Moving into a care home checklist: How to prepare

Moving into a care home can be a worrying and stressful time, both for the person moving as well as their family members. It may never feel like the right time to make the move. By the time you start considering a care home, you’re likely to be in need of more care than what can be provided at home and would likely benefit from the round the clock care that residential settings offer. 

Being as prepared as possible will not only make everything run much more smoothly when the time comes, but it will also allow you to enjoy the positive aspects of moving to a setting where you will receive the care and support you need. 

Below, we have compiled a more detailed checklist of advice, information and things to take that will help you prepare for the move and hopefully help you to settle into your new home much quicker. 

Check what services and items are included in the costs

Before move in day, take time to check what is included in the care home fees. 

This is very important as the last thing you want is to receive your first bill and realise you need to pay for services you thought were free.

This can be expensive, adding stress at a time when you really don’t need it. 

Having a full understanding of what’s included will also help you when deciding what to pack as you will know what you can and cannot take with you.

Familiarise yourself with the care home before you move in

After you have chosen which care home to move into, if you are able to, consider visiting a few times to get to know it better. Pay attention to the facilities, the surroundings, the staff and the food.

You might also consider chatting to other residents to get to know the people you may be living with.

Familiarising yourself with the home allows you to find out what life is like at the care home and the things you’ll enjoy about living there. During the visits, think about how you would like to decorate your room and how you can continue to enjoy your hobbies and interests.

Make your environment feel homely 

A great way to feel more comfortable and relaxed is to bring items that remind you of home, this will make your room feel more homely and familiar, helping you to settle in.

It is a good idea to decorate your room with personal items, for example pictures, cushions and trinkets. Some care homes also allow you to furnish your own room, which means you can bring your favourite lounge chair, a TV or even your own bed.

Remember the care home will want you to feel welcome there, so make the most of what’s on offer. 

Allow staff to get to know you

The better the people caring for you know you, the better they will be at understanding your needs and preferences. 

A good start is to provide the care home with details of your life in advance, such as where you grew up, your occupation and lifestyle and interests. This will help the staff to get to know you before you move in. 

As well as helping them to deliver personalised care, this will also enable the team caring for you to tailor your overall experience, suggesting activities you might be interested in, or introducing you to other residents who have similar histories or interests to you. 

Notify relevant people and organisations of your new address

To avoid any hassle once you have moved in, make sure you let the relevant people know about your change of circumstances and address. 

You may like to notify your local council, bank(s), GPs, utility companies, etc., as well as friends and family.

Fill out care home forms in advance

If possible, contact the care home and ask about what forms you need to complete so that you can fill these out before you move in. There will be plenty to do on moving day. So getting the paperwork in order beforehand gives you one less thing to think about.

Let the care home know your dietary needs

If you have special dietary needs or allergies that need to be catered for, make sure the care home staff are aware.

If your requirements are very specific, it might be a good idea to compile a list of what you can and cannot eat in advance to avoid any issues and potential health risks. 

Look at pet policies at the care home

Many people consider their pet to be part of the family and it can be very difficult leaving them behind when you move to a care home. 

Unfortunately, not all care homes allow pets which means you may need to make arrangements in advance, however this isn’t the case for every setting. If you do have a pet, speak to the care home to find out what their policies are.

Try to prepare emotionally

Moving into a care home may be one of the most emotionally difficult decisions you will need to make in your life. Although everyone is different, the tips below might help you relieve the emotional stress.

• Talk to friends and family or an independent person about how you are feeling.
• Involve yourself in the move as much as possible to ensure your needs and wishes are catered for. This will improve your living experience when you arrive. 
• Once you have moved into the care home, give yourself time to settle in. It’s bound to take a little while to get to know people and feel comfortable. If the home offers activities that you’re interested in this can be a great place to start. Don’t feel pressured to join in if you’re not comfortable. 
• If your emotional stress lingers, it is important you talk to someone about it. Remember that staff at the home, your GP and friends and family are all there to support you.

Work out what to pack

Packing can be a very challenging aspect of moving to a care home. It’s likely you’ll need to leave items you hold dear behind, so it can be beneficial to consult friends and family to help work through the emotional toll this can have. 

To help you decide what to bring, make a list and decide what items are the most important to you. It is a good idea to bring items of personal value as they can help you reminisce and make you feel more at home.

Go down the list and cross out what you don’t need or feel like you can leave behind. In terms of clothing, two weeks’ worth is a good rule of thumb, including a couple of pieces of clothing for dressing up for events. For practical reasons, keep in mind that the clothing should be easy to take on and off and endure a lot of washing and drying.

Label every item of clothing with your name

Ensure every single item is clearly labelled with your name as they can otherwise be easily mixed up and end up in the wrong room.

Remember that just because you cannot bring certain items with you to the care home, it doesn’t mean you have to throw them away. Perhaps trusted friends and family can keep some of your valuable belongings or renting a storage space could be an option. And as was mentioned earlier, make sure you check what is included in the price and have a good look at your room so you know how much space is available.

We have devised a comprehensive packing list for what you should take into a care home.