In order to pack the right items for your loved one who is scheduled to move into a memory care community, first confirm the community’s move-in policies, what it provides, and what your loved one’s everyday routines will look like. Then pack familiar, useful belongings that will fit in your loved one’s room, and only items that can be safely stored, supervised, or used. Label clothing and personal items, leave valuables and restricted items at home, and adjust the room after your loved one has had time to settle in.
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Before you start packing, confirm with the memory care community what items it provides, what residents are permitted to bring, and those the community can safely store. Ask what items a senior can’t bring. This typically includes sharp objects such as scissors or a letter opener. Also ask about items that might support your loved one’s participation in specific therapies or activities.
Because changes in routine and environment can be especially difficult for seniors who have dementia, consider boxing items or packing framed photos while your loved one is asleep or out with friends to reduce the emotional impact.
To avoid bringing too much, too little, or items that are not allowed, confirm what the memory care will provide. “Each memory care community is different, but the majority will not provide furnishings,” says Alicia Jenkins, Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom.
Before you start packing confirm the following:
As you pack, choose items that are familiar to your loved one, have positive associations, provide comfort and support in their daily routines, and are approved by the memory care community.
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If possible, check with your loved one about belongings that are especially meaningful to them to assist your decision-making about packing. Consider the following categories of items.
Decorate your loved one’s new room in memory care as much as you can before move-in day, so they can feel right at home with items they recognize and enjoy upon arrival.
A homelike space might include:
“Some families will bring a few fold-up chairs and store them in the closet for when visitors come,” says Jenkins.
Pack familiar items that connect your loved one to activities they enjoy, such as simple puzzles or favorite music, once you’ve confirmed that the items can be safely stored and incorporated into their routines.
Also include items such as a photo album that can support your loved one in activities often provided in memory care such as reminiscence therapy. These items might include:
Pack clothing your loved one wears at home, including sleepwear. Consider purchasing adaptive clothing with simple fastenings for seniors who have dementia to make dressing easier and include clothing that can be easily laundered. For example:
Clearly mark your loved one’s name on their clothing. Printed clothing tags can be purchased online, says Jenkins. Some communities do “batch laundry” which makes labeling clothing especially important, she adds.
Confirm the community’s laundry schedule to understand how much to pack. Make a list or take photos of all that your loved one brings into the memory care community to keep track of it all.
Leave behind any items that are potentially unsafe for your loved one, as well as anything that cannot be easily stored or is not permitted by the memory care community.
“Remember, you’re downsizing your loved one’s home into a single room,” says Jenkins. However, she adds, “the intention of memory care communities is that residents will not be in their rooms most of the day but engaged in activities.”
Don’t bring throw rugs, extra décor, or large furnishings to your loved one’s room in a memory care community. Crowded pathways and clutter can create safety hazards, particularly for people with limited mobility.
Downsizing a loved one’s belongings as they move into memory care can create more space for the items that truly matter. Follow these tips from the National Association of Specialty & Senior Move Managers and other senior moving experts.[01]
Once you determine what the community will provide, such as furniture, meals, laundry and housekeeping supplies, and activity supplies, you can make plans to donate or sell items that your loved one will no longer need.
Do pack the most meaningful items for your loved one, but for items that can’t be brought to a memory care community, consider:
A senior move manager can help you organize the downsizing process, as well as coordinate relocation logistics, donations, and estate or yard sales.
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Breaking down the tasks into phases can simplify the process. Here’s a general schedule to follow.
For families who are looking for a memory care community or another senior living option for their loved one, A Place for Mom’s experienced Senior Living Advisors can help compare local options. They can advise you on how to find a senior move manager, how to make the transition to memory care as easy as possible, and how to communicate with a loved one during the move process. These services are free to you.
Not necessarily. Policies vary by community. Ask whether the community provides a bed, furniture, linens, or towels, so be prepared to bring these. Some items, such as a hospital bed, may be rented from a medical supply company.
Report the lost item to staff and provide a detailed description. Ask about the community’s process for locating lost belongings and notifying you of the outcome.
National Association of Specialty and Senior Move Managers.(n.d.) It’s So Much More Than Moving: Your Guide to Stress-Free Rightsizing & Relocation
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