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Feelings about leaving home
If you’ve lived at your home for a while, it’s likely to be bound up with your identity – and sometimes decades of memories. Although saying goodbye to a family home can be bittersweet, many retirement village residents say that you'll have an exciting road ahead of you to feel optimistic about.
Here are some ways retirement village residents say they have approached their move.
Embrace your emotions
Experiencing feelings of grief is an understandable response to leaving your family home behind. Many retirees have lived in their homes for decades. Children grew up there, birthdays were celebrated, grandchildren ran the halls and veggie patches flourished. Saying goodbye to your home, and the memories you had there, can sometimes feel like saying goodbye to part of yourself.
Let yourself reflect on that history, feel the sadness, toast to the memories – maybe even hold a farewell party with those you cherish to mark the occasion. A sense of closure can help you accept the changes of this new phase of life.
Remember why you're moving
If it’s all feeling chaotic and you’re wondering why you’re putting yourself through the stress of a move, remind yourself why you decided to downsize in the first place. In this new stage of life there's so much to look forward to, including:
- Meeting like-minded people
- Moving into a property that's safe, secure and where your needs are fully supported
- Opportunities to enjoy new hobbies and interests
- A healthy lifestyle packed with good food, good company and plenty of recreation
- Reducing the burden of upkeep and home maintenance.
Even if the time is right, leaving home is never easy. It's okay to sit with those feelings of loss, but still feel gratitude for the change to come. Always put practical plans in action to help minimise the stress of moving.
Getting help
Dealing with grief and stress is highly emotional, so if you need to speak with someone for support, contact your GP or call Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.