Merrill and Judy Skolnik were overwhelmed by the thought of moving until they enlisted the help of a moving coordinator.

The Skolniks began looking at continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), and after a lengthy search, they selected Roland Park Place in Baltimore, Md. The two native Baltimoreans have a long history in the area and were relieved to find a place in the city and close to their children.

After raising their four children, Judy launched a career as an advisor at Towson University. An electrical engineer, Merrill earned his degree from Johns Hopkins University and worked for nearly 40 years for the U.S. government. When he retired, he was the Superintendent of the Radar Division of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and a widely renowned author and expert in radar technology.

After living in the same home for decades, the Skolniks were overwhelmed by the thought of moving. Even after finding the right retirement community, they had no idea of where or how to start the transition.

The staff at Roland Park Place suggested that the Skolniks enlist the help of Senior Transitions, Inc., a moving coordinating company owned and operated by Charna Kinneberg, RN, MBA. Senior Transitions assists seniors and their families with every aspect of the moving process from planning and downsizing to packing and unpacking.

“We are not a one-size-fits-all company. Each client is unique,” Charna explained. “Our services are tailored to relieve the stress of moving, and our first goal is to determine the exact needs of the client.”

When Charna started helping the Skolniks, relocating began to seem manageable. “She just took the whole burden off; she was in charge,” recalled Judy. “Thank goodness for Charna.”

Instead of worrying about home maintenance or feeling isolated, the Skolniks now enjoy a wide range of activities with new friends and
neighbors.

Charna helped Judy and Merrill make key decisions about what to take with them and what to leave behind. “She’s very decisive,” Judy recalled of Charna. “She knows what should be done and just does it.” She also enlisted help to do the packing and unpacking, so the couple did not have to worry about the physical tasks of the move.

“They were just wonderful,” Judy said of Senior Transitions. “They pack you up, and they bring you here, and they unpack you. They even make up your bed, and you’re ready to begin your new life.”

In addition to being efficient and professional, Charna and her staff also formed a personal relationship with the Skolniks. It was almost a year after they moved that Judy recalled seeing some of Senior Transitions’ staff members in the lobby of Roland Park Place. “A new resident was moving in upstairs with Charna’s help. I recognized the movers, and, to my surprise, they greeted me by name. They remembered everything about us. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

Since moving, the Skolniks have enjoyed a much-improved lifestyle. Merrill stopped driving and Judy only drives during the day, so the couple rarely ventured out in the evenings while living in their house. Now, they take the community bus to the opera, theater, concerts and dinners. “There’s something to do here all the time,” Judy said. “I try to take advantage of everything, and it’s been very stimulating.”

Finding a community close to home and the professionals to help them make the move has helped the Skolniks transition to their ideal retirement. From living an isolated life in their increasingly burdensome house to enjoying activities and events with new friends and neighbors, the Skolniks have certainly made a move in the right direction.

“When my father decided it was time for a move, I was pretty stressed about how I was going to get him moved,” recalled June Jacobs, Mr. DeBois’ daughter.

June and her family quickly settled on North Oaks, a nearby independent living community, as her father’s new home. The community suggested she contact a moving coordinator to help with the details of the large move. “I called Senior Transitions, and that was the best call I ever made,” June said. Senior Transitions, Inc. is a moving coordination company owned by Charna Kinneberg, RN, MBA.

Following their initial phone consultation, Charna started working on a floor plan for Mr. DeBois’ new home. She brought her computer to the family home, measured the furniture and quickly ascertained what would fit in the new apartment. June said, “By the time she was done, we knew exactly what furniture we were taking. That was a major help.”

When moving day arrived, Senior Transition’s expertise again proved invaluable. Charna and her staff packed the entire house in just a few days and then enlisted a top-quality mover to handle the complex move. “Throughout the process, every time I would panic, she would assure me that everything would be all right, and she was right,” explained June.

On the day of the move, Mr. DeBois went out to lunch with his caregiver and returned to an apartment that was ready to live in: complete with pictures on the wall, clothes in the closet, food in the fridge, and linens on the bed. After the move was finished, Charna arranged to have people remove the remaining junk and trash from the home.

“I really can’t recommend Charna’s services enough,” June concluded. “She took so much off my plate and made the whole process just amazing. I call her and her staff angels.”

A mere six weeks after deciding he was ready to move, Mr. DeBois was settled into his new home at North Oaks. Today, he is enjoying all that community living has to offer.

