What to bring to assisted living: a printable packing checklist
Your parent will need less than you think for the move to assisted living. Start with what makes the apartment feel like home, then add what's practical. Rules vary, so always check the community's own list first.
Free printable checklist (PDF)
The packing list by room with tick boxes, plus the first-night box, the items to check with the community first and labeling. Two US Letter pages, and it downloads directly, with no sign-up and no email address.
- Bedroom: a bed if the community doesn't provide one, two sets of bedding, a small dresser, a nightstand and a reading lamp.
- Clothes: one season of washable outfits, enough for the days between laundry returns plus 3 to 4 spares.
- Bathroom and kitchenette: toiletries, towels, a shower caddy, a favorite mug and a few dishes.
- Living area and comfort: the favorite chair, a small table, photos and a clock.
- Papers: copies of the forms the community asks for. Medications never go in a moving box.
- Check first: space heaters, extension cords, loose rugs, candles and bed rails are often restricted.
Start with the community's own list
Before you pack, ask the community in writing what it provides, such as a bed, blinds, towels or a small fridge. Ask what isn't allowed, whether you can hang pictures, whether clothes need labels and how often laundry is done.
A short email to the move-in coordinator could read: "Could you send me your written list of items residents can't have in their apartments? Please include anything that needs approval first, like heaters, rugs, small appliances or bed rails."
How much to bring for a small apartment
Measure the apartment and the furniture your parent wants to keep, then draw the furniture on the floor plan. Keep a clear path from the bed to the bathroom and to the door. ADA guidelines use 36 inches for accessible routes, which also leaves room for a walker. Choose the comfort items first, such as the chair, the reading lamp, their bedding and photos. The National Institute on Aging advises keeping furniture, especially low coffee tables, out of the way when walking.
For clothes, count from the laundry schedule. Pack enough for the days between laundry returns, plus 3 to 4 spare outfits. If laundry goes out weekly and comes back two days later, that's about a dozen outfits. Pack the current season only, and keep other seasons in labeled bins at a family member's home.
Keep everyday things within easy reach. The 2010 ADA Standards use 15 to 48 inches above the floor as the forward reach range. For more help, see what furniture to bring and how to measure the apartment.
The packing list, room by room
The same lists are in the printable checklist. Cross off anything the community provides.
Bedroom
- A bed with their own mattress, if the community allows it and doesn't provide one.
- Two sets of their own bedding that fit the bed.
- A favorite blanket or pillow.
- A small dresser and a nightstand with a drawer.
- A reading lamp, placed where it was at home.
- A clock with large numbers, and nightlights for the path to the bathroom.
- A laundry bag or hamper, if the community doesn't provide one.
Clothes
- Everyday outfits for the current season.
- Underwear and socks, the same number plus a few.
- Two or three cardigans or fleeces, since the building can feel warm or cool.
- Pajamas, a robe and slippers with a closed back and a non-slip sole.
- One or two pairs of shoes that are easy to put on and stay on.
- One or two outfits for events and church.
- A coat, hat and gloves for the season.
Leave dry clean only and hand wash items with family, since they don't suit a weekly laundry pickup. The National Institute on Aging's dressing tips for people with Alzheimer's include elastic waistbands, large zipper pulls instead of buttons, and slip-on shoes that won't slide off. More is in what clothes to pack for assisted living.
Bathroom
- Toiletries in their usual brands.
- Towels and washcloths (ask whether the community provides them).
- A shower caddy and a nightlight.
Grab bars, shower seats and lighting are covered in setting up the bathroom.
Kitchenette
Ask what's built in and which appliances are allowed. The Family Caregiver Alliance says kitchen items should be greatly reduced when the community serves meals.
- A favorite mug, 2 plates, 2 bowls and 3 to 4 glasses.
- A small set of forks, knives and spoons, plus a can opener.
- Dish soap, a sponge, a dish towel and a small drying rack.
- Favorite tea or coffee, a few snacks and drinks for visitors.
- A coffee maker or electric kettle, only if the community allows it.
Plug a small fridge straight into a wall outlet. The U.S. Fire Administration says never to use an extension cord with a major appliance. More is in setting up a small kitchenette.
Living area
- The favorite chair, ideally one that's easy to get out of.
- A small table and one or two chairs for visitors.
- A small TV and remote, if the community doesn't provide one.
- Books, puzzles, music or a hobby kit, and a small plant if allowed.
- Hooks or picture strips that the community allows.
Paperwork and medical
Ask the community for its exact list. It often includes admission forms from the doctor, a medication list, insurance cards and emergency contacts.
