When your loved one is preparing to move into an assisted living community, there’s an entire plethora of different aspects to help out with, making this a busy period for both your loved one and the entire family. Moving into an assisted living community, especially as a first-time resident, can be overwhelming, which is why your support is more important than you may assume it to be. For most residents moving to assisted living, this involves a lot of downsizing to accommodate their smaller space, which can be difficult due to the various sentimentalities attached to their belongings, which is why we recommend following a checklist of things to pack. When in doubt, make sure to pack the following.
Necessities
Before the big moving day, it’s always wise to refer to a floor plan or a list of amenities from your senior living community’s team. This helps you to know specifically which necessities are already provided, as well as other necessities that your loved one will have to pack for when they move. Furthermore, your loved one may have other essentials they use regularly that’ll fit within this category. Some examples of necessities you may need to pack include:
- Appliances not provided by the community (microwave, coffeemaker, toaster oven, etc)
- Alarm clock
- Eyeglasses (if any)
- Hearing aids (if any)
- Mobility aid devices (walkers, canes)
Home Furnishings
Home furnishings are an important part of your packing list because they’re the key to making your loved one’s senior living community apartment feel like home. However, do take note that senior living community apartments are limited in space to encourage efficient and fuss-free living, so try not to overpack. We also recommend against furniture pieces with sharp corners, due to the safety hazards they pose. The types of home furnishings your loved one may need include:
- Sofa, chairs
- Nightstand
- Kitchenware (pots, pans, dishes, glasses)
- Bedding
- Lamp
- Framed photos, artwork
Clothing
Of course, don’t forget to pack your loved one’s clothes for when they move into their new senior living community home. Your loved one will most likely have to downsize in various ways when they move into assisted living, and that includes their wardrobe. Depending on the climate of your loved one’s location, you may want to advise your loved one to dress more lightly or warmly to prevent them from suffering from health issues. Thus, we recommend packing more versatile options so that they’ll have a piece of clothing for any season or occasion. For example:
- Comfortable loungewear
- Formal wear for special occasions
- Indoor and winter jackets
- Indoor shoes
- Sleepwear
- Slippers
- Socks
- Undergarments
- Walking shoes
Toiletries
Toiletries are also another important part of daily living, which is why you’ll need to include them in your packing list as well. Don’t forget to refer to your loved one’s senior living community’s list of services and amenities before making a grocery run for toiletries, because they may already provide certain items.
- Makeup
- Prescriptions and medications
- Razor
- Soap and shampoo
- Sunscreen
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
Still on the search for assisted living options for your loved one? Consider checking out our senior living community’s outstanding Assisted Living program!
