Initially, the decision for your loved one to move from their own private home to a private care home can be a lot to digest and process (whether they have made the decision or it has been made for them).

However, the best possible thing you can do for your loved one is to ensure that they are as prepared as possible, pack everything in a calm, logical and positive manner, and that you do everything you can to help them settle in.

Continue reading to learn how to do just that!

Sentimental & Practical Items First

It is highly likely that, as long as your loved one will be moving to a prestigious and accredited care home such as stpetersbury.com, you will already have had several meetings with the staff members regarding what your family member can bring. 

If not, then be sure to contact them as soon as you can to ascertain their own individual rules and regulations for what your loved one can bring into their new place of residence. Most importantly, ensure that every possession which your loved one is either sentimentally attached to or requires the most, is the last thing to be packed and the first thing to be unpacked. 

Be Aware of Usual Entry Practices

Although every care home is run entirely differently, it is certainly true to say that they will all undoubtedly have similar entry practices and procedures, and to ensure your loved one’s move is as seamless as possible, it would help to be aware of them.

Such usual entry practices include:

• Any electronic gadgets will probably be PAT tested upon entry
• If your loved one has existing bruises, staff may take photographic evidence for their own protection. 
• Alcohol is either allowed or not, so be sure to check 
• Find out how hospital charges work should this be applicable in the future

On the whole, care homes are usually incredibly flexible, as essentially, their top priority is always the safety, health and happiness of each and every resident in their care.

The Essentials

When actually packing your loved one’s belongings on the day of the move, the more you consider different potential situations (for instance, the activities, nightwear, and meals), the better prepared they will be and the quicker they will settle in. 

Everyday clothes are obviously a staple, as are extra pairs of underwear, socks and shoes. You should also remember dressing gowns, nightwear and your loved one’s own towels, the latter for a sense of familiarity necessary in the first few days of having moved. 

Also, pack your loved one’s books, especially ones you know to be a favorite and also those which they have not gotten around to reading, their radio and any hobby supplies your loved one regularly uses. 

When it comes to toiletries, it is strongly advisable to either bring the makes and brands your loved one is currently using, or else buy new products which are exactly the same shape of bottle, scent and size, again for familiarity reasons.