For seniors and their families, the physical challenges of moving are only the beginning. They also face the emotional challenges of finding the right home and the appropriate level of care.

With the expert assistance of a senior move manager, Carmen Cullen and her family have faced the physical and emotional challenges of moving on three separate occasions.

As her medical needs have changed, Carmen Cullen and her family have faced these challenges on three separate occasions. However, with the help of Senior Transitions, Inc., a firm specializing in relocating seniors, Carmen has always moved into a welcoming home.With the expert assistance of a senior move manager, Carmen Cullen and her family have faced the physical and emotional challenges of moving on three separate occasions.

A native of Baltimore, Carmen spent several years living in Florida after her husband of 50 years passed away. While she enjoyed the warm weather, she was far from family and friends. As Carmen’s 90th birthday approached, her daughters, Beth Kay and Marjorie Johnson, became increasingly concerned about her safety.

When Beth found North Oaks Retirement Community in Pikesville, Md., she knew it was a comfortable place where her mother could enjoy the company of lifelong friends. Because North Oaks is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) offering care levels ranging from independent living to nursing care, the family could also be confident that Carmen would always receive the care she needed.

The staff at North Oaks suggested the family enlist the help of a professional to make the long-distance move easier. They hired two move coordinators, Sharon Cofar with A Move Made Easy in Florida and Charna Kinneberg with Senior Transitions, Inc., in Maryland.

“Once we knew that Charna would be the mastermind of the move, all our anxieties were allayed,” said Beth. As one of the founding members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers, Charna has helped spur the growth of this vital service industry. She created Senior Transitions, Inc., 10 years ago and has orchestrated thousands of seamless moves.

“Charna directed the movers, devised a floor plan, and even planned the contents of the drawers,” Beth said. “We walked in, and it was unbelievable. It was set up like a magazine shoot—so inviting and warm,” Beth recalled.

Carmen was able to immediately begin enjoying her new home, including many reunions with old friends. “The initial move was made much easier because the apartment was so lovely, and she knew the majority of the other residents through social relationships,” Beth said.

Beth and Marjorie returned to their respective homes with newfound peace of mind. Beth lives in New York with her husband, Stuart, and Marjorie lives in England with her husband, James, so knowing that their mother was with friends and surrounded by caring staff was a relief for them both.

In what would prove to be a prescient decision, Stuart kept Charna’s card just in case the family needed help in the future. While he knew Carmen would not be moving from North Oaks, he suspected that she might need to move within the community as her need for care increased.

As years passed, Stuart called on Charna a couple of times to help with small items, including getting signatures on various forms. It was outside the normal scope of her work, but Charna was always happy to help.

When Carmen’s mental status started to deteriorate, it became evident to the family that she needed to move to Autumn Ridge, the assisted living facility on the campus of North Oaks. With Charna’s assistance, Beth and Marjorie decided what should be included in the new unit. A new bed was purchased, a few wardrobes were obtained, the items from Carmen’s apartment that could be used were moved, and everything was set up. Although the move was difficult for Carmen, Charna and her crew eased the stress.

“Charna transmits the feel that she has everything under control—which she does,” said Beth. “No task is too insurmountable or too insignificant for her.”

Despite its smaller size, Carmen’s assisted living unit had the same feel as her independent living apartment, and she quickly began to adjust to her new home. With the help of home care aides, Carmen was able to remain in her new unit for several years.

Following a recent visit, Beth and Stuart were confronted with the reality that her mother needed additional care, which would mean another move. The staff at North Oaks agreed that Carmen needed to move to the nursing center in Autumn Ridge. Stuart again pulled out Charna’s card, and they met the next day.

It is never an easy thing to move a loved one into a nursing home. In addition to being a move coordinator, Charna is also a Registered Nurse, and she assured the family that they were doing the right thing. Beth noted, “Charna made all the necessary decisions in a few hours and then came back and took care of the move while my mother was in the dining room.”

Charna quickly and efficiently arranged clothing and personal items, hung pictures, and decorated the new space so Carmen would be comfortable. She made sure to keep things that would serve as memory triggers for Carmen. She also sent pictures of the new home to Beth and Stuart to reassure them that the move went smoothly.

Knowing that help is only a phone call away has made moving much easier for Carmen and her entire family. “A daughter really could not ask for anything more,” concluded Beth. “Charna has been our guardian angel.” With the expert assistance of Senior Transitions, Inc., Carmen and her family have managed several moves in the last few years—each ending in a welcome, new home.

