Rachel Davis discovered her passion for helping older Mainers navigate later-in-life moves after her father died two years ago.

Her mother was inundated with calls from real estate agents asking if she wanted to sell the house she had lived in for 53 years. In her late 70s, her mom decided to stay put and plan for a future move.

“I needed to let my mother keep her autonomy and ask for help with the things that were overwhelming her,” Davis said. “Now, I’m helping her plan ahead — to figure out where she wants to live and how to get there — so she can relax and enjoy her life going forward.”

A licensed real estate broker with Pine Tree Realty of Maine in Windham, Davis is the only agent in the state who is certified as a senior housing specialist and downsizing coach through the Seniors Real Estate Institute in Oklahoma. Founded in 2012, the institute trains agents to serve homeowners age 55 and up and their families.

Davis also is a former social worker who offers free monthly seminars on senior housing needs and related issues through her Legacy Learning Series. Two people attended her first seminar in January 2025. Her latest in May drew 66.

“People are so thirsty for this information and so many people in Maine are in this age group,” she said.

Here are five takeaways from Davis’ seminars:

1. Start planning before it’s necessary

Think about how and where you want to live the rest of your life at least five years before you retire. Then take steps to make it happen.

“One of the worst things families do is wait until a health crisis happens before they make any decisions about future moves,” Davis said. “At that point, it’s an emergency and your options are severely limited.”

Plan for — rather than ignore — potential health and lifestyle changes that come with aging. It can help people move forward with less anxiety and more confidence. That advice applies whether you will live independently or need assistance, Davis said.

Research your housing options, figure out what you can afford and get yourself on waiting lists if necessary. Make sure all necessary legal documents are in order, including a will, legal powers of attorney and insurances.

2. Choose your next home carefully

Location, location, location is just as important when choosing where to live after retirement. It could be your last move.

“Decide where you want to live with great care,” Davis said. “Again, do your research. Visit several times before making your final decision.”

Wherever you plan to move, make sure there will be access to activities and local amenities that matter most to you, whether it’s civic organizations, retail shops, social groups or specialized medical care.

If you love the outdoors, are there nearby places to go and things to do? If you lose the ability to drive, is there public transportation or other ways to get around?

If it’s a senior living community, will it be accessible if you develop physical or cognitive challenges? Some retirement communities will let you stay overnight to see what it’s like to live there.

3. Decluttering is good for you

Start paring down your possessions about the same time you start planning where you want to spend your golden years.

“Do it in short, manageable bursts,” Davis said. “The goal is to reduce how much you have to move but retain the things that are most important to you.”

Approach it as a gradual, room-by-room process to maximize safety, comfort and the ability to transition more easily from one home to the next. Sort belongings to keep, donate, sell or discard.

Keep furniture or household items with multiple functions. If you know where you’re moving, get a floor plan and take measurements to make sure pieces will fit where you plan to put them.

If you have large collections of books, art or knickknacks, keep a limited number of favorites and photograph the rest before selling or giving them away. Frame a few favorite photos and digitize the rest along with other important documents.

4. Seek help when you need it

Ask family members or friends to help with a move, especially when handling heavy boxes and furniture. Enlist them early in the process so they can assist with other challenges, such as hiring movers, cleaning or staging.

Some senior living communities have moving coordinators who can help. Davis can be hired as a downsizing coach and provides similar assistance to clients who sign with her to buy or sell property throughout Greater Portland.

“Families underestimate how physically and mentally challenging downsizing can be,” she said. “Professional guidance can make the whole process a lot easier.”

Other companies that help older Mainers move include Helping Hand Moves and SimplySized Home. Both operate in southern and Midcoast Maine and are certified and listed with the National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers.

5. Strive to keep a positive attitude

Prepare for the emotional side of downsizing, which Davis likes to call “right-sizing.”

“People aren’t just moving furniture, they’re moving memories, identities, routines and sometimes grief,” she said. “So it’s normal to feel sad, overwhelmed, excited, nervous, relieved and even guilty about letting things go.”

Davis described the process as gaining freedom and peace of mind rather than losing a house or giving up things. You can spend less time on home maintenance, she said, and have more time for family, travel and hobbies.

“It’s more than shrinking your square footage,” she said. “It’s about creating a home that fits your current stage in life.”