When you’re packing up your belongings to move into a senior living community, toiletries and kitchenware are a must. But beyond essentials, downsizing to a new space can be tricky. Here are four types of items that should make the cut when you move to your new home:

Small Furniture

While large dining room tables and other large furniture may be hard to squeeze into your new senior living community, there are many smaller pieces you can still bring. Small furniture items like side tables offer practical benefits, providing additional storage and organization options within living spaces. They can serve as convenient surfaces for holding reading materials, medication, or personal belongings, reducing clutter and promoting a neat and tidy living space. It’s also worth noting that by using furniture already associated with your personal tastes and style, you can create a living space that feels like your own.

Family Heirlooms and Belongings

Family heirlooms hold immense sentimental value and often represent the rich history and cherished memories of multiple generations. Bringing these treasured items with you to a senior living community can greatly enhance your emotional well-being and overall quality of life during your transition to a new environment. Not to mention, these heirlooms act as conversation starters, helping you make social connections with fellow residents and staff by offering opportunities to share personal stories and reminisce about family traditions.

Books, Games, and Other Forms of Entertainment

Your hobbies and interests don’t have to end after moving into a senior living community. At Wesley Enhanced Living, we encourage residents to stay engaged, continue to learn, enjoy, and remain connected to what matters to them by providing a host of activities and programs. But definitely bring your favorite books, electronic devices, and games for when you’re in need of some solo downtime. In addition to keeping you busy, entertainment activities can stimulate cognitive function, helping you maintain mental sharpness and delaying the onset of age-related cognitive decline. Plus, playing board games, puzzles, and trivia challenges can help enhance memory, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking abilities.

Important Legal Documents

Bringing essential legal documents with you to a senior living community is crucial for ensuring that you have easy access to important information. These documents, which can include advance directives, durable power of attorney, wills, and trusts, serve as vital tools for guiding healthcare providers, family members, and legal representatives in making informed decisions. As a result, you should never forget to bring your legal documents, as well as a safe place to store them.

Contact Wesley Enhanced Living Today

For 135 years, Wesley Enhanced Living non-profit, continuing care retirement communities have been delivering a purpose-filled life to residents. Serving approximately 1,200 residents with over 1,100 employees and six locations throughout Pennsylvania, the Wesley Enhanced Living communities provide various combinations of independent living, personal care, memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing services. For more information about a community near you in Doylestown, Hatboro, Media, or Philadelphia, please visit www.WEL.org