Richard and Kathleen McCarty faced an especially overwhelming task when they eventually decided to downsize from their large home, but with the help of move management service Senior Transitions, Inc., their move to a retirement living option was completely stress-free.

When Kathleen and Richard McCarty retired, they took the path less travelled by choosing to upsize.  Therefore, when the time came to move to a retirement community years later, the process seemed especially daunting.  With the help of Charna Kinneberg and her team at Senior Transitions Inc., however, the couple was able to experience a seamless move from the large family home to their new apartment.

Kathleen and Richard met in Baltimore while he was a student at Johns Hopkins University and she was attending Mount St. Agnes, now a part of Loyola University.  Married a year later, the couple had two children as Richard pursued his Masters degree at Hopkins.

The family then moved to Ithaca, NY where Richard became part of the faculty at Cornell University and Kathleen helped with library and development work for the school.   With the birth of their third child, the couple remained in the area for 24 years before returning to Baltimore in 1990 where Richard served as Chair of the Department of Biology at Hopkins.

“We had moved to Timonium, but the suburbs just weren’t for me, so we downsized to a condo in the Tuscany-Canterbury neighborhood,” said Kathleen.  At the time, the McCartys had also bought a weekend place in the mountains of Virginia.

“Two years later, the house right up the street became available and the first time we looked at it, we were filling out a contract,” said Richard.  “It had five bedrooms, so we were upsizing again, which isn’t necessarily a good idea.”

Although the couple loved their home, they were there for a decade before the maintenance became too much to handle.   Additionally, they had sold their weekend home and were therefore combining the belongings of two households.

Despite the overwhelming aspects of downsizing, there was one base the McCartys fortunately had covered.  They had always known where they would spend their later years.

“Our lawyer looked at our housing agreement and said everything looked fine but asked if we had shopped around,” said Kathleen. “We said we have not shopped around, we don’t want to live in the county, we want to stay in our neighborhood, and we want to be a part of Roland Park Place.”

The continuing care retirement community was a mere two blocks from where the couple had already been living, and for them, Roland Park Place’s reputation set it apart from any other option.

“It was also the peace of mind we could give our children,” said Richard.  “This is a place you walk in at your own power and they carry you up and you don’t have to worry about a thing; it’s wonderful.”
Among these perks, however, the couple still knew they faced the hurdle of clearing out their large home and giving whatever items they could to their three children or Goodwill.

Fortunately, upon signing their agreement to be residents, the McCartys received a packet from the community that included a brochure for Charna Kinneberg and her professional senior move management service, Senior Transitions, Inc.

“I looked at it and immediately told Richard we were going with this organization,” said Kathleen.  “Charna seemed to do everything, and she certainly did.”

Senior Transitions, Inc. helps with various parts of the moving process including automated floor plan designs, packing, supervising movers, preparing for home sales and disposing of unneeded items.  Charna Kinneberg, RN, MBA, started the company in 2001 and is a founding member of the National Association of Senior Move Mangers (NASMM).  She also serves on the board of two geriatric care provider groups.

And with this expertise, the couple said she was fully prepared from the start.  “From the moment Charna walked in the door, it was peace, serenity, efficiency and organization,” said Kathleen.  “A lot of people have jobs that they’re really good at, and she is really good at senior transitions.”

With the help of the Senior Transitions staff, the McCartys were connected with reliable movers and were able to donate several items, including 17 boxes of books that went to a charitable organization.

“When we got here, it was shocking to discover how they could unpack and find places for everything, and exactly where I would’ve put them!” said Kathleen.  “They knew our house and they took the time to do all that.”

With the move behind them, the couple is enjoying life at their new home, Roland Park Place, where they take advantage of the retirement community's fitness center and further pursue their passion for gardening.

As avid gardeners, the McCartys were especially delighted to know their beloved flowers were also accommodated.  “Our sunroom was filled with at least 20 orchids and all kinds of paraphernalia, and we had no place for them here,” said Richard.  “Charna put them on Craigslist for us and got several phone calls.  A woman came and took everything in a half hour period and our worry was off the deck completely.”

The couple not only appreciated Charna’s dedication throughout the process, but that of each of her employees.  “They were the best we’ve encountered.  All wonderful, lovely, charming people who came prepared every day to calm me down,” Kathleen said with a smile.

