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Memory Care Move-In Checklist for Caregivers

June 30, 2020

Preparing your parent who has Alzheimer’s or dementia for the transition into a memory care community can be challenging. Even if you’ve researched communities, taken tours, and made sure they met all the memory care requirements, there’s still that one final step — moving in. You only want the best for your parent, and moving a parent to memory care is an important step in improving their quality of life.

You know how important it is for your parent to feel at home. But from moving furniture to buying new items, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the moving process. While the pressure of setting your parent up for success is real, you don’t have to go through it alone.

We’re here to bring some clarity and organization to when you’re moving a parent to memory care with a helpful checklist. . That way, you can have peace of mind during this process and know your parent is starting off their new life on the right foot.

Before You Move Your Loved One into Memory Care

Moving a parent to a memory care community can be much smoother if you and your family do some work upfront. The first step is making sure you and your family visit the community and apartment your loved one will call home. Memory care communities like the ones at Franciscan Ministries will work with you to find the best predetermined apartment layout that best meets your parent’s unique needs. .

Treat this transition, at the start, like any other time you’ve helped someone move. You’ll also want to make sure you have a moving process in place. Whether you use professional movers or handle it on your own with your family, having this set beforehand can save you from some major headaches.

Checklist for Moving Your Loved One to a Memory Care Community

1. Identify Their Most Important Possessions

When it comes to memory care, your parent has items that will help them stay connected to their unique past. Whether it’s a family heirloom or an item they’ve had for decades, you’ll want to make sure possessions like this are brought with them to their new home.

2. Set Your Floor Layout and Furniture Needs

Take a look at the senior apartment your parent will be staying in. Then compare it to their current furniture and identify any gaps. That will make it easy to buy any additional furniture that might be needed. It’s important for your parent to have their own furniture since it helps build the homelike environment that will help them reach a higher level of wellness.

The next step is looking at how you want your loved one’s new home to be laid out. For example, if your loved one has experienced falls in the past, you’ll want to talk with communities about which of their layouts would be most suitable.

3. Sort Your Loved One’s Belongings

Take the time to sort your parent’s belongings. An easy way to streamline this process is to sort them by “end destination.” Create “move,” “charity,” “family,” and “trash” piles. As you walk through your parent’s current home, place any items you find into one of those categories.

4. Create a Moving Plan/Schedule

It’s important for you to create a moving plan for your parent. Work with the memory care community to find a convenient moving date. Keep in mind the most popular time to move into memory care is on weekends and at the end of the month. Once you have a firm date, create a timeline to help everything stay on schedule.

5. Put Together a Move-In Box

To make this transition easier on your parent, put together a day one move-in box. It should include anything your parent needs right away. From medications to snacks, and important documents to a change of clothes, it should be the first box you unpack. It will help your parent feel more at home and add a level of comfort during this transition.

Discover How We Help Memory Care Residents Celebrate Life

At Franciscan Ministries, we believe everyone has a story to tell. Your parent has their own unique experiences and past that make them who they are. Our memory care communities focus on providing specialized support for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Our memory supportmission is to give your parent more opportunities to improve their quality of life. Every service and amenity is intended to help give residents a sense of purpose in their life. Plus, our memory care communities have a variety of floor plans to choose from.

Explore the list below to find a memory support community near you, or contact us today for more information. Even though your parent needs memory support, they can enjoy a life filled with meaningful connections.