopping scene, try new restaurants, volunteer at a local school or pet shelter, take up a new hobby. There’s so much to do and plenty of time to try everything!
- Simply have fun! Now that you don’t have to think about the hassles of house ownership or how to secure your assets, you can simply take advantage of everything the community has to offer. Have fun, try everything, travel the world and enjoy the possibilities of each day.
Together, Transforming the Experience of Aging.®
Founded on Quaker principles and guided by our values and practices, Kendal® on Hudson provides a vibrant, active and social senior lifestyle on our 25-acre campus next to the historic Hudson River. As the only Lifecare community in Westchester County, we offer four levels of service for our residents: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Support and Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Services.
Kendal on Hudson is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization led by a volunteer Board of Directors. Kendal on Hudson is an affiliate of The Kendal Corporation, a system of communities and services for older people based in Kennett Square, PA. We support diversity, inclusiveness, and independence and support the values and practices of Kendal by remaining focused on healthy aging. Located in Sleepy Hollow, New York, just 35 miles from New York City, we offer a vibrant lifestyle, cultural programs, continued learning and health care for life.
For more information, please call 914-922-1000.