Gerre Wade, owner of Senior Move Services, understands the emotional and physical dynamics encountered by older adults and their families during the older adult’s transition from the family home to a retirement community. She took a three-month leave of absence from work in order to help her own reluctant father move from his home of fifty years, reducing the contents of his three-bedroom home into a one-bedroom independent living apartment. When she saw the dramatic improvement in her father’s quality of life and health after his move, she felt inspired to offer the same outcome to other adults and their families in similar circumstances.
Through the Senior Transition Society, Gerre took the courses and training to obtain certification as a Relocation and Transition Specialist. She became the first person in Kansas to join the National Association of Senior Move Managers, an organization that has grown exponentially since its founding in 2002. Her accreditation assures her clients that she adheres to the NASMM Code of Ethics, carries liability insurance and takes continuing education courses. She belongs to Professionals in Aging, Senior Awareness, and the Kansas City Alliance on Aging.