Organize a senior move to Switzerland

Planning and personal support

A senior move requires more anticipation than a usual change of accommodation – eight to twelve weeks is a realistic length. The reason is not logistics, but the number of decisions: each piece of furniture and many personal items must be evaluated one by one.

It’s proven to break the move into manageable steps and get back into the person’s own pace rather than imposing a timetable. An early visit with the moving company helps: if the team and contact person are already known, the big day is much less stressful.

• The plan first: Get the measurements of the new home and decide which furniture really fits.
• Personne de contact fixe: One person in the family coordinates – this reduces questions and misunderstandings.
• Steps rather than a single effort: One piece per appointment, with breaks. This preserves decision-making capacity.
• Advance the visit: A known team on the big day removes a lot of uncertainty.

Reduce and sort

Moving from a 4.5 room apartment to 2 room senior housing means that a large part of the household does not come. It is useful to think from the moment you arrive: what has space in the new accommodation is decided first – the rest is sorted afterwards.

Separate into four groups: take away, pass on to family, sell or give away, dispose of. Personal items like photos, letters and keepsakes belong explicitly to the first group, even if they take up space – saving money here rarely feels like a relief.

Important for loved ones: household decisions must remain with the person concerned, as long as they can make them. Pre-selecting helps, deciding no.

Furniture packaging and assembly

When moving seniors, the packing is often entrusted in whole or in part to the company. A packing service takes kitchen, glass, boards and electronics and labels the boxes by piece. This replaces days of physical labor and reduces the risk of breakage.

Equally important is furniture assembly: bed, wardrobe and table should be reassembled and usable on the big day. Expressly agree that bed and bathroom work in the evening – that’s the difference between a successful day and a heavy day.

If a large piece of furniture does not fit through the stairwell, a furniture lift comes into play. This too belongs to the request for offer, not to improvisation on the big day.

Clearance and evacuation of the old accommodation

After the move, the old home remains – often with cellar, attic and garage. A clearance empties the object completely, a evacuation removes furniture, electrical appliances and bulky items in accordance with the rules.

In Switzerland, the return of the rental deposit depends on the accommodation being returned clean and on time. This is why end of lease cleaning with guarantee of delivery is often a useful additional service: if the administration notices something, the company cleans again. Moving, clearing out and cleaning are coordinated via a combined offer.

• Clearance: Completely empty the accommodation, cellar, attic and garage.
• Disposal: Take furniture, electrical appliances and bulky items away properly.
• End of lease cleaning: With guarantee of receipt, so that the delivery is successful from the first meeting.

Moving to senior housing or a care home

For senior housing, the move is technically a smaller private move. Take into account the plan and rules of the building: many residences provide slots for moving, regulate the use of the elevator and request notification from the administration.

When moving to care home, the volume is generally small – a room with personal furniture, clothing and souvenirs. Ask before which clean furniture is permitted, what measures apply and whether there are fixed delivery times. Most of the work is then the liquidation of the old accommodation, not the transport.

In both cases: clarify the institution’s requirements before requesting an offer. Slots and elevator rules influence the size of the team and the progress – and therefore the calculation.

Checklist for loved ones

This order has proven itself for the organization:

• 8–12 weeks before: Obtain plan and measurements of the new accommodation, draw up a list of furniture, request quotes for moving, clearing out and end of lease cleaning.
• 6–8 weeks before: Choose the company, arrange a visit, coordinate termination and return date of the old rental property.
• 4–6 weeks before: Sort by stages, organize transmission to the family, set up sale or donation.
• 2–3 weeks before: Prepare changes of address with the municipality, post office, health insurance, bank and family doctor.
• 1 week before: Prepare the personal bag with medications, documents and valuables – it always stays with the person.
• Moving Day: A support person remains present at all times. Bed, bathroom and kitchen are first made usable.

Request quotes from insured companies

Describe the initial situation in the application: size of the old accommodation, destination (senior housing or care home), desired services such as packing, furniture assembly, clearance and end-of-tenancy cleaning, as well as any special slot or access requirements.

When comparing, make sure you have a written offer with indicated transport and operating liability insurance, a fixed contact person and clearly named additional services. You receive up to 5 quotes from partner companies and decide with complete peace of mind – free and non-binding.

Services adapted to your move