By Nathan Hawes
A move can be tiring at any age, but for an older person it often carries more weight than shifting boxes. It may mean leaving a long-term family home, moving closer to children, reducing upkeep, or settling into a unit, retirement village or care setting. This elderly moving guide focuses on the practical jobs that reduce risk, protect familiar belongings and give the person moving proper control over the process.
The best moves are not rushed. Start early, make decisions in small blocks, and get the right help for heavy furniture and difficult access. A little planning can turn an overwhelming change into a manageable one.
Start the elderly moving guide early
If possible, allow six to eight weeks for a standard home move. More time is useful where a home has been lived in for decades, there are medical appointments to work around, or family members live out of town. The aim is not to pack every spare teaspoon perfectly. It is to make sure the new home is safe, familiar and ready for the first night.
Begin with a walk-through of the new property. Measure the rooms, doorways, lifts and hallways before deciding what furniture will come along. A favourite dining table may fit the lounge but leave no clear path to the bathroom. A tall bookcase may be fine in a house but unsuitable for a smaller unit. These details are much easier to solve before moving day.
Make a simple floor plan and mark the essential items: bed, bedside table, lounge chair, television, dining setting, fridge and any mobility equipment. If a person uses a walker, walking stick or wheelchair, leave clear routes through each room. Avoid placing loose mats where they can become a trip hazard.
Keep the person moving in charge
Family support is valuable, but it can become unhelpful when people make quick decisions about someone else’s possessions. A collection of old papers can look like clutter to one person and hold a lifetime of memories for another. Ask before sorting, donating or disposing of anything.
Work one room or one cupboard at a time. Set up three clearly labelled areas for items to keep, give away and dispose of. A fourth area for “decide later” can prevent arguments and rushed choices. Revisit that pile after a few days, when there is less pressure.
Sentimental items deserve extra care. Photograph furniture, artwork or collections that cannot fit in the new home. Consider passing selected pieces directly to relatives rather than loading everything into storage. Storage can be useful for a short transition, but ongoing fees can add up and boxes are often forgotten. It depends on whether there is a clear plan for the items and a realistic date for sorting them.
Paperwork needs its own approach. Keep identification, banking details, property documents, medication lists, legal papers and insurance information together in a folder or small carry bag. This should travel with the older person or a trusted family member, not in the moving truck.
Pack an essentials bag for the first 48 hours
The first night should not involve opening ten cartons to find pyjamas or blood pressure tablets. Pack a clearly marked bag with daily medicines, prescriptions, glasses, hearing aids and chargers, keys, mobile phone, wallet, toiletries, comfortable clothes, bedding, snacks, water and any important contact numbers.
Include a kettle, tea or coffee, mugs, simple food and a few basic plates if the kitchen will not be unpacked straight away. Familiar comforts matter too: a favourite blanket, photos, a radio or a book can make a new place feel less strange on the first evening.
Choose practical moving help
Older Australians should not be lifting boxes, manoeuvring wardrobes or trying to get a recliner down a narrow path. Even a minor strain or fall can create a much bigger problem than the move itself. Let family handle light sorting if they can, and use experienced removalists for the loading, transport and heavy lifting.
When requesting a quote, give an honest picture of the job. Mention stairs, steep driveways, narrow doors, limited parking, fragile pieces, large cabinets, pianos, pool tables or furniture that needs dismantling and reassembly. If the move is from Traralgon or elsewhere in Gippsland to Melbourne, allow for travel time and access at both ends.
Clear, hourly pricing is helpful, but the cheapest quote is not always the best value. Ask what is included, whether furniture protection is used, how fragile items are handled, and whether the removalist is insured. A capable crew can pack, protect, load and unload efficiently, which may save more stress and time than a cheaper service that leaves difficult jobs to the family.
Hawes’s Removals regularly helps households across Gippsland and wider Victoria with careful furniture handling, practical packing support and moves planned around real access conditions.
Give the crew a clear brief
On moving day, point out the items that need special care and explain where key furniture should go in the new home. Use large labels such as “BEDROOM – OPEN FIRST” or “KITCHEN – DAILY USE”. Colour-coded stickers can work well when several family members are helping.
Keep a small list of high-value or sentimental items, including jewellery, documents, family photos and medication. These are generally better carried in a personal vehicle. Removalists can protect and transport furniture well, but personal essentials are safest close at hand.
Make moving day calm and safe
Moving day can be noisy, busy and unsettling. If possible, arrange for the older person to spend the loading period with a relative, neighbour or friend. This keeps them away from lifted furniture, open doors and busy walkways. It also removes the pressure of answering questions while the crew works.
If they prefer to stay at the property, provide a quiet chair in a safe spot away from the work area. Keep water, medication and a phone nearby. Do not let anyone climb on chairs, carry boxes or direct traffic in the driveway. Their role is to make decisions, not to do physical work.
Before leaving the old home, check cupboards, wardrobes, sheds, the letterbox, clothesline, behind doors and the garage. Look for charging cables, hearing aid cases, walking sticks, spare keys and documents. Take final meter readings if needed, lock windows and leave keys as arranged.
At the new home, set up the bedroom and bathroom first. Make the bed, place night lighting within reach, check that the path to the toilet is clear, and put medication where it can be found easily. Then arrange the lounge chair, kettle and television or radio. Those small jobs create a safe, usable base before the rest of the cartons are unpacked.
Plan for the weeks after the move
The move is not finished when the truck leaves. Older people can feel unsettled after leaving a familiar neighbourhood, even when the new home is a positive choice. Keep routines steady where possible. Arrange for family visits, help with groceries, and someone to check that heating, appliances and locks are working as expected.
Update the address with the bank, GP, pharmacy, insurer, utilities, electoral roll and relevant government services. If the person has regular carers, community transport or meal delivery, confirm the new address and access instructions well before the move.
Take unpacking slowly. Prioritise daily-use rooms and leave decorative items until later. A home does not need to look complete in one day. What matters first is safe access, a comfortable place to sleep, familiar essentials and the confidence that help is nearby.
A respectful move gives an older person room to say goodbye to one home while settling safely into the next. With enough time, honest support and careful handling, the change can feel less like losing a home and more like making the next one work well.