Downsizing for Seniors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Simplifying Your Life

It’s common for people to reconsider their housing situation later in life. Some may not need the extra space, or maybe maintaining a home is starting to feel burdensome. Or, perhaps changes in their health or lifestyle mean they can no longer live safely in their current home.

Whether by choice or out of necessity, the process of downsizing can sometimes feel stressful and overwhelming, particularly for older adults. However, a bit of careful planning can help make the process a little easier for yourself or someone you love.

In this blog, we’ll explore downsizing for seniors, including a step-by-step guide and helpful tips on what to avoid.

Why Should You Downsize?

According to a recent study, nearly 24% of seniors plan to get rid of extra space and possessions. While downsizing for seniors is never easy, it may come with a few benefits that are worth considering, including:

• Reduced Responsibilities: As you age, you might start to find the hassles of owning and maintaining your current home, like yard work or roof repairs, is becoming tiresome. A smaller footprint is often a little easier to manage for most seniors.
• Cost Savings: Moving into a smaller home can help retirees save money on things like rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and property taxes, which can be particularly helpful for those on a fixed income.
• Enhanced Safety: Some people may find their home challenging to navigate as they grow older, due to mobility concerns or changes in health. If that’s the case for you, downsizing to a safer and more comfortable home may be worth considering.
• Sense of Freedom: Downsizing for seniors may also offer a greater sense of freedom. With fewer possessions to worry about and a smaller space to maintain, seniors who downsize are likely to feel more in control.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Whether you’re trying to cut down on expenses or simply looking to move to a safer home, downsizing can make daily life more manageable, allowing you to focus on the things you truly enjoy.

“Downsizing is a significant transition many seniors face, involving not just a physical move but also navigating decades of memories and planning for the future. The emotional weight combined with the practical logistics can feel overwhelming. Understanding the process and approaching it proactively can transform downsizing from a daunting task into an empowering step towards a simpler, more manageable lifestyle.”

Rachel Azure-Kochanek
Writer at StoryPoint Group

When Is the Right Time to Downsize?

Before moving into a smaller home, you may ask, “At what age do most seniors downsize?” The answer is people downsize at different stages of their lives, but it’s a good idea for many seniors.

While decluttering and downsizing for seniors offers an excellent solution for someone seeking to simplify their lifestyle, whether or not it’s right for you depends on your specific needs and situation.

Here are a few important things to keep in mind:

• Home Size and Maintenance: Some seniors may choose to downsize if their current home feels too big or difficult to maintain. If keeping up with maintenance work or cleaning extra rooms is becoming burdensome, a smaller home can be less overwhelming to maintain.
• Mobility and Safety: Sometimes, health conditions or mobility changes make it difficult for individuals to move around their home safely. For instance, if stairs are becoming harder to climb, it might be helpful to move into a smaller home. Or, you may check out senior living communities in your area. Many of them offer a wide range of accommodation options with important safety features, like grab bars or walk-in showers.
• Social and Emotional Needs: Maintaining our home is important, even as we age, but so is mental well-being. Some seniors may also consider downsizing later in life to move closer to friends and family.
• Financial Considerations: The costs of home ownership, including property taxes, utilities, or maintenance costs, can be tricky to keep up with for some retirees. If you’re finding your current home too expensive to maintain, you may want to consider downsizing.
• Lifestyle Changes: It’s completely normal for your lifestyle to change over the years. Maybe you want to travel more, spend time with your grandkids, or simply enjoy life at a slower pace. In any case, downsizing can help support those needs and make daily life feel more manageable.

There are many great housing options to consider when downsizing. You might look into a smaller apartment, a cozy condo, or even a townhouse that’s easier to maintain. But if you’d prefer a worry-free lifestyle, surrounded by friendly neighbors and caring staff, a senior living community could be an excellent fit.

How to Start Downsizing: A Step-by-Step Guide

Downsizing can feel like a significant life decision, and it’s normal to feel unsure about how to start. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Assess Your Current Living Situation

Before downsizing, it’s important to understand your specific housing needs. A good place to start is by taking a close look at your current home. You might realize you no longer need a large house or that certain areas, like stairs or long hallways, are becoming harder to navigate.

