Next Time You Move, Treat Yourself to the Gift of "Let's Move"
In October of 2017, my brother, George, and I helped our mother move to a new apartment in a continuing care retirement community of Ashby Ponds in Ashburn, VA. We hired movers, but took time for two weeks leading up to the move, to pack up mom's things. As a frail and cognitively slipping eight-five year old, we were not letting mom do anything. George and I were exhausted by the time moving day came. Of course, moving day itself was stressful. Making sure the movers got the furniture in the right spots, unpacking the majority of mom's things that day, was more than I wanted to bite off again.
This past Monday, we moved mom into Maple Grove, the assisted living facility at Ashby Ponds. Mom, who was completely discombobulated from her last move, was anxious every time she "found out" she was moving. Being well into her Alzheimer's dementia, she has virtually no short term memory. What we did differently this time was take the suggestion of the Maple Grove staff for a move service called Let's Move. They pack and unpack items on move day, even meet with you beforehand to plan a floor plan where items will be placed in your new residence. It was the best money we ever spent.
My brother took my mom the night before the move and decided he would keep her until her apartment was ready for her. Meanwhile, I met Let's Move bright and early on move morning and quickly realized, I really was not going to have a care in the world. All the Let's Move supervisor needed me to do, was point out what was going. That took me less than thirty minutes. Then, she assured me I was no longer needed and could go have breakfast.
While I didn't treat myself to breakfast, I did have an admissions meeting with the on campus assisted living to attend. After the meeting, I went back to the home and realized that Let's Move really did have it under control. I chatted briefly with the supervisor, Sandy, and headed out to get some flowers, cookies and soda to stock mom's kitchen area with her go to favs, while coordinating lunch with my brother and mom.
George and mom met me for lunch and I told them both that Let's Move was doing a bang up job. The movers finished up their part while I was at lunch, so I departed early to pay them and see what progress Let's Move had made.
When I stepped into mom's new apartment, it was coming together in ways I had never imagined. Every item was in its place. Her china cabinet was put together with an interior design eye. Her clothes were arranged in the closet by color. Pictures were being hung, and even when I directed her wedding picture would be better placed elsewhere, it was handled in short order with a smile. I set the groceries I had purchased down and went to meet my mom and brother at the elevator. By the time I got back, the sodas had been unpacked and put in the fridge, flowers put on the table and cookies in the pantry.
Mom walked in while George and I waited for all hell to break loose. This place was smaller. It was not familiar. And mom doesn't deal well with stress or change. Yet, her reaction told me that Let's Move had nailed it. Mom's eyes got wide with excitement and she said, "This place is nicer than the one I left. I love it." That's when my brother started to cry.
Let's Move labeled her drawers and cabinets. They knew she had Alzheimer's and wouldn't know where anything was, but I have the feeling they would have done the same for me if I moved tomorrow. This crew of ladies were angels on earth and I am so thankful we hired them. It made all the difference in mom's move, which could have been very difficult.
Next time you move, reach out to Let's Move and make the transition less stressful. They work with clients of all ages, not just the elderly. It is worth every penny.
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