EXCERPTS FROM OTHER PUBLICATIONS:

Moving? Help is available, by Donna Willmann, February 4, 2015

Happy Endings: A move takes planning.  And experience.  And the skill and energy to get the work done. When families bring in a senior move manager to help, the peace of mind has begun.

Professionals are guiding hands for area seniors, by Thomas A. Bergbauer, January 2, 2006

“(Byron Home) has helped me in more ways than you know. I was concerned, with my physical condition, with packing, moving and unpacking. I was so surprised to learn that these resources were available.”

Prepare for moving relative with memory loss, by Donna Willmann, January 30, 2007

“When preparing your loved one for the move, be sensitive to that individual’s feelings and plan for tough questions and any concerns that may be expressed (or maybe just hinted at). Preparing thoroughly and talking about the move well in advance can be a great help in alleviating much of the stress and apprehension. Of course, with memory loss you will find yourself having the same discussion many times. Thorough preparation includes:

  • Completing as much paperwork as possible beforehand to save time on moving day.
  • Establishing a positive relationship with the staff early on, so you can work together to make the transition more comfortable.
  • Developing a floor plan and determining what will fit.
  • Doing most of the major packing prior to moving day so as much time as possible can be spent focused on settling your loved one in.
  • Having as much of the new room set up as possible before bringing your loved one to the facility—including decorations, family pictures, and other memorabilia to make your loved one feel at home.
  • Many families find the assistance of local senior move management services helpful with these last three steps. This allows them to support the senior making the move.”

Families can take the stress out of downsizing, by Donna Willmann, August 28, 2006

“Moving can be traumatic for senior citizens, who are often leaving behind the place they’ve called home for decades. It can also be traumatic for the children of seniors, who are faced with transitioning from the role of the child to a parental role at a time when their own retirement is imminent…A move manager can take over responsibility for coordinating the whole move from start to finish or a family can select just a few of their services, a la carte style.”

‘Senior move managers’ help the elderly relocate, by Janie De Leon-Male, May 29, 2007

“I sat down with Donna Willmann, founding member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers and president of Byron Home, to discuss the benefits of a hiring a senior move manager. According to Donna, senior move managers are equipped to:

  • Make floor plans to help you and your loved ones visualize how their furniture will fit into their new home.
  • Take the time to help your loved ones sort through their possessions from basement to attic, from kitchen cupboards to off-site storage units with patience and compassion.
  • Help you and your loved ones sell, donate and dispose of excess possessions.
  • Help you and your loved one pack and supervise the movers.
  • Put everything away after the move and place all belongings in their designated places (per the floor plan), so your loved one is as comfortable in their new home and environment as quickly as possible.

Again, I always remind caregivers that you are not alone in your caregiving journey. Senior move managers, like Donna Willmann, are there to assist you every step of the way.”

Moving consultant helps seniors make transition to smaller home, by Teresa Anicola, November 4, 2002

“Donna Willmann helps seniors when it’s time to perform a daunting task at a critical point in their lives—downsizing from their family home to smaller accommodations. She is a senior move consultant who coordinates the entire move for clients of her business, Byron Home…,from sorting through decades worth of belongings to move them into their new homes. ‘Most seniors hesitate to move into a retirement community because they are overwhelmed with the whole idea of packing and moving all their belongings and what’s going to fit,’ said Willmann, 53. ‘It’s such a dramatic difference moving from their family home. Options for seniors have increased and there are so many places they can go.’”

Consumer Profile

“Donna came in and gave us an estimate; she created a floor plan that gave us an idea of what we should take and what we should let go. She helped determine what should be donated and what should be sold. Our basement was a horror story, she arranged for a service to come in and clean the entire thing out for us. She also helped us get packed up, moved in, and unpacked. She came through with flying colors! She made a seemingly horrible task seem easy. I just don’t know what we would have done without her!” – Betty