{"id":665,"date":"2019-01-09T21:39:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-09T21:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/activeseniorsclub.co.uk\/?p=665"},"modified":"2019-01-09T21:39:36","modified_gmt":"2019-01-09T21:39:36","slug":"moving-into-a-care-home-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/activeseniorsclub.co.uk\/moving-into-a-care-home-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving Into A Care Home Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moving into a care home can be a distressing and anxiety-inducing experience. The secret to making the transition easier is lots of detailed planning.<\/p>\n

Have a strategy for everything from packing to settling in at the new home.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a handy moving into a care home checklist you can use to make sure everything goes smoothly. It\u2019s aimed at family members who are helping an elderly member of the family move into a care home.<\/p>\n

1. Packing<\/h2>\n

Find out what you are allowed to take<\/h3>\n

You probably already have a list of rules and policies for the care home. If not, call them up and ask for a document listing them all.<\/p>\n

Check what they allow one to take.<\/p>\n

Do they allow furniture? Adjustable bed? Riser recliner<\/a>? If they do, check whether there are special requirements regarding size, number of pieces, quality and fire retardant materials.<\/p>\n

What about electronics? Tablet<\/a>? Mobile phone<\/a>? If they do, they might insist on doing a quality check to make sure an appliance or gadget is not a fire hazard.<\/p>\n

Do they allow valuables such as jewellery and art pieces? If so, check if they\u2019ll be insured under the care home\u2019s policy or if you need to take out\/transfer your own insurance policy.<\/p>\n

Do they allow pets? If they do, what kind of pets and how are they looked after.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to check other items they require residents to bring with them, e.g. razor<\/a>, toothbrush, etc.<\/p>\n

Choosing what to take<\/h3>\n

Once you determine what you can take and what you can\u2019t, decide what is worth taking to the care home. You probably don\u2019t have a lot of space to fit everything.<\/p>\n

Start with the practical stuff they can\u2019t do without such as a massage chair<\/a> and medical equipment. Then add sentimental items that will help them adjust to the new place faster with less anxiety.<\/p>\n

These can include their dressing table, a particular piece of art, their jewellery collection or a certain blanket.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to also pack a family photo album, a few books or magazines if they love to read, their diary if they have one and anything you think they need to make the place feel more like home.<\/p>\n

Then there are of course the essentials like clothing and shoes.<\/p>\n

You may also have to be choosy about the clothing items to pack. Closet space will likely be limited.<\/p>\n

Once you know what you are going to carry, start packing. I suggest you write down a packing checklist to make sure you don\u2019t forget anything.<\/p>\n

What to do with the remaining stuff<\/h3>\n

There is the question of what you are going to do with all the other stuff you are not going to take. You have several options.<\/p>\n