Moving to Assisted Living Checklist: Where to Start, What to Keep, and Everything in Between

Breaking down your tasks into phases of the move will help make them manageable while also giving you time to address your loved one’s emotions around moving out of their home. This may be especially true if you’re moving a loved one who has dementia and who may need extra reassurance during the transition.

To keep track of all the tasks, consider writing them down in a notebook or on your phone so you can check them off as they’re completed. Following are tasks to do in the weeks leading up to and after the move to assisted living.

These tasks should be done a few weeks before your senior loved one’s scheduled move.

Hire movers or a senior move manager

The first step is to hire a reputable moving company.

• Make a short list of licensed insured movers in your area, including ones recommended by friends or family.
• Get cost estimates and confirm availability from each company.
• Confirm that they can move heavy items such as a hospital bed.
• Hire the company of choice.

Another option is to hire a senior move manager, sometimes called a relocation specialist. This is a professional who will help your loved one downsize by donating items or organizing an estate sale, coordinate the move, and provide emotional support for the senior as they prepare for the move. Senior move managers also have useful professional connections with cleaners, appraisers, and real estate agents.

Complete paperwork and administrative tasks

Confirm with the senior community that they have received all the required pre-move paperwork. Also do the following:

• Share your loved one’s new address at the post office, and with Social Security Administration, financial institutions, friends, and family members.
• Cancel accounts with utilities, internet, and TV services.
• Transfer prescriptions to a new pharmacy if necessary and prepare for a potential switch to a new doctor by gathering all your loved one’s health documentation.

Is assisted living the right fit?

Plan the new room and start downsizing

Ask the community for a copy of the layout of your loved one’s apartment or room in the community, then begin the following tasks:

• Consider a furniture arrangement that allows for comfortable navigation. The room should be safe for your loved one to move around easily without danger of falling.
• Ask the community about items it provides, such as a TV in the room, linens and bedding. Ask about items it prohibits, such as an oversized bed.
• List items to bring into the new space that will comfortably fit. This will help determine the extent of downsizing that will be necessary.
• Decide how you want to downsize, such as donating or selling furniture and other items, or giving them to family members. Begin the process in collaboration with your loved one to avoid hurt feelings or conflicts and to respect their wishes in this potentially emotional time.

Assisted living questions? Get expert help

As time draws closer to the move, start work on the following tasks.

Update addresses and prescriptions

Alert all necessary parties of your loved one’s move and new address.

• Update credit cards, banks, insurance, and doctors’ offices with their new address.
• Identify whether prescriptions will be picked up or delivered, and if they need to be picked up, the location.

Create final list of what to bring to the assisted living

Look over the list with your loved one to make sure it aligns with their wishes.

• Put sticky notes or labels on items to bring to the senior community so you can easily identify what will be part of the move.
• Complete downsizing efforts. Items to sell or donate might include oversized furniture, throw rugs, knickknacks, and seldom-worn clothing and jewelry.

Begin packing

Gather and pack the following:

• Legal documents and financial paperwork but keep these in a folder or large envelope that’s easily accessible.
• Photos and keepsakes. Most can be packed, but if seeing them helps your loved one feel less anxious or confused, leave some out.
• Clothing and accessories. Pack all but the clothing your loved one will need in the days before the move.
• Décor, books, puzzles, hobby supplies. Leave out any favorite items that your loved one can use before the move. If knitting is a favorite hobby, keep out needles and their current project.

Pack last items

These items should be packed close to move-in day:

• Toiletries and medications. Leave out a toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb, and essential medications and vitamins. Keep them in an easy-to-access bag.
• Health and beauty items. As with toiletries, items like skin creams, nail tools, and makeup, may be set aside until the move occurs.
• Cleaning supplies. Many communities provide cleaning supplies, but your loved one might want to bring their own soaps and toilet cleaner.
• Appliances and housewares. Your loved one may want to bring kitchen appliances such as a blender.
• Furniture. A bed, a few chairs, and a kitchen table will most likely be used right up until the move.
• Televisions and other electronics. If your loved one’s new room does not come with a television, this as well as any other electronics should be among the last to pack.

Confirm move-in logistics with the community

Contact your loved one’s senior community to confirm the move-in details, such as the timing and who to contact if problems or questions arise.

Move-in day is the time to keep essential items close, help your loved one get settled, and confirm any final details with the community.

Keep essential items with you

Keep with you the folder or envelope of legal documents and paperwork for the senior community, your loved one’s toiletries, and other items they may need immediately in their new space.

Set up the room and confirm final details

Once everything has been moved into your loved one’s room or apartment, help set it up the way they want, and help with tasks such as making the bed or placing family photos on a table. Confirm any final details with the senior community.

When you visit your loved one, notice how they seem to be adjusting, whether they’re comfortable with the staff, and how well they’re getting along with other residents. If you feel they need some extra help or encouragement, let the staff know.

In between visits, stay in touch with texts, photos, and calls, and also do the following to help your loved one adjust:

• Coordinate visits with other family members and close friends. Consider using a family calendar through Google or another platform that allows several people to edit it and plan visits after their move.
• Bring personal items to make their new home feel like it’s theirs.
• Respect their space as they adjust. Your loved one may need you close by and want you to visit often at first, but they may also need some space and want to spend time with new friends.