What to pack when moving into a care home

Moving into a care home can be daunting, especially if you’re moving from a house you’ve lived in for a long time.

No matter your reasons for moving, whether it’s a been a quick decision or something you’ve been thinking about for a long time, choosing the things you want to bring with you will inevitably be an emotional process.

We have compiled a detailed list of suggestions and advice to help you navigate the moving process.

At the bottom of the page, you can download the checklist in PDF format to print out a physical copy.

---

Before you start to think about what you need to pack, try to:

Visit the room before you move in

Visiting your room will allow you to get a feel for how much space there is. It can also help to make the move less daunting as you’ll be familiar with your new space.

When visiting, think about how you might like to decorate and arrange the room; you can plan where you’d like your pieces of furniture if you plan to bring any, or consider how you want your trinkets displayed.

Furnishing and decorating your room in a similar way to your home is a good way to help you settle in and feel more at home in the new environment and items of personal value can help bring back memories you have created over the decades.

Find out what is included in the price

Most care homes provide the basic necessities as part of your fees; things like furniture to store your clothing and sheets for your bed, but the specific facilities will differ between settings. Speak to the care home in advance to find out what’s included; this will help you to identify what you need to bring, and then you can work out what extra things you’d like to make you feel more at home.

Care home packing list

Below is a detailed list of suggestions that can help you pack for moving into a care home.

Clothing

Clothing for two weeks is recommended, including clothes for day and night, activities and events. Ideally, clothes should be comfortable, easy to take on and off and remember that they need to withstand frequent washing and drying. Accessories can help you keep your identity and in control of your own style.

• Jumpers
• Trousers/ skirts/ dresses
• Tops/t-shirts
• A couple of pieces of clothing for parties and events
• Coats for winter and spring/autumn
• A few sets of night clothes
• Dressing gown
• Socks/ tights and underwear
• Slippers or other indoor shoes
• Two pairs of shoes
• Active wear for exercise classes and activities such as gardening
• Accessories such as hats, scarves, purses

---

Top tip: Make sure every item is labelled, especially clothing. This not only helps the housekeeping team return belongings to the right person, but it can also help people living with dementia to identify their own things.

---

Personal care and hygiene

It’s a good idea to bring toiletry and personal care products that you are familiar with and enjoy using. Not only do care homes often charge extra for these things, but most people also have their favourites when it comes to soaps and shampoos.

• Medicine
• Soap
• Shampoo and conditioner (wet or dry)
• Make-up
• Perfume
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Body lotion and moisturisers
• Shaving equipment and products
• Hairbrush and/or comb
• Hair styling products such as hair pins and clips

Bedding

Care homes cover most of this, but if you have personal preferences of style and material, you might want to bring along your own bedding. Speak to the team at the care home so you know what the situation is and make sure what you bring can be laundered.

• Blanket
• Quilt
• Throw
• Small lap blanket
• Linen
• Towels
• Pillows and pillowcases

Electronics

Electronic devices can be a good way to stay connected to family and friends and provide you with entertainment and information. Some care homes provide a TV, if not, speak to the home and ask if you can bring one. Don’t forget chargers and cords.

• TV with remotes
• Radio
• Tablet
• Mobile phone
• Laptop
• DVD player
• Extension cord
• Headphones

Furniture

Some care homes encourage residents to bring along their own pieces of furniture. If this is possible, it’s worth taking up the offer. Although it might seem like a big task, introducing your own furniture gives you more chance to fully personalise your space and keep items that may be sentimental to you.

It can also be of great benefit to people living with dementia as they will feel more familiar with their surroundings. To comply with safety regulations, make sure the furniture is fire retardant.

You could bring items such as:

• Lounge chair
• Desk
• Wardrobe
• Chest of drawers
• Nightstand
• Bookshelf
• Lamp

Decoration and personal items

Giving your room a personal touch can really help you settle in and make your space feel more familiar. Personal items such as family heirlooms and ornaments can also help you reminisce and make the room feel more like a home, as well as being great talking points for care home staff and other residents to get to know you better.

• Paintings and photographs
• Photo album
• Ornaments
• Books and films
• Magazines
• Hobbies – puzzles, games, knitting

What to do with items you can’t bring?

Unavoidably, there will be items you won’t be able to take with you due to the care home’s limited space. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of everything. Items that hold emotional value could be passed on to trusted friends and family, such as jewellery or invaluable furniture.

One alternative is to arrange storage space for your items, which is particularly useful in respite care situations. This can reduce the stress that comes with packing as you will still be in control of what happens to your beloved items.

If you are in a position where you need to give away or sell items, try to do this in advance. This will give you time to work through the emotions before it’s time to move.

Care home packing list PDF

Please click the button below to view and download the list of things to bring to a care home in PDF format.

---