Write a detailed checklist of what works for you and what doesn’t. Having a clear picture of what you need in a home can help you decide what type of living arrangement will best support your needs now and in the future.

Where and How to Begin

Downsizing doesn’t have to happen all at once. If you’ve decided to move to a smaller space, give yourself plenty of time – weeks or months – to avoid feeling rushed. It may also help to set small, realistic goals instead of focusing on the whole house. For instance, you may use your checklist to finish off one room or one closet a week.

Sorting through belongings can be tiring, especially if you have many rooms to go through or a lot of possessions to sort. Consider reaching out to your children, close relatives, or trusted friends. They may help you move heavy things around, offer valuable advice, or keep you company while you go through items.

Avoid jumping straight into the more challenging areas, like the kitchen, garage, or bedroom. Save those for later, when you’ve already built up some rhythm. Instead, start with the rooms that are easier to tackle. This can help you build momentum before you get to the tougher areas.

Some great places to begin may include:

• Storage closets with old clothes, storage boxes, or cleaning supplies
• Guest bathrooms that may contain expired toiletries or extra items you don’t use
• Laundry rooms or utility closets with rarely used products

A common question for many seniors is: What should I get rid of first when downsizing? A helpful place to begin is with items that are easier to say goodbye to, like clothes you no longer need or items that no longer serve a purpose.

These can include:

• Duplicates: Go through each room and identify duplicate items. Keep the essentials and donate or give away the rest. For instance, you likely don’t need three coffee makers if you’re moving into a smaller house.
• Items you haven’t used in over a year: If it’s been sitting untouched for a long time, chances are you won’t miss it.
• Broken or worn-out items: If it’s no longer working or too worn to be useful, it’s okay to let it go. This may include things like outdated manuals or old phone accessories.

Organize Your Belongings and Categorize Them Clearly

It can be hard to let go of the belongings you’ve accumulated over a lifetime, but downsizing into a smaller, more manageable space likely means you won’t be able to bring everything with you. A good tip is to sort everything into categories.

Here are some sorting strategies you may try:

• The Marie Kondo Method: Instead of sorting by room, Marie Kondo recommends sorting by category (like clothes, books, and then kitchen items). This helps you prioritize items that you truly need and love.
• The Four-Box Method: Label four boxes: Keep, Donate, Toss, and Decide Later. As you go through each room, place items into the appropriate box. You can always come back to the “Decide Later” pile when you’re ready.
• The One-Year Rule: If you haven’t used something in the last year, it may be time to let it go.
• Swedish Death Cleaning (Döstädning): This Swedish practice encourages people to keep what truly matters, pass things on to family now, and let go of the rest.
• One Room at a Time: Instead of trying to go through everything at once, start by focusing on one room, or even one corner, at a time. This can make the process feel easier and less overwhelming.

Keep items you use regularly or those that are close to your heart, like your favorite comfy chair or a warm coat you wear often. Consider donating items you no longer use that could still be helpful to someone else. Charity organizations and local churches often accept donations.

Some common donation items include:

• Duplicate kitchen tools (like extra spatulas or mixing bowls)
• Unused coats or sweaters in good condition
• Sets of dishes or glassware you no longer use
• Puzzles or board games that are complete
• Extra throw pillows or blankets

If you have items of value that you don’t plan to bring with you, consider selling them. You may ask a trusted family member to help list items online (like on Facebook Marketplace or eBay), or you might hold a yard sale.

This might include things like:

• Antiques or collectibles
• Jewelry you no longer wear
• Designer handbags or shoes
• Furniture in great condition

Consider digitizing old family photos, home videos, or any necessary documents. You can scan photos and papers and save them on your computer, or convert old VHS tapes into digital files for easier storage and sharing.

