Moving into a Care Home Checklist
Whether you’re moving a parent into a care home, or perhaps considering moving into a care home yourself, it can seem challenging to know the best way to prepare and to know what to pack.
Often, moving into a care home entails moving out of a family home, downsizing, and moving into a single bedroom.
Our informative ‘moving into a care home checklist’ aims to help you create a logical plan when the time comes to make the move.
What to Expect When Moving into a Care Home
As we mentioned, going into a care home from a family home will inevitably mean less space than what you were used to previously. For this reason, it’s important to do research when choosing a care home and also consider exactly what you intend on packing – once you’ve chosen your new home.
What to Pack When Moving into a Care Home
Below is a list of suggestions that could help you pack for moving into a care home.
Clothing
This may seem obvious but moving out of a family home could also mean having a spring clean of your wardrobe. When considering what clothes to pack when moving into a care home, as well as liking how you look, the clothes should ideally be comfortable and easy to take off and put on.
- Jumpers
- Trousers/skirts/dresses
- Tops
- Coats
- Nightclothes/dressing gown/slippers
- Clothes for evening wear
- Shoes
- Accessories
Personal Care and Toiletries
Most care homes won’t provide toiletries or personal care products, so it’s a good idea to bring your own, especially as you may be used to, or prefer certain products.
- Soaps/shampoos/conditioners
- Perfume
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste
- Moisturisers or body lotions
- Hairbrush/Comb
- Shaving equipment
Furniture or Furnishings
Care homes will cover features such as bedding and basic bedroom furniture. However, if you have personal preferences of style or material, or want to make your space feel more homely, you may wish to pack some of the following:
- Blanket/quilt
- Bed linen
- Pillows
- Towels
- Lamps
- Cushions
Personal Items
Giving the room a personal touch helps many people moving into a care home adjust to their new surroundings. Personal items such as ornaments, trinkets, and photographs can make the room feel much more like home.
- Paintings/Photographs
- Photo albums
- Ornaments
- Hobby equipment such as knitting, games, puzzles
Preparing for Moving into a Care Home
As well as thinking of the physical belongings you’ll need to include on your checklist, it’s important to also consider other elements which can make the transition stress-free and seamless.
Get Familiar with the Home
Once you’ve gone through the process of choosing a care home, it’s time to get familiar with what will be your new home – get used to the facilities, staff, and other residents.
Get to Know the Staff
The staff within the home will be looking after a whole range of things, from housekeeping, administering medication, mealtimes, bathing, and dressing, among many other things.
Getting to know the staff by chatting about yourself and your life means you’ll be well on the way to having great relationships when you move into the care home.
Notify People of Your New Address
To make sure the move goes smoothly, and to avoid hassle once you’ve moved in, it’s a good idea to give relevant people information about your change of address and circumstances. These can include your bank, council, GP, utility companies as well as friends and family.
Emotional Preparation
Moving a parent into a care home or moving into a care home yourself could be one of the biggest and most emotional choices of your life. Some of the following could be useful in relieving some of the stress:
- Think about the benefits of care homes you’ll be able to enjoy such as professional, round-the-clock care, help with day-to-day tasks, delicious meals, company of like-minded people, and fantastic facilities.
- Talk to friends or family about how you’re feeling, this can help you come to terms with the move and the change in your life.
- Give yourself time to settle in once you have moved into the care home.
Thinking of Moving into a Care Home?
We hope our moving into a care home checklist is useful in assisting you with a slick move into your new home.
Considering moving into a care home? Read our helpful guide on finding a care home or alternatively, find information on care services providing within care homes such as dementia care, respite care, nursing care and residential care.
Contact our friendly team of advisors today if you’d like any help in finding the perfect care home near you.
