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How to Buy a Home Near Your Senior Loved One

Guest Author:  Alice Robertson

Perhaps you live too far from your senior loved one to check in on them from time to time, and as the years go on, you’re becoming increasingly concerned about their wellbeing. It may be time to start thinking about relocating and becoming their caregiver. Here’s how to figure out if your loved one needs your help, find appropriate accommodations for them, and choose the best new home for yourself. 

Determine the Right Time 

Before you make any concrete decisions about moving, it’s important to spend some time with your loved one so that you can accurately assess their physical and mental health. Do they seem confused or disoriented while carrying out basic domestic tasks? Are they prone to missing appointments or forgetting to take their medications? Do they have poor personal hygiene? Answering questions like these can help you figure out when your loved one needs more support. 

Where Should Your Loved One Live?

Once you’ve evaluated your loved one’s needs, you can help them make an informed decision about where they should live. Even if you move nearby, they might need more assistance than you can provide on your own. Oasis Senior Advisors states that your loved one may need to relocate to a nursing home or assisted living facility if they require intensive medical care. It’s a good idea to talk to a financial advisor about covering the costs of accommodations like this.

Consider Housing Your Loved One 

What if your loved one is no longer capable of living alone, but would prefer not to move into a senior housing facility of any kind? Perhaps they don’t have the funds, or maybe they would feel more comfortable living with family. If this is the case, you could discuss the possibility of your loved one moving in with you. Should you decide to pursue this option, you may need to meet with contractors after you purchase a home in order to make some senior-friendly modifications. 

Find a Realtor and Get Preapproved

Before you start looking for a new place to live, you’ll need to decide whether you want to buy or rent a home. If you’re looking to buy, you’ll want to work with a reputable real estate agent like Kathy Koops can help you find a Cincinnati-area home close to your loved one that has all of the features you need.

When you do find the right property, you’ll want to put in an offer and move the closing process along as quickly as possible. You can speed up the timeline by getting preapproved for a mortgage before you even begin house hunting. When you get preapproved, you’ll be able to determine exactly how much you can take out in a home loan. 

Hire Movers

If you’re moving in order to step into a caregiver role, you already have a lot on your mind – why not reduce the inherent stress of the moving process by hiring movers? But before you schedule a meeting to ask for quotes from movers, it’s a good idea to browse their online reviews first. Remember, you should always ask movers for a written price estimate instead of getting a price quote over the phone. This is because a reputable moving company will always need to carry out an in-home inspection in order to give you an accurate estimate.

Invest in a Home Warranty

Once you’ve purchased a home, you’ll want to protect yourself and your valuables. While investing in home insurance is prudent, these policies typically don’t cover home system and appliance repairs and breakdowns. Many homeowners choose to invest in a home warranty in case their HVAC, plumbing, or electrical system breaks down, especially if it’s an older home. Be sure to read online reviews for the home warranty that best fits your needs and budget.

Moving for the sake of your senior loved one can be an emotional process. With these tips, you’ll be able to tackle each step with confidence. Soon enough, you’ll be settled in near your loved ones so that they can get the care they need.

About the Author:   Alice Robertson started her career as a professional house cleaner in the home organization industry. After years of cleaning and organizing clients’ homes, she decided to open a home organizing business.  She has built an impressive client list over the years which helps make spaces in homes and businesses more functional. To share the great cleaning and organizing advice, she recently created Tidy Home.