While many of the McCartys’ peers have utilized Senior Transitions and were just as thrilled with their services, the couple still does not hesitate to spread the word about the move management company whenever possible. “I couldn’t recommend Charna and her employees more highly to anybody,” said Kathleen.

With the stress-free move behind them, the couple could not be happier with their new apartment and surroundings at Roland Park Place.  As they take advantage of the community’s fitness center and scheduled daytrips, the McCartys have enjoyed getting to know their neighbors and continuing their favorite pastime by reserving a plot in the gardening areas.

“I think it’s important to move when both of you are able to do so physically and mentally,” said Richard.  “We are younger than most people here, but we were actually able to make the right decisions and enjoy the move and get it done.  It made our adjustment to living here very easy.”

Over the years, the Wyatt-Browns traveled a great deal teaching at different institutions. After beginning their careers at Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo., they later went to University of Colorado in Boulder and spent 17 years at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Oh. They eventually transferred to the University of Florida, where they taught for 21 years. In addition, the couple also spent part of their careers in Princeton, University of Wisconsin, University of Richmond and William & Mary. Anne and Bertram also had a daughter, who now lives in St. Paul, Minn., along with two grandchildren.

Despite their many moves, it was never a question for the couple as to where they would spend their future. They left Florida to return home to Baltimore, where they had their sights set on eventually moving to Roland Park Place based on its convenient location and the positive experiences of Anne’s parents there.

Although Anne was initially hesitant about the physical aspects of the move, health issues and the difficulty of navigating and maintaining their three-level house had prompted the couple to seriously think about the transition to maintain their busy lifestyle.

“Baltimore is home for me; my family is here,” said Anne. “The reason we ended up at Roland Park Place is my parents lived here and I had no intention of going to the county. As far as I was concerned it was the city or forget it, and it had to be the neighborhood.”

Having several friends and relatives needing care in a variety of elder care settings over the years had made the couple see the value of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). They appreciated the fact that they would be able to remain connected to their friends on the campus even if their health needs were to change.

Anne also liked the improvements she had seen at Roland Park Place since her parents were living there. Among those big differences was a list of resources compiled by the staff to help ease the transition and a complimentary floor plan design consultation for future residents.

To further ensure a stress-free move, Anne and Bertram decided to hire a firm that could provide senior move management services. They selected Senior Transitions, Inc., an organization owned and operated by Charna Kinneberg. Senior Transitions, Inc. is a well established company. Charna is one of the founding members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM).

With so many decisions to make about what to take, the couple really appreciated a software program that Senior Transitions, Inc. used that mapped out their new floor plan with their existing furniture and possessions. According to Charna, the program allows clients to immediately see their plans and what will or will not work in their new space.

“You could really see what it was going to look like,” said Anne.

Charna then provided her guidance to assist the couple in sorting through their belongings and getting rid of or donating different pieces of furniture.

“I coach my clients to focus on what we want to keep, not what they are getting rid of. It really helps with the decision making process,” she said.

Understanding just how important their tremendous book collection and academic libraries were to the Wyatt-Browns, Charna made certain to identify appropriate space for as many bookcases as possible. The couple was pleasantly surprised at how many bookcases could actually fit. Also realizing that Anne and Bertram needed space for their own computers, she incorporated a desk for each of them in the design.

“My goal is to keep as many of the most treasured items as possible while maintaining a safe environment,” said Charna.

Although Anne is often questioned how she could give up so many pieces of furniture, she said, “A lot of our furniture was handed down to us, and to be able to give it to people who want it and who will someday give it to somebody else I think is wonderful.”

For the official moving day, Senior Transitions, Inc. brought in a crew to manage and facilitate the move. “They were very efficient and fun to be around,” said Bertram. “They made it a pleasure . . . they were just great.”

Anne continued, “They had terrific ideas for pictures, and once they put the pictures up, it made it ours and just transformed the place. They are really gifted in figuring out where to put things and I am in awe of their skill.”

With the move behind them, the Wyatt-Browns are eager to get involved with programs at their new home as they continue the activities they are most passionate about.

One of these lifelong pursuits for the couple is writing. While Anne is an author as well as the co-editor of a gerontological-style journal, Bertram has written twelve books and is a visiting scholar at Johns Hopkins. “I go to seminars sometimes and get revved up about that,” he said.

