Moving with Elderly Parents
Moving with Elderly Parents
When children organise their parents' move
Tasks well shared
A move with elderly parents is usually planned from two sides: by the parents, who are giving up their home, and by children or grandchildren, who take on the organisation. For this to work, it should be clear early on who is allowed to do what. If the daughter gives notice on her mother's tenancy, she needs a written power of attorney – if she does not present the original document, the landlord can reject the notice without delay (§ 174 BGB). The same applies to contracts for electricity, telephone or a care service. So first check whether a lasting power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht) exists or whether a simple power of attorney will be issued.
The second focus is care around moving day: medication for several days, the medication plan, rollator and glasses belong in a bag that stays with your mother or father. Give the care service the new address in good time and check whether it will continue to provide care there. We come from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and handle dismantling, transport and reassembly; how we go about it is described under Moving for seniors. It is better to transport jewellery, cash and documents yourself: the removal company's liability for such valuables is excluded by law (§ 451d HGB).
A survey together with your parents
Fixed price after a survey – one contact person in the family
Call 01625978461 to arrange a free survey for the move with elderly parents – ideally with your parents and the family member taking on the organisation. We will then give you a fixed price and discuss on which days packing, transport and reassembly will take place.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Who in the family takes on what
Four roles that work well
With a move for seniors, a clear division of tasks helps: one person looks after papers and contracts, one after furniture and the flat, and one stays with the parents on moving day. We come from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and take care of the physical part – dismantling, carrying, transport and reassembly, and packing on request. Applications, contracts and arrangements with doctors or the care service stay with the family. For the goods being moved, we are liable under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre; for valuable items, additional insurance is worthwhile.
Papers and power of attorney
Furniture and new rooms
Company on moving day
Care and health
Six points relatives often forget
Many aspects of a move for seniors only become apparent when they are missing. These six points can be settled in the weeks before with a phone call or a form.
Registration in a care home
Equipment
Medication
Valuables
Pets
The old flat
Only one room moving?
If your mother or father is moving into a room in a care home or assisted living, often only a bed, armchair, chest of drawers and a few boxes come along. For such small amounts over a long distance, a shared load can be cheaper than a dedicated lorry – with a time window instead of a fixed day.
Before,
on the day, afterwards
For relatives, a move for seniors falls into three phases: the weeks before, with power of attorney, notice and choosing furniture; moving day, with company and medication; and the first weeks afterwards, with registration, the doctor and settling in. How your parents can prepare for the move from their own perspective is covered in the guide Moving in later life. If the new home is in another city, we plan the transport as a long-distance move from Berlin.
The weeks before: papers and furniture
Moving day: calm comes first
The first few weeks
Questions from relatives
Plan early and let your parents decide
A move in later life should not be rushed. Plan three to six months' lead time with your parents: notice on a rented flat usually runs for three months, and places in care homes and assisted living often have waiting lists. Let your parents make all decisions about the flat and furniture themselves, even if it takes longer – this preserves their independence.
Write down together who takes on which task: power of attorney and contracts, clearing the flat, care service and doctors. Your father or mother must register the new address within two weeks of moving in; for a move into a care home, § 32 BMG applies with its own rules.
Decluttering with sensitivity
After half a lifetime in one flat, rarely does everything fit into the new, smaller one. For children, sorting out is a practical task; for parents, it is a farewell. Start with the cellar and storeroom, not the living room, and ask for each item whether someone in the family would like to have it.
Clearly mark particularly important furniture and keepsakes so that they are set up first. Sell, donate or dispose of whatever is left; for an entire flat there is household clearance.
Moving costs – compactly summarised
- 1-room flat: starting price €349
- 2-room flat: starting price €594
- 3-room flat: starting price €894
- 4-room flat: starting price €1,324
- House/villa: individual quote
- Long-distance move: starting price €4.10/km
All prices stated are guide values – you will find out more during a free survey.
Price factors of a move at a glance
The price of your move depends largely on the volume of your household goods, the distance (from €4.10/km) and the floor and whether there is a lift. A required parking restriction zone can also affect the total cost. Extra services such as furniture assembly or a shared load are charged separately.
Our moving services
Relatives can book these services individually for the move.
- Furniture transport: Professional transport for your furnishings. Furniture transport
- House clearance: Fast and tidy household clearance. House clearance
- Shared load: An affordable alternative for smaller transports. Shared load
- Private move: A worry-free move to your new home. Private move
- Moving with assembly: A complete service including furniture assembly. Moving with assembly
- Office move: We organise your office move efficiently. Office move
Moves from Berlin
We come from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and also handle moves of parents to their children in another city. Destinations with their own pages can be found in the locations overview, routes from Berlin under Long-distance moves.
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