None of us enjoy the stress of moving, and even healthy and active seniors will find moving hard.

But if your parents are in this group, don't despair; there is plenty you can do to make the move smooth for them.

My senior parents are moving: how can I help?

1. Property paperwork: walk side-by-side with them.

It may have been a few decades since your parents bought or sold property, so they'll need plenty of help doing it again now.

Walk patiently with them through every detail and every possibility, including where the current market stands and cash rate issues.

They'll also need your help with property valuations and appraisals, conveyancing, lenders and brokers, and home loan applications.

Ensure you attend meetings with sales agents, lenders, brokers, and conveyancers as well.

NB: Depending on where your parents live—and want to live—they may not have to take out a mortgage with cash from their existing home's sale going straight towards the purchase of their next one.

This cash-in-hand purchase will also give them great precedence over other, less lucky buyers.

2. Share the moving tasks with family and friends.

As with many families, you and your siblings will likely have different ideas of where your senior parents should move to, and how.

But aim to come together to help your folks with moving, including cleaning and packing, and don't be afraid to call on your parents' close friends and neighbours either.

Also, aim for every family member to have a particular moving job, such as dealing with conveyancers, calling removalists or organising energy providers.

Don't forget to change your folks' addresses as well.

3. Is the new home senior-friendly?

Falls on stairs or similar are the number one cause of accidental injury in older Australians with one in four people aged 65 years and over having at least one fall every year.

To help prevent such an issue, a senior-friendly check of your parents' new home is crucial - even if they're fit and healthy.

Stairs and steps are an obvious concern as are sloping lawns and gardens.

Aim for plenty of light in every room, avoid slippery timber or tiled floors, and in wet areas, ensure there's plenty of space.

Bathrooms including toilets may also need rails - if not now, then in the future.

4. The Big Pack

If you think packing as a singleton or even a big family is difficult, try packing up your parent's home of 20 years or more!

There are plenty of professional packing companies available but you'll still need to spend plenty of patience and time with your senior parents to help them declutter.

Garages, workshops, sheds and other outdoor spaces will need plenty of decluttering help as well.

NB: some moving companies offer dedicated seniors' services for packing, cleaning and similar details.

5. The Big Transport Move

This applies to seniors moving interstate or intrastate and may involve the booking of flight tickets or you or your siblings or friends driving your parents to their new home.

If your parents can still drive themselves, be 100% certain they can drive long distances safely.

6. And finally....

Your senior parents will still need plenty of support after they've moved into their new home especially if they're in a brand new location.

They will need help organising new health practitioners, finding amenities such as supermarkets, shops and parks, and of course, finding new friends.

So, whether or not they now live closer to you, make sure you stay in close contact with them - not just now, but in the long term.

We're here to help

Whatever home loan road you or your senior parents wish to take, Lending Loop can help you travel it.

We’ve brought all the services you need altogether, under one roof, so we can find you the best home loans from more than 40 of Australia’s biggest banks and specialist lenders.

Plus, we can also help you refinance your loan to help you keep more money in your pocket.

So, give us a call today at Lending Loop.