Music is another passion they have shared. Anne, who started in the Glee Club at Bryn Mawr when she was 14, had dreamed of attending Radcliffe College and joining its Chorale Society after hearing them in concert. Not only did she accomplish this goal, but she also became the group’s manager and has since continued to sing in different chorales and churches.

“Everywhere we have gone, I have sung in a group,” she said. “We had 10 moves, and every time, we would join a church and join the choir.” That carries through today as the couple sings in the choir at the Cathedral of the Incarnation which is right down the street from their home.

Most importantly, Anne and Bertram have enjoyed getting to know the individuals at the community. They have been very impressed with how outgoing the staff and residents are and are pleased that there are other “academics” living at Roland Park Place.

“The facilities are great and we plan to make good use of them, but it’s the kindness of people that really makes a difference,” said Anne.

As they meet new individuals, however, they will never forget the people who played a pivotal role in helping them get settled into their new home. No matter their daily pursuits, the Wyatt-Browns know they have beautiful and comfortable surroundings to return to thanks to Senior Transitions, Inc.

“They were terrific, we have nothing but praise for Charna and her group,” said Bertram.

Long before this move, however, the Resslers’ story begins when they met at a dance, which, according to Mrs. Ressler, has often led to the debate of who saw who first. Though no matter whom it was, the couple is happy to say they have celebrated 48 years of marriage. During this time, Mr. Ressler had worked for Amoco American Oil Company while Mrs. Ressler was a homemaker and bookkeeper who worked part time at the Catonsville Community College bookstore for several years.

It was Aug. 28, 2008 that the Resslers received the call for which they had been waiting. An apartment matching their request had become available. Though the couple sold their home in a matter of three weeks, they knew the actual moving process would not be so easy.

Mrs. Ressler said she and her husband knew they did not want to tackle this move on their own and at the time were given a list of vendors by the Charlestown sales staff. Instead of getting overwhelmed and bogged down with the details, they contacted Charna Kinneberg, owner of the company Senior Transitions, Inc. which provides move coordination services.

As a result, they had downsized, disposed of unnecessary items, had everything packed up, and were moved into their new place by October 10, less than two months after initially learning the apartment was available.

“We didn’t have to go through a book to try to find people to take away trash, donate things to, or even move our things since Charna and her staff took care of everything,” says Mrs. Ressler. “Everyone was wonderful including the other vendors they recommended. They showed up on time and if they were going to be late at all, they called. There was no waiting around wondering.”

Mr. Ressler adds that on the actual moving day, the vendors were taking care of unpacking all of the items and followed the couple’s wishes placing everything accordingly. “We walked into the bedroom and there they were making our bed – it was just like a hotel where everything we needed was in place and ready for us!” he says.

In other moves they made over the years, according to Mrs. Ressler, they had still had to contend with the packing supplies after everything was done. That was certainly not the case this time, however, thanks to their moving coordinator. The trash was removed with boxes taken away, thus the Resslers were free to quickly start their lives at Charlestown.

The Resslers’ story is certainly not uncommon; however, theirs teaches others of the available resources that can be utilized when taking on this difficult task. Charna says the move coordinators take one of the major barriers of moving away. “We often hear ‘I don’t want to be a burden to my children,’ or ‘I don’t have time to help my parents,’” she says.

With a qualified, experienced move coordinator, these and other issues associated with a move are handled. According to Charna, the ultimate goal is to remove that stress from the experience, though the source differs from client to client. One may just need someone to help them figure out what will fit into the new unit while another client may want help disposing of things they do not need. Someone else will just want help packing or unpacking as others want to go on vacation and come back after the move is done.

No matter the scenario, this move manager is there to help. “We’ve done it all,” she says.

Senior Transitions, Inc., however, is not limited to coordinating local moves. Charna is President Elect and one of the founding members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), an organization of move managers located throughout the U.S. and Canada. The industry has grown significantly in the past six years from the initial 16 member companies in 2002 to now over 500 companies.

“When a client is moving to or from another location, we can easily find a member company to help on the other end,” says Charna. “Because of my longstanding involvement with the organization, I often personally know the other company.”

Also as a result of her commitment to the association, some of the communities she regularly works with even call her rather than just selecting from the NASMM web site.

Meanwhile, with what turned out to be a very stress-free move behind them, the Resslers have enjoyed life in their new home. As Resident Ambassadors at Charlestown, they talk to prospective residents, showing them the community and discussing the advantages of living at Charlestown. Mrs. Ressler is also in the process of starting a new dining companions program at the community with her friend.

