Seniorenverhuizing: “Ik werd helemaal ontzorgd”

For seniors, moving can be a particularly stressful experience, especially due to the changes it brings. Moving to a new environment can significantly impact their lives, both emotionally and physically.

With an aging population, the number of elderly individuals needing extra care and attention is steadily increasing. For many seniors, relocating to an assisted living facility or a care home becomes inevitable at some point. These kinds of moves are often emotionally challenging, both for the seniors themselves and their children, who have to say goodbye to the family home.

This was the case for Mrs. Atsma. By opting for a specialized senior relocation service, many of the burdens were taken off her shoulders, allowing her to focus on settling into her new home. She found the experience to be very positive: “I only had to say what needed to be moved, and everything was taken care of. All I had to do was make coffee, hihi.”

Downsizing from a large property and high costs

After living for sixty years in a farmhouse in Oppenhuizen, Mrs. Atsma decided it was time to downsize. “My youngest daughter said, ‘Mom, you need to start organizing things.’ I had over 2,000 m² of land and mowed it all myself, haha. A friend of mine took care of the areas near the water and the hedges. I didn’t need to worry about that anymore. Not with a ride-on mower, mind you—just a regular one. I let the grass clippings lie. Over the years, I’ve become a bit more relaxed about it.”

There were also other factors in play. “I didn’t have central heating, just gas heaters, and they wanted to phase out gas. That would mean high costs. On top of that, the barn wasn’t in great shape. My children had no interest in the property. They thought it was beautiful, but the upkeep was too much for them. I didn’t mind doing it, but not everyone wants that kind of responsibility. One summer, someone knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to sell the house. I said no, and that was the end of that conversation.”

But things changed. “Another person asked if I wanted to sell my farmhouse, this time in June last year. I still wanted to stay. What could go wrong? I figured I could just hire someone to do the odd jobs around the house. But at a certain point, I said yes. I put the house up for sale to give everyone a fair chance. It went on the market in June, and seven weeks later, it was sold.”

A new place to call home

Next, Mrs. Atsma had to find a new place to live. “That was quite a challenge. I didn’t have anything lined up. Mentally, I wasn’t there yet. There were no suitable houses in Oppenhuizen, just family homes, which I didn’t need. I also wanted to stay on this side of town. Then, my real estate agent tipped me off about this apartment, and I decided to check it out. This was in August last year. After the viewing, I immediately made an offer. An hour and a half later, the agent called me to say the offer had been accepted.”

Moving experiences

The search for a moving company began. “The handover was in early January, and I had to move out of my old house by March. I quickly contacted De Jong Verhuizingen. My daughter had moved with them twice before, and my sister also used their services when she moved to Sneek. Both had great experiences. They even stored some of my daughter’s belongings in their warehouse on the industrial estate. So, we had a lot of trust in them. One of their surveyors came by, but my entire barn had to be cleared. I had my daughter handle that part. De Jong Verhuizingen offered to help with it too, but it was all taken care of by then.” 

The move took place on February 21st. “They only moved the items that needed to go to Sneek. Everything fit in the small truck. It all went very smoothly. Before that, I spent my time sorting through everything. What should stay? What should go? That’s how I approached it. I was a bit worried that I’d have to pack everything myself, but that was all taken care of for me. I didn’t want to do it all by myself. All I had to do was point out what needed to be moved, and they took care of the rest. I just made the coffee, haha. Everything went so well. I even wanted to offer them sandwiches, but they politely declined, saying they’d eat a sandwich in the van on the way to Sneek. That allowed me to join them later at my new place.”

Assembly service

Understanding the unique needs and requirements of a senior move is crucial in planning a smooth transition. By properly assessing the situation, De Jong Verhuizingen ensures a pleasant and seamless experience for both seniors and their families. Their additional services for senior relocations range from hanging pictures, lights, and curtains to assembling furniture and organizing the entire move, including packing and unpacking, administrative assistance, and cleaning services.

Mrs. Atsma took advantage of this service as well. “They took apart my wardrobe and reassembled it at my new place. It was perfect. They also hung several lamps, the mirror in the hallway, and the coat rack. They even offered to hang the pictures, but I hadn’t yet decided where I wanted them. So I took that task on myself. They were done in about four hours.”

Mrs. Atsma was very pleased with the assembly service. “Yes, I’m really satisfied with the service. They even came back later to pick up the empty boxes. I also appreciated the surveyor who visited before the move; we discussed everything then. If there was anything I needed, I could always call them. I found the whole experience very pleasant. That’s the most important thing for me!”