Now What What to bring when moving a parent into assisted living: a checklist
Short answer: pack labeled clothing for every season, familiar bedding and photos, toiletries, glasses, hearing aids and dentures in labeled cases, a phone and charger, and copies of key papers: ID, insurance cards, the current medication list and care contacts. Leave valuables, large furniture and large amounts of cash at home, and get the facility's own move-in list first, because rules and room sizes vary.
Moving a parent into assisted living is part packing job, part paperwork job and part emotional day. Doing the organizing ahead of time leaves more room for the part that matters: helping your parent settle in.
Every facility has its own rules about furniture, appliances, medications and what's allowed in rooms. Use this as a starting list and check it against the facility's move-in list and staff answers.
Before you pack
- Ask the facility for its move-in list and rules, including what furniture is provided, room measurements and anything not allowed.
- Ask how medications are handled at move-in, and what they need from you and your parent's prescribers.
- Measure the room and decide which furniture fits before moving day.
- Involve your parent in choosing what comes along. Familiar things help a new room feel like home.
What to bring
Clothing and everyday items
- A week or more of comfortable clothing for each season, plus shoes, slippers with good soles, and a coat. Label everything with your parent's name if the facility does laundry.
- Toiletries and grooming items they use every day.
- Glasses, hearing aids and dentures with labeled cases, plus spare batteries and chargers.
- Mobility aids such as a walker or cane, labeled.
- A phone and charger, with family numbers saved and a printed list as backup.
Comfort and familiar things
- Their own bedding, a favorite blanket and pillows.
- Photos, a clock, a lamp and a few favorite objects that make the room theirs.
- Small furniture that fits the room, like a favorite chair or side table, if the facility allows it.
- Things to do: books, puzzles, music, hobby supplies.
Papers and lists
- Copies of photo ID and insurance cards (keep originals somewhere safe and note where).
- The current medication list, copied exactly from the labels, with allergies at the top. Give staff a copy.
- A care contacts sheet: doctors, pharmacy, family members and who to call first.
- Copies of any advance directive or power of attorney the facility asks for.
What not to bring
- Valuables and sentimental jewelry that would be hard to replace; keep them with family.
- Large amounts of cash.
- Furniture that crowds the room or blocks walking paths.
- Items many facilities restrict, such as space heaters, candles, extension cords or throw rugs. Check the facility's rules before packing these.
- Medications that aren't on the current list, without first asking staff how medications are handled.
On moving day and the first week
- Make an inventory of what you brought, with photos, so you can track items later.
- Set up the room before your parent arrives if you can, with familiar things where they can see them.
- Meet the staff who will help day to day, and share the contacts sheet and medication list.
- Plan regular visits or calls for the first weeks, and write down questions as they come up.
The medication list is the piece facilities, doctors and pharmacies ask for most. Start with the free printable below, and see the caring for aging parents checklist for what else to gather.
Common questions
What should I bring when moving a parent into assisted living?
Labeled clothing for every season, comfortable shoes, toiletries, glasses, hearing aids and dentures in labeled cases, a phone and charger, familiar bedding and photos, small furniture that fits the room, and copies of ID, insurance cards, the current medication list and a care contacts sheet. Check the facility's own move-in list too.
What should you not bring to assisted living?
Valuables and hard-to-replace jewelry, large amounts of cash, furniture that crowds the room, and items many facilities restrict such as space heaters, candles, extension cords and throw rugs. Ask staff before bringing medications that are not on the current list.
What papers does a parent need when moving into assisted living?
Facilities usually ask for copies of photo ID and insurance cards, the current medication list, care contacts, and copies of any advance directive or power of attorney. Ask the facility for its exact list, and keep originals somewhere safe.
Should I label my parent's clothes for assisted living?
Yes, if the facility does laundry, label every item with your parent's name. Label glasses, hearing aid and denture cases, and mobility aids too, and keep a photo inventory of what you brought.
How can I help a parent settle into assisted living?
Set up the room with familiar things before they arrive if you can, meet the staff who will help day to day, share the contacts sheet and medication list, and plan regular visits or calls for the first weeks.