Caring for a senior is often no easy task. The emotional and physical demands that it can take on an individual (both caretaker and giver) can be great. Many times we are faced with the decision of whether to put a loved one into an assisted living retirement home. Although this decision may be the best for all parties, it is important to know that it will be emotionally taxing for everyone as well. When making the jump with a loved one into this situation there are a number of things to keep in mind.

1. Make sure that everyone in the family has a chance to address and clarify the way that they are feeling about the decision. This is not only a hard transition for one person–it usually weighs on everyone involved so its important to stay open.

2. Let it be. If your family member is upset by the move, allow them to feel the way that they do. Be there as a sounding board to absorb their frustrations. Sometimes its ok just to listen and empathize.

3. Make sure to reassure them of your presence in their life. Let them know that just because they will be living somewhere else, doesn’t also mean that they will lose you. They need this reassurance at this time.

4. Remain calm. Raised voices or outward displays of anger will only leave both parties feeling hurt. This is a highly emotional time for both of you; recognize it, but try not to let it enter the conversation.

5. Let them make decision that are important to them. Things like choosing the facility, their room, colors that will be in their room is very important for them to retain control over. This is a tough time for them in feeling loss of control. This will help.
6. Let them know calmly why this is the best decision for them practically. Try not to add an emotional element into the mix as it may lead you down a slippery slope. Stay positive and let them know all of the positives of their new life.

7.  If you’re family member is having a difficult time accepting this decision, allow them time to absorb the news. You may also consider seeking professional help, such as a counselor or a senior moving specialist. Sometimes it helps to have a neutral outside party to talk to.

8. Don’t be hard on yourself; try not to feel bad about this decision. Be good to yourself and know that this is the best thing for the entire family. Dealing with your emotions outside of the decision will help ensure that your conversation remains calm and focused.

There is no getting around it: pets are like family. And only taking the best care for them will do, so make sure that you have taken precautions and prepared for their departure as well as yours to assure that their move as well as yours is smooth and painless.  Check out the tips and insights into pet care while traveling:

• Make sure your pet is wearing identification and any required license tags in case they get lost.

• Ask your veterinarian for a copy of your pet’s medical history to take with you, and be sure all shots are current.

• Shortly before the move, your pets may become nervous because of all the unusual activity. Keep a close eye on them; stress may cause them to misbehave or run off. Consider looking into some holistic remedies for calming.

• When you move, take along a health certificate and a rabies vaccination certificate. The health certificate, signed by your veterinarian, says your pet is in good condition. The rabies certificate states when and where your pet was vaccinated.

• Look into the state that you are moving to and make sure that you are prepared for a quarantine period. In many cases your animal will need to be put into quarantine from anywhere from 30 to 120 days before you can take them home.

• After the move, give your pets time to adjust to the new neighborhood. Don’t let your pets roam freely until they learn where new “home” is now to avoid losing them.

• If you pet has an ID implant, remember to have updated contact information.
Follow these tips to make sure that your move is smooth and less stress on your loved ones!

Flying these days can truly be a pain in the behind with all of the rules and regulations nearly strangling the luxury right out of flying and travel overall. With the amount of terrorism that has flooded in the world these measures are thankfully made to protect our people nationwide and worldwide. As moving can be stressful enough and if you’re having to fly to your new home, the airport setting can make things much more strained and uncomfortable if you are not prepared and expecting what you have coming to you.

Bags Most airlines these days are going to charge you a fee for bags from anywhere from $15-$25 per bag. The second checked bag is also usually more expensive than the first. However if you are travelling on Southwest Airlines, you are granted 2 free bags to check–no hoops, no catches, just free. If you are looking to save or compare how much your favorite airline is charging per bag, check out http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/blog/3801089/airline-baggage-fees-chart-updated/

Carry On This luggage is a lot of times the preference for many to travel with–exclusively. Not only does it guarantee that your luggage arrives with you (as it is with you) but it also saves you, in most cases, loads of cash. The average carry on measurements 22″ x 14″ x 9″ or an average of 45″ total. Don’t depend on luggage that guarantees that it is “airline restriction friendly”–bring your measuring tape.

