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Connect with a Lifestyle Leasing ConsultantBlog | November 16, 2023
The Benefits of Downsizing to a Retirement Community
Benefits of Downsizing to a Retirement Community
The emotions that come with moving to retirement living can be complex. How do honor our past and the memories we’ve made, while moving forward into a new chapter of life? One of the first ways to ease the anxiety associated with moving to retirement living is to dispel some of the myths around this.
Retirement living is not just for older adults who require extra care, and it does not mean that you have to give up your independence. At Trico LivingWell, we empower our residents to maintain their independence through a strong wellness culture that allows them to pursue an active lifestyle. One of the perks of living at Trico LivingWell is the choices available to you – whether you’d like to opt in for our dining, recreation programming, fitness, wellness, and more, you get to pick what suits your lifestyle best.
Despite having an exciting new community to explore, you may find it difficult to know where to start when it comes to downsizing. It can be overwhelming to be unsure of how many possessions you’ve acquired over a lifetime.
Getting Prepared
It can be easy to get distracted thinking about all the different objects and rooms in the house – the pots and pans in the kitchen, the old winter coats in the basement, and then the tricycle in the attic. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, make a list of each room in your house and cross rooms off as you organize. Don’t move on to the next room until you’ve finished the entire room. This will help you stay organized!
The Pile System
To sort more efficiently, we recommend making five piles: keep, give away, sell, throw out, and store.
Keep
When considering what to bring to your new home, ask yourself the following: What space do I have in my new suite? What hospitality services are included? At Trico LivingWell, we have comprehensive accommodation services including utilities, maintenance, security, housekeeping, flat linen service, and more included in our base fee. Accordingly, new residents may opt to not keep the majority of their cleaning products when joining our community.
Give Away
Giving away some of your items is a great way to declutter. When it comes to giving items away, there are many different possibilities. You could invite friends and family over to help you sort and allow them to take what they’d like. Or, you could donate some items to charity. Many charities have pick-up services to help with coordinating this process.
Sell
If you would like to make some extra money while getting rid of a few items, there are many ways to begin selling. Garage sales are a great way to get rid of some possessions while also celebrating the move with your neighbors. Online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and eBay are all convenient places to sell things locally. Consignment stores offer a unique opportunity to earn money, and whatever does not get sold will go to charity.
Throw Away
Throughout our lives, we tend to accumulate more than we need. Consider throwing away or recycling things that cannot be donated or sold.
Put In Storage
Consider renting a storage unit for bigger items, seasonal items, and/or family heirlooms. Trico LivingWell has secure storage available year-round in our heated, underground parkade.
Trico LivingWell is happy to recommend service providers that can assist you with everything from downsizing, to selling your current home, to moving and helping you unpack and set up your new home. To learn more, book a tour and come visit us today!
