More Than A Moving Company: A Designer Touch, Dementia Friendly

Monica de Wit
5 days ago
4 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Note: All images in the post are from REAL moves with HUGO and Company. So you can see the exact nature of our work.

When people contact HUGO and Company, we often explain that we are more than a moving company.

Let us explain.

We approach senior moving with compassion and an eye-for-detail. One of our friendly project managers will come to your home to:

Listen to your plans ie. where you're moving too, what your needs are
Discuss how our move process can help you
Help you curate items to bring with you
Measure those items for a floor plan, so you can see exactly how your favourite items will fit in your new space.

THIS is just an ingredient of our secret sauce to how we move our clients in one day: the floor plan.

Designer's Touch

We create a floor plan for our clients to visual their furniture in their new space

What is a Floor Plan?

The best thing ever. Our project managers go to your new home (usually in one of our partner care homes) and measure your walls and windows, mark your electrical outlets and phone connections, take photos of closets, kitchenettes, and bathroom(s). So we know exactly how much space you will have.

We create a floor plan completely tailored to you: with your suite and furniture dimensions. Depending on the size of the move, we email you 1-2 floor plans for you to look at. Our clients give their feedback and we make any necessary changes.

This is an amazing tool on move day. Why?

We know that everything packed will fit (no sending things back on the truck which increases time and cost)
We're on the same page as our client. They know exactly where their couch and TV will sit.
We direct our movers according to the floor plan, so no moving furniture around to different rooms or walls.
We make sure our clients can move around easily in their space. We try to create a walking space of 36" which will accommodate a walker. We discourage rugs since their often tripping hazards.
Zero guess work makes for a more efficient move.

How Else Do we Bring a Designer's Touch?

We consider lighting. We help you choose table top lamps, desk lamps, and floor lamps to bring warmth and layered lighting to your space.

We strive to make sure there are no harsh shadows created by lamps.

We also display special collections and hang art. This is truly when a space begins to feel like a home. We're happy to help our clients curate pieces for their walls, including artwork and family photos.

We also like to bring in greenery when possible! We often hang a beautiful wreath on the door, or display faux or real plants.

Hanging art and making the bed are the last things we do. This way, we know exactly where to hang the artwork and how high. And of course, we love the bed to be freshly made and hotel-like for you.

So Why Do We Do It?

We've discovered that our older-adult clients have different needs.

Here are our why's:

Our clients find it physically challenging to pack, unpack, hang photos, and organize closets and drawers. Moving is physically and emotionally taxing.
Many of our clients have family members who don't live nearby or find the idea of moving their parent(s) overwhelming.
We can move our clients in a day. So they can settle in to their new environment sooner and without the stress of having to set-up.
Our design skills help a new place feel like home. By hanging artwork, arranging collections, and organizing drawers and closets, our clients feel at home when they walk in.
Our process honours older-adults and the lives they are living. We carefully transition their treasures and we recognize that a space that feels personal will always trump perfect.

How is HUGO and Company Dementia Friendly?

Our understanding of how environments and design can impact the well being of someone living with dementia, and enable someone to live well in a space, is why HUGO and Company is dementia friendly.

When we enter the space of someone with dementia we use our design skills and experience to get a sense of how the person is living. Where they put every day items and how they experience their space is significant to our process. We then take those notes and apply them to their new home.

Move day is approached thoughtfully as we pack up items and the move is done efficiently (remember all that planning we do). That means the family can bring their loved one living with dementia to their new home by late afternoon or early evening. Our HUGO team discreetly cleans up so there is no evidence of a move (think boxes, bags, cutters, moving blankets). The family enters the new space which is calm, lit, and tidy and they can begin helping their loved one orient to the new, but familiar, space.

Do you only move clients with dementia?

We move anyone in need of our process, which is mostly older-adults. But for seniors who are experiencing dementia, the fact that we are experienced and specialize in this area is comforting to families. We are also familiar with (and in some cases partner with) many dementia care homes, so we're aware of all moving requirements.

Do you have accreditation?

Yes. HUGO and Company is a Dementia Friendly Community Supporter through the Alzheimer's Society. This means we are trained to recognize dementia cues and how to support those living with dementia. Specifically for our staff, we carefully consider the décor of a suite to make sure the space is hazard free, no harsh shadows, and carefully replicated to their original home.

We participate in ongoing training with a commitment to improve our company's messaging and services to be dementia friendly.