Pets Certain airlines let you carry on your animals for a reasonable fee on board if it can fit underneath your seat. If not, you must check your animal in the cargo storage area with the rest of the luggage. Also, check the regulations for your destination and see if there is a quarantine period to keep your dog (usually about 30 days)

Security Make sure that you don’t get caught up here! Have your Passport/ID ready along with your boarding pass. Once at the scanner area, take off your shoes, coat, scarfs, any metal on your body and put it in the bins. If carrying a computer, take it out of the bag and put it directly into a bin. Also, any liquids that you carry must be under 3 ounces and in a clear container. If you don’t adhere to the rules they don’t care how much your $70 shampoo scalp treatment is, it’ll go in the trash! For more info, check out http://www.tsa.gov/

Checking In You can usually check in online, or even on your iPhone if your airline has an application to do so. If you would like to expedite the process, check out the skycap area (usually outside of the airport terminal that your airline belongs to) these lines go much faster and are shorter. Have your ID/Passport and reservation code ready to go.

If you are considering relocating to the Pacific Northwest, look no further than the wonderful city of Seattle. Floating bridges, revolving restaurants and an underground city separate Seattle from most other cities in the country. In addition, Seattle is home to the longest continuously running farmer’s market in the country, the Pike Place Market. Whether you are watching the infamous “fish throwing” in Pike Place Market, driving over the world’s longest floating bridge or exploring the Seattle waterfront, you will find that Seattle’s rain does not put a damper on its beauty.

Transportation

Transportation in Seattle is great. Whether you are looking to take a ferry, a ferry taxi, a bus and more, you can expect that you can live in Seattle without a car easily.Not to mention that with the public transportation you can enjoy the beautiful scenes and sites of the city. If you have a car like any city this is a great one being that they have streets and highways like everywhere else .

Climate

If you like rain, you are going to like Seattle. If you like lots of rain, you are really going to like Seattle. If you love tons of rain, Seattle is the place for you! With some sunshine in the summer time, this city has mostly water as its climate.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Seattle is 19% above the national average. You are paying a bit more for all of the coolness of the city, the amazing sites and the fantastic location of your new home.
Cool Spots

If you are a Grey’s Anatomy fan, you are most likely a fan of Seattle. So go and check out the Space needle just to get it out of the way. If you want to stick to the waterfront, check out the Seattle Waterfall Garden or Pike Place Market to do some seriously amazing shopping. If you’re feeling up to a little nature exhibit check out the Seattle Aquarium as well, it is truly a breathtaking sight for your eyes.

Reasons to Move

• No State Income Tax That’s right people, you heard it first here.
• Jobs The Industry is booming and lots of opportunities are sprouting everyday.
• Music Scene Seattle is the birthplace of many amazing bands and acts and still hold a place in the music world.
• Nature With some of the most beautiful sites in thee country, Seattle has a little bit for everyone to

Random fact about Seattle
Seattle was the first US city to play a Beatles song on the radio

When you are moving both in and out of a place, the dealings with bills is a very important step in your transition. Making sure that you first of all, take the bill out of your name, and then second put all of your new bills in your name is essential for a smooth transition in and out of your new and old place.  In case you need a reminder, here is a list of the bills that you will both need to cancel from your old house and put in your name at your new one.

Cable

Water and Electric

Trash

Phone (landline)

Internet

Landscape/Lawn

There are other bills that you have that will not change with your move, but will need some information so that they are able to reach you and send information or their products.  It can be as simple as going online and changing your address information, however there are a number of companies that require you to call in and speak to a representative. Always check online first as it can eliminate long waiting times on thee phone and racking up your phone bill.

Bills that you will keep, but need to get a change of address

Cell Phone

Netflix (delivery movie service)

Credit Cards

Magazines

Student Loans

Insurance

Bank

Moving can be tough. The impact that it can have on you can be long and lasting. More than having a personal impact on your life, moving can have a lasting and deep impact on children especially. Whether it’s a change in their standard of living, a change in schools or just a change of environment moving can affect kids more than we think and realize.

Smaller children depend on predictability and security. These concepts are closely related to familiar faces and places. Older children are likely to feel that their social life is impacted when they move. Fitting in is incredibly important at this age for their social and emotional lives. Easing a child or teens moving experience can be incredible for them as kids and later in their lives as adults. There are a number of ways that a parent or guardian can get involved in their children’s comfort in a move. One of the first and most important items to address is to keep routines and home rules the same when you move to your new location. This will allow children to plant their roots faster and feel comfortable quicker as well.

