Downsizing and the family home
Moving a parent to a smaller home, a retirement home or long-term care usually means letting go of a lifetime of belongings and, often, the family house. Starting early and breaking it into steps makes it far easier on everyone.
By ParentCare Ontario Editorial, published by Otonabee Marketing. Updated November 2, 2026. General information, not medical, legal or financial advice.
A downsizing timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 3 months or more before | Get the new suite's floor plan and measurements. Decide together what furniture will fit. Start with storage areas: basement, garage, attic. |
| 2 months before | Offer family keepsakes to children and grandchildren, and set a date to collect them. Book movers or a move manager. |
| 1 month before | Sell, donate or arrange pickup for what's left. Change addresses, and cancel or transfer utilities, phone and internet. |
| Moving week | Set up the new room first with familiar things: bedding, photos, a favourite chair. Clear the house after the move, not before. |
Sorting a lifetime of belongings
- Let your parent lead where possible. Decisions they make themselves are easier to live with.
- Use four piles: move, give to family, sell or donate, and discard.
- Work in short sessions, one room or a few hours at a time. It's emotional work.
- Photograph things that won't come, and keep a small box of the most meaningful items.
- Find papers early: wills, powers of attorney, property deeds, tax returns, insurance and pension documents.
What a senior move manager does
A senior move manager plans and handles the whole move: floor plans, sorting, packing, selling or donating what's left, the move itself and unpacking in the new home. It costs more than movers alone, but saves families weeks of work, especially when they live far away. Ask for references, insurance details and a written quote.
Selling a parent's house
- Who can sign. Your parent signs if they are able. If not, the person named in their continuing power of attorney for property can act for them. Without one, a court-appointed guardian may be needed, which takes time, so check early.
- Timing. Many families sell after the move, so the house can be cleared and staged. Plan how fees will be paid in the meantime.
- Taxes. A home that was the family's principal residence is usually sheltered from capital gains tax, but the sale must still be reported on the tax return. Ask an accountant about your parent's situation.
- Benefits. The proceeds can affect income-tested benefits such as GIS once they earn interest. Plan where the money will go.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.