By Caitlin Kelley
Moving can be stressful at any age. When you’re an older adult considering a senior living community, the prospect of moving is often even more daunting.
As someone who has seen her grandparents go through this transition, I know how emotional and overwhelming this decision can be. When my parents first told me that my Meme and Papa were moving into a senior living community, I didn’t know how to feel. Part of me felt relieved knowing they would be in a safe place as they got older, but the other part of me was sad—sad to say goodbye to their beautiful house and my favorite climbing tree that had been the backdrop of my childhood. It wasn’t easy for them either. They weren’t just moving from a house to a senior living community; they were moving from one state to another.
My Meme and Papa were incredibly grateful to have a smooth transition into senior living, which they credited to their diligent planning and preparation beforehand, as well as the phenomenal support from the move-in specialist and other team members at Goodwin Living. Once my grandparents settled in, they became an integral part of the Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads (GHBC) community, and I’m lucky enough to be interning at the place they’ve called home for eight years.
If you’re considering a move to a senior living community, read on to learn the questions and tips that my grandparents, Wayne and Margaret Kelley, and Emily Ricker, Goodwin House Alexandria Move-In Specialist, recommend to help you make your move with confidence.
Before the Move: Questions to Guide Your Choice of Senior Living Community
When Should You Start Searching for a Senior Living Community?
The first step in choosing a senior living community is deciding when you’d like to move. Some senior living communities have long wait times, which is why it’s better to plan ahead by researching your options and asking about availability at communities that interest you.
Emily suggests, “You should begin considering a senior living community a few years before you think you’re ready to make the move. It’s better to start the process sooner rather than later so that you have as many options as possible available to you.”
What Services Will You Need as You Age?
To find a senior living community that best suits you, it’s important to consider what services you may need as you age. For instance, if you should need rehabilitation therapies, would you prefer a place that offers on-site rehabilitation rather than having to travel to an outpatient rehabilitation center? Similarly, if you should require assisted living, long-term nursing or memory care services, would you prefer to remain in the same community, or move somewhere else? It’s important to consider these questions, as some senior living communities only offer one level of care (i.e. Assisted Living), whereas others, like Goodwin House Alexandria and Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, offer the full continuum of care along with Lifecare contracts that allow residents to transition between levels of living on the same campus and maintain the same monthly fees. [Note: Goodwin Living also operates rental communities with levels of living. You can learn more by visiting GoodwinSeniorLiving.org.]
Margaret and Wayne required senior living communities to meet a few qualifications. First, they were looking for a place that would allow them to live independently until they needed to transition into a higher level of care. They also felt that it was important to plan for more specialized care needs. Put simply, they wanted to find a place where they could feel safe to age in place. They found what they wanted at GHBC, which offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Support and Nursing Care. Additional services such as rehabilitation services, hospice and more are also available to them through Goodwin Living Health.
What Type of Lifestyle Do You Enjoy?
Asking yourself a question as simple as, “What do I want out of my day to day?” will help you narrow down your options further. Wayne and Margaret asked themselves this question more than a decade ago when they were trying to refine their list of senior living options. In answering this question, they reminded themselves that they didn’t decide to move because they wanted slower pace of life; rather, they just wanted extra support so that they could continue living their lives to the fullest. That’s part of the reason they chose GHBC.
GHBC offers a plethora of on-campus activities. Residents regularly engage in committees, social groups and events throughout the week. There’s a dedicated art space, fitness center, heated pool, full-service salon and much more. Wayne loved – and continues to love – the three excellent dining venues on the campus.
An avid history and art enthusiast, Margaret appreciated that the campus was only a short drive to museums and cultural events in D.C. “The location is unbeatable!” she said.
When they started the process of looking for a senior living community, Wayne and Margaret were still living in Florida and planned to join their sons in Northern Virginia. They decided to enlist the help of their two sons (my father and my uncle) to research senior living communities in the area.
Their elder son gathered information on the communities with the most extensive range of healthcare services. He also looked into the reputation of each community, searching for proof points in online reviews and accreditations. Their younger son assessed his parents’ finances and compared them to the financial obligations of the senior living communities in the area. My mother toured the communities to get a better sense of what life would be like for them at each one.
After completing their research, my parents and my uncle presented Goodwin Living as the best fit for my grandparents.
Making the Move: Tips for a Smooth Transition to a Senior Living Community
Start Downsizing Early
After you’ve chosen a senior living community, the next step is to prepare for the physical (and sometimes emotional) process of moving from one home to another. After decades of collecting memories, mementos and material items, even the most dedicated minimalists can find it challenging to embark on the process of downsizing.
Being well prepared and getting all the necessary information beforehand will help alleviate stress and build your confidence going into the move.
When planning their move, Wayne and Margaret asked for an accurate floor plan of their apartment home so that they could determine which of their belongings would fit into their new space. They wanted to figure out how much they could bring from their old home, while also leaving space for what the future might bring.
Emily strongly suggests: “Start the downsizing process as soon as you can. This will help the transition be as smooth as possible when it comes time to move.”
To make it less overwhelming, start with the easiest room and sort your belongings into piles that you plan to keep or give away. As you’re decluttering, remind yourself that it’s okay to be sentimental and to keep the items that bring you happiness. Continue this process, making your way through the house room by room.
What should you do with all the items you’re not going to take with you? Goodwin Living refers incoming residents to three moving management companies: Moyer Move Management, Ararity, and Town & Country Moving Solutions. In addition to helping you with the actual move, these companies can assist with the downsizing process by helping you get rid of the items you’ve decided you no longer need. They can put items to auction, run estate sales, take them to donation centers and even deliver certain pieces to family members at your request.
Integrate into the Community
Although any transition has its challenges, new senior living residents can make their transition easier on themselves by reaching out to fellow residents who have gone through the same experience. As Emily explains, “Most residents are pleasantly surprised to find that they gain so much community, a new sense of life, peace of mind and a truly enriching experience.”
Even before my grandparents had confirmed the apartment they’d move into at GHBC, they kept in touch with team members and began familiarizing themselves with their soon-to-be new home. They enjoyed meals at all three of the dining venues on campus, attended resident meetings and even joined campus activities. By immersing themselves in the on-campus culture before moving in, they became comfortable with their new surroundings, met some friendly faces and overall became more enthusiastic about their future at GHBC.
Even if you’re not able to immerse yourself prior to moving in, there are often ways to get acquainted with and involved in the community after moving in. Both GHBC and GHA have “Meet & Greet” events that allow new residents to introduce themselves to one another and connect with current residents.
As you think about what you want for the future, we hope you’ll consider a move to one of our senior living campuses at Goodwin Living. You can explore all the Goodwin Living campus options here. Call us today at 703-578-7201 to speak with our Sales team and schedule your tour.
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Caitlin Kelley is completing her undergraduate degree at Northern Virginia Community College to earn her Bachelor of Science in Communications from James Madison University. As a Fall 2025 Marketing & Communications intern at Goodwin Living, Caitlin has served as a spokesperson, blog writer, event photographer and social media content creator for the organization.
