How Senior Living Operators Help New Residents Deal With Downsizing

Senior living residents have a lot of stuff, often too much – it’s a story that move-in coordinators across the country know well. But downsizing doesn’t need to be stressful for residents.

Research shows that it can take a while to downsize and move out of a property. A 2004 study from researchers at University of Kansas, Lawrence, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, found that it takes about two months for an older adult to leave their homes for a smaller dwelling. Gifting, donating or selling possessions were common downsizing strategies.

Much has changed in the last 20 years about senior living. But what hasn’t changed is the stress involved in downsizing. That’s why senior living operators offer connections and some services to help the process along.

Greystar has regionalized its approach for community offerings and works with downsizers to help older adults move out of their homes and into senior housing. More than half of Greystar’s prospects are moving out of the home they’ve owned and into apartment-style living at the company’s active adult offerings, Levine said.

“It’s a very overwhelming process for a lot of people in all situations, whether it’s active adult or higher-end senior learning,” Michael Levine, senior managing director of real estate for Greystar, told Senior Housing News.

To aid with the process, some operators have shifted to education during the touring process. Denver, Colorado-based MorningStar Senior Living, for example, presents guides, tutorials and advice on its website to better inform incoming residents about what is helpful to bring with them, according to Javi Arceneaux, chief sales and marketing officer.

Other operators lean into referring movers and downsizers to help with the process, or host guest speakers and presenters within communities who offer guidance and advice in the matter.

Forging downsizing connections

An Erickson Senior Living community in Warminster, Pennsylvania helps incoming residents prioritize the items that matter the most to them and guide them through the downsizing process one item at a time. Lisa Sicilia, a personal moving consultant at Ann’s Choice, is often at the forefront of those efforts.

“We encourage starting early to reduce stress and reassure them that it’s completely normal to feel emotional along the way,” Sicilia said. “We also provide practical support, sharing strategies for organizing, donating or selling belongings, and connecting residents with trusted movers and senior move managers.”

Residents drive the downsizing recommendations at MorningStar. Doing so allows the community to put forth references to prospects, according to Arceneaux. MorningStar historically has seen the best results by working with local moving and downsizing services, but the provider is currently in a pilot with LivNow Relocation, which works with senior living communities nationwide. The most important factor in a downsizing services partner is a keen understanding of the older adult market, in Arceneaux’s view.

“Residents vote with their feet,” Arceneaux said. “We’re in it together, and so we want to work with folks that really understand and value seniors.”

Waukesha, Wisconsin-based Capri Communities invites the general public into its communities regularly for educational speakers with presentations on how to effectively declutter and downsize prior to moving into senior living to prepare them for their next phase of life, according to Kristin Ferge, president and chief financial officer. The operator also maintains a partnership with Elder Life Financial, which gives temporary bridge loans if prospects need it for financing the sale of a home or covering the initial costs of senior living.

Capri Communities also “helps them work through emotions of the unknown” by offering respite or short term stays so prospects can get a taste of what community life and services are like.

Greystar partners with realtors, movers and downsizers on a regional basis to help prospects and help lay out the room so they can more accurately fill the space.

Determining the best fit

During the move-in process, one of the top priorities for operators is ensuring prospects and new residents are able to bring what they want, despite the smaller size of the units compared to the homes they come from. The process itself often surprises prospects, according to Sicilia.

“The priority is bringing items that provide comfort, functionality, and a sense of home—not simply filling the space. For example, second bedrooms or dens are often repurposed as offices or guest spaces, and many residences can accommodate existing bedroom furniture,” Sicilia said. “Dining room sets, in particular, tend to be meaningful pieces that residents often try to incorporate into their new home.”

MorningStar’s process revolves around discussions centered on what is important to the prospect with the goal of narrowing items down to personal favorites and capturing the feeling and memories of what those items mean. Prospects often have new pieces of furniture they look forward to getting with the move, and MorningStar builds on that excitement.

“This is a new space that they’re moving into. Let’s talk about the things that you love, knowing that you can’t take every little thing with you,” Arceneaux said. “Let’s focus on the things that are most important to you and why, and then we’ll make sure those fit in.”

Another challenge operators face is the overall timing of a prospect’s move. Because most independent living and active adult decisions are based on a want rather than a medical need seen in higher acuity settings, it’s often a lengthier process. While the timeframe varies depending on the individual, Ferge said it often takes around 60 days for a prospect to sell their home and complete the process. However, the downsizing process needs to begin well before then for it to work efficiently.

For Greystar, the average move-in timeframe varies between 45 and 60 days. To make the process as smooth as possible, move-in coordinators curate a checklist for prospects, including getting them involved in events at the community to begin integrating them.

“They want almost hand holding, and they want to feel very comfortable, and make sure that they feel as comfortable as possible,” Levine said. “It’s not just a sign that dotted line and move in. There are a lot of steps in between, and I think if we follow those steps properly, it leads to longevity within the resident population.”

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