Lastly, recycle or throw away items that are broken, worn out, or unsafe. These can include:

• Expired food or medicines
• Broken electronics or appliances
• Old cleaning products
• Stained or torn clothes

Prepare to Sell Your Current Home

If you plan to sell your current home, it may be helpful to get it looking its best. If a deep clean feels like too much to handle on your own, consider hiring a professional cleaning service. They may assist with scrubbing bathroom tiles, polishing shower faucets, cleaning windows, and more.

Once your home is cleaned up, it’s time to prepare it for viewing. Make small repairs, such as fixing leaky faucets, squeaky doors, chipped paint, or loose cabinet handles.

Next, look for a licensed and trustworthy real estate agent who can guide you through the selling process. They can help you determine your home’s value, manage showings, and handle the necessary paperwork for a fee.

Make the Move

It’s normal for emotions to run high on moving day. You may feel a mix of sadness, stress, and even relief. While you may have significantly reduced your possessions, the logistics of moving can still be physically demanding for older adults. This step often brings up an important question: Who helps seniors downsize and move?

If you need assistance, there are many moving companies that specifically cater to seniors, such as JK Moving Services and Move for Seniors. Some nonprofit organizations and senior services programs may also offer assistance with packing and transportation. Additionally, many senior living communities have move-in coordinators who support residents with the moving process.

When it’s time to pack, make sure you have the right materials, like bubble wrap, storage boxes, and packing tape, to protect fragile items. Also, label boxes clearly to make unpacking easier. Pack a small bag with medications, important documents, toiletries, and any items you might need to use quickly.

Settling Into Your New Home

It’s normal for things to feel unfamiliar at first, especially if you haven’t moved in a while. Start by unpacking essentials for your bedroom, living room, and kitchen to help create a cozy, lived-in feeling. You may also want to decorate your new apartment with special touches, like family photos, favorite mug, or a cozy blanket. Take a walk around your new neighborhood to get familiar with your surroundings. You might discover local spots you enjoy, or even meet a few new friends!

Things to Avoid When Downsizing

While downsizing can come with emotional and practical challenges, there are a few common pitfalls to watch out for. Wondering what not to do when downsizing? Here are some mistakes you may want to avoid:

• Waiting Until a Crisis Forces You to Move: Many people put off big decisions until they have to make them. While downsizing is never easy, waiting until a health issue or urgent situation forces you to move can limit your choices. Instead, start planning early so you have enough time to decide what’s best for you.
• Trying to Do It All on Your Own: Moving can be strenuous for anyone, so don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. You may ask a close family member to help sort and pack your belongings, or you can hire professional movers.
• Underestimating How Challenging It Can Be: While downsizing for seniors can have many life-changing benefits, the process may take more time and energy than you might expect. It can also be emotionally draining. To help the process go more smoothly, give yourself plenty of time and take breaks if needed.
• Not Creating a Realistic Budget: Downsizing can sometimes cost more than you think. You may need to pay moving fees, make repairs to your current home, or buy smaller furniture and items for your new home. Without a clear budget, these costs can add up quickly.
• Bringing Too Much to Your New Home: It’s natural to want to bring everything, but chances are, your new space won’t fit all your belongings. Instead, focus on the essentials and the items closest to your heart.
• Making Decisions Too Quickly: Whether you’re choosing a new home or deciding what to keep, it’s important that you make every decision without feeling rushed. If you feel unsure about anything, consider talking things through with a trusted friend or close family member.

The Emotional Aspect of Downsizing

For many seniors, the thought of leaving their current home can feel deeply unsettling, especially if they’ve lived there for many years. If you’re helping a loved one move, it’s completely normal for emotions to run high during this time.

Whether you’re downsizing solo or with someone you love, it’s important to acknowledge and honor these feelings. Adjusting to a new home can take time, and that’s okay. Be patient and supportive, and try to approach each day with a hopeful and positive outlook.

Senior Living With StoryPoint Group Communities

At StoryPoint Group communities, our residents’ needs are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed lifestyle with convenient access to amenities and plenty of opportunities to socialize, need some extra help with activities of daily living (ADLs), or simply want a place to call home, our goal is to help you make the most of every day, your way.

To learn more about life with us or just to say hello, feel free to contact us or give us a call at 1-844-275-9990.