Moving into an assisted living apartment is a major change, and deciding what to bring is an important part of making the transition easier. It's common to downsize your belongings before you make the move to assisted living due to the often smaller square footage of your new apartment. That means you might have to be selective about what goes along with you. There are also items that might be prohibited or that are better left somewhere else.
You'll want to take your personal items, including your clothing and toiletries. The move is a good time to go through your closets and dressers to determine if you want to keep your full wardrobe. You might decide to donate some of your clothing items to create a more streamlined collection.
You'll also need to bring your own toiletries. This allows you to continue using the brands you're familiar with and that work well for you.
One of the reasons many people choose assisted living communities under the Bethesda Senior Living Communities umbrella is to receive assistance with daily care needs. If you currently use assistive devices, you'll want to bring those items with you. Medical devices are often expensive and can vary significantly, so keeping the models that work well for you is beneficial.
Medication management is often a service provided in assisted living communities. Communicating with your new community about how they handle medications allows you to plan for this aspect, but you'll likely want to bring your remaining prescriptions with you when you move.
Even if a bed is provided in your new apartment, you may need to provide the bedding yourself. Bringing your current bedding with you may help you feel more at home. Having comfortable bedding can also improve your sleep quality, which often decreases for seniors. You might bring a few extra blankets and sets of sheets, but avoid bringing too much bedding as you could face storage issues.
While most assisted living apartments come furnished, the pieces included are often basic. You may want to bring additional furniture items to round out your living space. Smaller pieces typically fit better and allow you to maintain wide walkways in your apartment. It's helpful to review the dimensions of your new home to make sure the items will fit.
Keeping sentimental items in your new home can help make the transition easier. Photos and mementos from your life are among the items you might bring. You can also pack your Bible and other religious items that allow you to maintain your prayer and worship activities in your new home.
It's also common for residents to bring various electronics along with them to assisted living. This might include a computer, cell phone, tablet and other devices you use regularly. These items can help you stay connected to family and friends. Many apps can also be helpful for tracking medication, sharing your location and staying mentally engaged.
Keeping your hobbies alive after moving to assisted living can help ease the transition and keep you engaged. If you have an active hobby, bring along the materials and gear you need to continue doing it. There may be some exceptions. For example, if you have your own pottery kiln, you probably won't be able to take that to assisted living. However, you might be able to bring some items and modify your hobbies as needed. For example, you could find a local pottery studio where you can fire your creations, but you might paint and glaze them at home.
There are some things that aren't a good fit for an assisted living community. Due to the smaller size of most senior living accommodations, larger items and extra furniture often won't fit. Other items are safety hazards. Items you should skip include:
The best way to know what you should bring is to get information directly from the community. Every senior living community is a little different when it comes to what's provided, and there may be different restrictions on what is and isn't allowed. A visit to the community to see your floor plan gives you a better idea of how much room you'll have, which can help you decide what to take.