Second item is to make their room comfortable to their standards. Making a child feel secure at home is important, but assuring that their place to ‘get away’ is up to their approval is incredibly important.  Another item is assuring that you as a parent are doing all you can to cultivate new friendships with other kids. Doing things like opening your home to new friends and acquaintance and encouraging your children to interact and make plans with new kids are essential for your child’s transition.

Keeping up with old friends is also an essential part of keeping their social life healthy, as it allows them to build long term relationships and to stay connected to their old stomping grounds. When it comes to school, encouraging extracurricular activities is a great way to introduce your child to not only new friends but to new subjects and interests. More than anything that you can do for your child, you can be a constant part of their life and stay up to date with everything going on. This is the key essential element in your relationship with your child.

Following these simple tips will not only foster and cultivate your child’s needs for social interaction and living emotionally secure, but will make sure that you are giving them the chance to live up to their own potential.

American economy may be at an all time low, and times are surely hard for most of us in America; perhaps it is time to start investing in yourself and what makes you happy. Maybe today, more than ever, is a day to consider a dare-to-be-great situation and start exploring new possibilities! Every great story begins with somebody doing something that seems uncomfortable, scary, and even potentially costly, but if you never step outside of your comfort zone you may never know what you’re worth.

How does 7,546 feet (that’s 1. 439 miles) above the ocean sound? Maybe glorious panoramic views of the glorious visual splendor that Colorado has to offer tickles your fancy. You can take advantage of Colorado’s own Rocky Mountain National Park, which was the 6th most visited National Park in 2009. Hiking, backpacking, fishing, camping, birdwatching, and so much more are waiting for anybody who is daring and caring enough to venture to Estes Park, CO.

For those of us already living in Colorado, why don’t we start using what CO have to offer? Take a risk, live the gamble, and dare to move closer to God’s majesty incarnate. Estes Park, CO has all the luxuries and wonder of any small town and so very much more. Estes Park has over 140 stores and shops that offer local goods as well as national products, and offers more than 120 restaurants. Estes even offers a great single scene, with 40% of it’s local population finding themselves without a life partner and nearly 20% of the population between 18 and 34.

Now is the time, and Estes Park is the place if you are considering relocating your life to a place where you can be a true Coloradoan. Why not move to a place where the most challenging day-to-day choices can be what you love most about the place you live?

“They” say it takes around a year to a year and a half to meet people in a new community that you can truly call a friend. Depending on where you move, it can take longer than that. Here are some tips to make it easier, and quicker!

Chamber of Commerce: Never rule out the chamber, even if you aren’t a business owner. Your local chamber can connect you to businesses you need, events to attend, and new people to meet that can make you feel at home. Check out Chambers of Commerce, USA Directory and Visitor Bureaus US Directory.

Another great way to meet people and get familiar with your new community is through Livability.com  “Livability.com is an online portal connecting people seeking relocation information with some of the most livable communities in the United States.” This website is made for people relocating. They also include local food and a digital newsstand. What a wonderful resource for people moving!

Last but not least, don’t forget about using social media! Twitter and Facebook have features where you can search by city and state. Use Facebook search bar, and for Twitter use Twellowhood.com

Here at Exodus, we hope you make new friends quickly, and start feeling more and more at home!

If you could move anywhere in the world where would you go? Seriously anywhere…  Think about it, from the deep sea reefs of Australia to the tallest snowcapped peak in Nepal all the way to the romantic setting of the Eiffel tower.  Well, it’s fun to think about but then, reality starts setting in and you might realize that the dream of moving to the sandy beaches of Fiji may not be possible for where you are at in life right now. But rest assured because if the day shall come where the option of moving to your dream destination becomes a possibility, we can and will help make it happen. Long story short, we will first get all your belongings to the coast, whether it be east or west, then from there your things will be loaded onto a ship bound for your destination. We will even go one step further and arrange for services at your destination to bring your items to your door. What a great welcome to your new home gift!

We have experience with moving people and things from all over the world! Just because it is a big world does not mean moving across it needs to become a big problem. We are experienced international movers, relocating people to places all over the world- Australia, Israel, France, Libya (that was a tricky one), Japan, Turkey, ect, ect, ect (and the world goes on).

We can move anyone literally anywhere in the WORLD, we are your international moving company. So when and if you ever need to move abroad, lets us be the ones to make it happen!