Finding elderly parent a new home

[bitterandtwist]

I live far away from my mum. While I’m here when I can be, she needs help finding somewhere to
live (probably rental) after she sells her family home. All very sad and not asking re buying/selling/inheritance etc.

Basically, is there a professional that can help? What would that person be called? It’s not an estate agent - she needs more help than that. She is fortunate enough to be able to pay. She has no access to the internet - she can barely use a phone. She probably needs to consider assisted living of some variant. Needs someone to help her negotiate looking at places on the ground! She has friends and family local to her (hence her probably wanting to stay in the area) but it’s too much for someone to do as a favour.

First of all how old is she and is she serious about moving or is she just making noises because her own house is becoming too much for her to manage.
Would trying some home care be a better option for her, cleaner, gardener etc
How close is she to the family that live near her?
Could you try to help from afar with a family member doing some of the legwork?
Do you have both the POVs in place to take some control if she finds it all too overwhelming to deal with.
I think a social worker could get involved if they really needed too, her Doctor my be able to signpost her to social services if she was deemed too vulnerable or infirm to do this herself without help.

I once knew a retired Social Worker who did that for a self employed job.

Of course there was an upfront fee for the service.

I don't personally know the answer but I know Age UK offer really good advice and have face to face befriending services in some areas of the UK. These are volunteers that are happy to accompany to activities or appointments. They have an advice line that you could contact to see what help is out there. I imagine you would have to set up appointments for her to view places but the volunteer could accompany.

Hope you can find a solution.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/contact-us/information-and-advice/

I’d say contact age uk. That could be a good start. They should be able to help.

Thank you. Shall try age concern. The family and friends nearby don’t want to help with this. They visit, go to garden centres and for lunch/coffee and go shopping etc. but they don’t want to start house hunting and doing a professional job

She is 82. Not in great physical health but mentally astute. She has accepted an offer on her house and knows it’s time to move. It’s too much and too big. We’re not on the same page as regards level of care in her new accommodation (I think she should be somewhere with a warden and a community etc. She doesn’t want that. It’s part of the reason I think we need to look at rented. That and her being sure she wants to stay where she is rather than move close to me or my sister). I think she would look at a variety of places. She just needs someone to do that with her and I think it is probably a paid role as I can’t be there enough to facilitate it as and when. It would be quite a limited hit over a few days with me and I don’t think we would have the time to do it properly.

If money's available for it, there are buyer's agents. Like Phil & Kirsty, or Escape to the Country but without the cameras. Usually for higher end properties but as long as the fee's paid the buyer (or renter) can set any parameters they like.

Thank you. That’s exactly what I was looking for! Didn’t even know what they’d be called!

I'm afraid I've no idea what the fees might be - could be quite hefty - but worth a look at least.