Of course, they often discuss their experience with Senior Transitions, Inc. and would recommend seeking the assistance of a move manager to anyone in a similar situation.

“There is no way we could have made the move without them,” says Mrs. Ressler. “It’s the single biggest reason most people give for not making the move. With Charna and her staff’s help, that issue is gone.”

One of Mrs. Pyle’s friends mentioned that they needed assistance at the public library. She went into the interview looking for a part-time job and left with a career. Mrs. Pyle worked her way up through the library system and ended her career as manager of clerical and Technical Services in the Library’s Central Office.

Several years ago, Mrs. Pyle made the decision to downsize from her family home in Timonium to a more manageable condominium. Her husband had passed away three years earlier, and their home was becoming more than she could handle alone. She lived in her condo for 13 years. Recently, Mrs. Pyle began to contemplate moving again. She recalls, “I wanted to find a community where I could feel secure, but also be as independent as I want to be.”

Mrs. Pyle’s search for a retirement community to meet her needs took her to several local properties. After touring communities and reviewing their offerings, she chose Mercy Ridge, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Timonium, MD. “I knew that Mercy Ridge was it as soon as I saw it,” she says. “It is so new and gorgeous, and we have so many options in terms of dining and amenities.”

Finding the right retirement community proved to be easy, but Mrs. Pyle knew from experience that “downsizing and moving is hard-really hard.” When she moved to her condo, her children took care of everything but she did not want to call on them again.

When she found information about moving coordinators in her move-in packet, Mrs. Pyle was intrigued. She called Senior Transitions, a moving coordination services firm, and spoke with Charna Kinneberg, the owner of the company. “When Charna came in and told me about everything they could do to make sure that my move was smooth-which was pretty much anything I needed-I knew that I wanted their help,” Mrs. Pyle says.

The day before the move Senior Transitions’ staff came to Mrs. Pyle’s house and packed the bulk of her belongings. They brought boxes, packing paper, and all the necessary supplies with them.

Mrs. Pyle remembers, “On the day of the move, they finished up with the packing, and then they went to the new place and unpacked everything and set it up.” From assembling her bed to unpacking and dusting her china, Senior Transitions made sure that Mrs. Pyle’s new home was as comfortable as possible. “It looked like I had been living here for awhile on the very first day. Even some of the staff members commented on how quickly I was settled in,” Mrs. Pyle concludes. “I didn’t have to worry about anything with the move. They really took care of it all, and that was a wonderful feeling.”

Beyond his work, Mr. Bridge has always been interested in historic preservation and has dedicated his time and expertise to several organizations. He worked with the Maryland National Road Association on the Historic National Road and on various other projects. His preservation work has provided an interesting contrast to his career. “It has been a way for me to make a contribution to the community; it also helps that I find the work incredibly rewarding,” notes Mr. Bridge.

When Mr. Bridge’s long-time companion, Sally, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the couple realized that they needed a plan for the future. They began looking at retirement communities. After narrowing the field down to two or three potential communities, Mr. Bridge seriously investigated their amenities and care options. He ultimately chose Fairhaven, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Sykesville, MD, because of its “creature comforts,” including a fitness center and a library, and “excellent medical facilities.”

Choosing the right community was only the first step, Mr. Bridge quickly realized. During an orientation at Fairhaven, panelists discussed the challenges of moving and downsizing. Charna Kinneberg, the owner of Senior Transitions, Inc., gave a presentation about the moving coordination assistance offered by her company. “We chatted over lunch after her talk, and we really hit it off. I knew I wanted to use her services to help with our move,” Mr. Bridge remembers.

The move started with a promise: “Charna assured me that we wouldn’t have to do anything-that they would take care of everything, and she was right” says Mr. Bridge. Initially, Charna and her staff offered advice on what to take to their new home. Mr. Bridge admits, “Deciding what to take and how to set up our new house was difficult because we have lots of books and collectibles, and we really wanted to keep most of them.”

With the help of Senior Transitions, the couple was able to move all their treasured possessions. Most importantly, their new home was almost completely set up on their very first day. “Not having to worry about the move allowed me to focus on taking care of Sally and helping her through the transition. That really meant a lot to me,” says Mr. Bridge. With the move complete, Mr. Bridge is busy exploring his new community.