Moving from one location to another with your aging parent? It could be because of a job transfer, or simply because you are heading for greener pastures. Bringing a senior along on your move adds to the things you will need to research about your prospective new home.

Relocation assistance programs and real estate professionals are fairly good about helping transferees learn about schools, kid-friendly neighborhoods and pediatricians. For the most part they are less knowledgeable about community services and resources for seniors.

If you plan to bring a senior along when you move, here are some of the important things you will want to check into while you get acquainted with a new community. While you are visiting, and before you make an ultimate committment, devote an extra day to learning everything you can about the senior resources and services in the area. You will find that your move and the settling-in process for your senior will be much smoother if you do.

What You Want to Know and Do Before You Relocate With a Senior

Medical Resources:

If your elder is on a Medicare Advantage plan verify that the plan will cover your elder at the new address. If the answer is no, contact an independent insurance broker in the new area or visit the Medicare.gov website to get a list of Advantage plans in the new area. Make arrangements for your elder to switch to the new plan at the right time so there is no lapse in coverage. Never leave it up to your senior's old plan to take care of this. Call the new Advantage plan yourself.

Individuals with traditional Medicare do not have to be concerned about this step, as traditional Medicare is accepted nationwide.

Locate a primary physician who is accepting new Medicare patients on your elder's plan (either traditional Medicare or Advantage). Make an appointment for your senior to have a new patient visit within 30 days of your arrival.

Your new primary care physician should be able to give you good referrals to any specialist physicians your senior may need.

Once you are certain that you will be moving, ask for a copy of your elder's medical records. You will want to carry these with you so you know you actually have them.

Locate a pharmacy near your new home. Make arrangements to have prescriptions transferred, if necessary.

Locate the closest good hospital and mark it on your map. If you can, drive back and forth once.

If your elder is using non-medical home care services (companion/sitter/aide services) get referrals to two or three equivalent agencies in your new area. You may want to put services in place shortly after you arrive. If your senior is using Medicare home care services (nurse, therapist, hospice) you will need to visit the new physician and obtain a referral.

Social Resources

If your senior is driving, check to be sure that local shopping and other facilities are easy to reach without having to use a freeway or extra busy streets and intersections.

Identify senior centers, libraries and recreation centers that your senior might be likely to use. Visit at least briefly, if possible. Gather activity calendars, meal menus and any other printed materials you can get your hands on.

Check with senior centers or the town/city about local transportation for seniors, if any. Get schedules and information about cost and how to qualify for these services.

Look up the address of the closest Social Security office and mark it on your map.

Locate the telephone number of the local Area Agency on Aging. The AoA office will be able to help you find help and resources you may not have thought of in advance.

Residential Facilities

If your elder will be moving to the area with you, but will be living separately in an independent living center, an assisted living residence, or a nursing home, begin looking for the best facility as early as you can. There may be some important coordination that must be done between the old and the new facility, and many good facilities have waiting lists.

The local ombudsman (check with the Area Agency on Aging) will be able to give you good information about the various residential facilities that you might not find on government websites.

This is a formidable list of things you should do before you relocate with an elderly person. If you have children, you will be doing this kind of resourcing for both ends of the age spectrum. It's almost enough to make you refuse to move.

Frankly, it would be an extremely wise investment to consult with a geriatric care manager who knows the new area intimately. In a single consultation you will be able to get the answers to most of your questions, and referrals to everything from good physicians to good facilities to good hairdressers. Having a geriatric care manager on board will cut your pre-move stress and provide you with someone who knows the local ropes to walk you through anything else that might come up at your new location.