Please make sure your have a moving day plan for your loved one

You must have a moving day plan.

We did not plan for this day at all. The result; it was one of the worst, most stressful and difficult times of the whole project.

The day when your relative moves in is important for many reasons. It needs planing and it needs to go well.

So the seeds early for a good long living time together.

Possible ideas for your plan.

Agree a date, if it changes fine but at least it is something to work to.

Make sure each person has an idea of what he or she should be doing.

Is the move going to be in stages, say bedroom one day, living room the next, or is it all in one go.

Decide and agree who moves what and where it’s going.

Make sure your relative knows what furniture is staying and what goes.

If it’s staying make sure it has a place and it fits.

Good building design and well thought out layouts should solve this [see post on layouts]

Try to make it a nice time, stop for tea and a cake. Have a bacon sandwich to start the day.

Make sure it’s not rushed, stay calm and kind.

Things will be different for all and can be scary.

One of the things we found out afterwards [by my mums friends] was that she was frightened. She thought we would put her in her new room and their she would stay. With no contact with the rest of us because we hand’t explained ourselves at all, not good.

We almost pushed mum out and it is quite painful just writing it now, I had never wanted to upset her at all.

So do lots of talking and reassuring.

Try to keep the stress down all round.

It isn’t a mad rush, everybody can take their time and get used to things.

I had friends organise the moving day and all went well until their mum walked in to the finished place. She imedialtey burst into tears, still not sure today if she was happy or sad. Too afraid to ask.

Remember this whole process is about keeping families together, so please don’t forget that.