Ask Joan
Q: My husband and I recently made the difficult decision to sell our home. We love our house, but our children left many years ago and we find that we have more space than we need. Maintaining this large house has also become difficult, both financially and in terms of day-to-day upkeep. Before we sell, we’d like to find a smaller apartment or condo to move into. What should we be thinking about as we downsize?
A: The choice to move from your family home is one faced by many people and it sounds like you and your husband have put a lot of thought into this already. As you think about what you want your new home to look like, you may want to connect with other friends or family who have already downsized. They can provide insight into what the process was like for them and what they would have done different.
When thinking about what you want your new home to look like, it will be important to consider your future financial, social, health care, and safety needs. For example:
How important is it to you to maintain your current social connections? If you have a strong network of friends and neighbors that you will be moving away from, you’ll want to be sure you can both stay connected and build new friendships in your next neighborhood. Many people look at independent living or senior apartment complexes as places where they can live with and near people with similar lifestyles and interests.
How easy is it to get to the places you need to go from your new home? If you prefer not to drive, is their easy transportation to your doctor’s office? Are there nearby grocery stores and shopping centers? Will you be able to easily get to your church, synagogue or center of faith?
What type of home can you financially afford? Experts tell us that our monthly housing expenses should be less than 30% of our income. Sitting down with a financial planner could help this process.
Does your new home meet not only your needs today but also your potential future needs? Many older adults looking to downsize also use this opportunity to think about what modifications might make their home more accessible as they age. This might include looking for a home with everything on the same floor so that you don’t have to deal with stairs or making sure that all the bathrooms have grab bars installed to help prevent falls.
Many people have found that downsizing helps maintain independence as we age. Moving from your current home and choosing a new one can be daunting and overwhelming but you don’t have to face it alone. AgeSpan is here and our staff can help you think through the considerations so that you make a decision that works well for you and your family. Give us a call!
Are you caring for an older adult or need help finding healthy aging resources? Our experienced staff is available to help. Visit us online at www.agespan.org. You can also call 800-892-0890 or email info@agespan.org.
Joan Hatem-Roy is the chief executive officer of AgeSpan, which serves Andover, Boxford, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen and North Andover.