Downsizing: Numerous Options and the Emotional Journey

Rebecca Bomann, CEO of SASH Services (Sell a Senior's Home), joins Suzanne to talk about various options for downsizing and moving, including for those 55 and up, as well as the emotional journey of leaving the family home.

Rebecca says, "Happily, there's so many options out there for seniors who are looking to downsize from their home, more and more living options, a greater variety of pricing options for people, amenities, activities. They're allowing pets more in these communities. There's a lot of open doors and opportunities. So it doesn't feel like clients are looking at kind of a barren landscape of where to go. There's a rich buffet of opportunity and options where people can live.

"They allow guest stays at many of these. Instead of just doing one tour and feeling like you have to make a decision, people can go and stay for a weekend as a guest. Take it for a test drive. See what it's like in the dining room, meet new people in the hallway. If they don't like it, they can keep looking. It's a risk-free way to have a good sense of that community.

"The younger boomers and the folks that are just starting to search, they don't want all of the work of a giant home and property to take care of, and they're looking at a senior living community as a quality of life choice. We're gonna have less to take care of, more amenities, a heated pool, a clubhouse, people to talk to, social events, and we want to start this fun phase in our life. We don't want to put it off forever while we hang on to this big house that we don't need anymore. We don't need a big 3,000 square foot home."

Rebecca adds, "I feel like the emotional journey of leaving the family home is actually bigger than the physical part of listing it and selling it. I always say to my clients, 'The listing of your home at the end of this journey, and putting it on the market and selling it is about 10% of all that we're going to do here together. We have the sorting and downsizing of household items. Saying goodbye to things that folks are attached to, having family come and pick out the things that they want to take, doing an auction or an estate sale, saying goodbye to the home, and all of those feelings that people feel about the home. I feel like sometimes they're a little bit embarrassed to feel grief about leaving their home. And my personal belief is that it's just like a family member. After 30, 40, 50, even 60 years, it is as familiar and comfortable and home and warm as a family member. And so leaving that home is like losing a family member and there needs to be grief."

If you're in the state of Washington, call SASH Services at 888-400-7274 or visit https://www.sashservices.com/. Outside of Washington, check out the national association of senior move managers at NASMM.com.

• Hear more podcasts with Rebecca Bomann on Answers for Elders.
• SASH Services overview at AFE
• Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

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