- Copies of the forms the community asks for.
- A phone, chargers and a list of important numbers in large print.
- Glasses, hearing aids and spare batteries.
- A walker or cane, with a name label on the frame.
Keep the originals of legal documents with the family member who manages them. Never pack medications in a moving box. Hand them over exactly the way the community asks. If your parent uses medical oxygen, ask the supplier to set up service at the new address.
Comfort and memory items
- Framed photos, placed where your parent can see them from the bed and the chair.
- A calendar with large numbers.
- Everyday jewelry and a small box that locks. Valuable pieces can stay with family.
- One or two familiar kitchen pieces, like the mug from a trip.
- A throw in the colors of a favorite rug that has to stay home.
Before you pack, take a photo of how their bedroom is set up at home. A familiar layout helps the first nights feel less strange. See also packing sentimental items.
Checklists for the whole move
Parent Move Plan includes move-in day and first-week checklists and a 60-day plan with real dates. The Complete plan adds a floor plan grid and a furniture fit calculator for the new apartment.
Get your first 3 days freeThe first-night box
Pack one box that rides with you in the car. The Family Caregiver Alliance calls these "open first" boxes, for setting up the bed and the bathroom right away.
- Bedding and pajamas.
- Toiletries and a towel.
- Glasses, hearing aids and chargers.
- The phone and its charger.
- The TV remote and a few photos.
- A nightlight.
- Medication instructions from the community.
Add the favorite mug, coffee or tea and a few snacks for the first morning. More is in the first night in assisted living.
What communities often don't allow
It varies by community and by state, so the community's written list is the one that counts. These items often need approval or stay home:
- Space heaters. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that portable heaters were 3% of home heating fires in 2017 to 2019, but 41% of those in which someone died.
- Extension cords and power strips, unless the community approves a type.
- Candles, oil lamps and incense.
- Throw rugs and small area rugs. The National Institute on Aging's fall prevention advice is not to use them.
- Portable bed rails. The FDA warns that they can trap people, with the highest risk for people with confusion, dementia, Parkinson's disease or stroke.
- Toasters, hot plates and kettles, which some communities allow and some don't.
- Valuable jewelry, heirlooms, cash and original papers.
The full list, with what to bring instead, is in what not to bring to assisted living.
Labeling clothes and belongings
Clothes are usually washed with other residents' clothes, so a name in each item is what brings it back. Ask first whether the community labels clothes itself, and which format it wants.
- Iron-on or stick-on labels for most clothes, and sew-in labels for favorites.
- A permanent laundry marker for socks and underwear.
- The same spot every time, such as the care tag on shirts and the inside waistband on pants.
- Names on glasses cases, hearing aid chargers, the walker or cane and the TV remote.
Take a photo of each item as you label it. The photos become an inventory you can show staff if something goes missing. Details are in labeling clothes for assisted living.
Questions
Is there a free assisted living packing checklist PDF?
Yes. The printable packing checklist on this page is a free two-page PDF in US Letter size. It lists what to bring room by room, the first-night box, the items to check with the community first and a labeling list. It downloads directly, with no sign-up and no email address.
What should be on an assisted living packing checklist?
Furniture that fits the floor plan, one season of washable clothes, bathroom basics, a few kitchenette items, the papers the community asks for, and comfort items like photos and a favorite blanket. Add a first-night box that rides in the car, and a list of items to check with the community before you pack.
What furniture should you bring to assisted living?
Usually a bed (if the community doesn't provide one), a favorite chair, a small dresser, a nightstand, a small table and a lamp. Measure the apartment and the furniture first, and leave a clear path from bed to bathroom.
How many clothes should you bring to assisted living?
Count from the laundry schedule. Take the days between laundry returns and add 3 to 4 spare outfits. If laundry goes out weekly and comes back two days later, that is about a dozen outfits. Pack the current season only, label everything if the community asks, and bring other seasons later.
What is not allowed in assisted living?
It varies by community and state. Items often restricted include space heaters, extension cords, loose rugs, candles, portable bed rails and certain appliances. Ask the community for its written list before you pack.
What should go in the first-night box?
Bedding, pajamas, toiletries, glasses and hearing aids with chargers, phone and charger, the TV remote, a few photos, a nightlight, and any medication instructions the community gave you. Carry it in the car with you rather than on the moving truck.
Related: the move-in day checklist and the full 60-day moving checklist. To see packing and every other task on real dates, counted back from move-in day, build your plan in 2 minutes.
Sources
- U.S. Access Board, ADA Standards 403.5.1 (clear width of walking surfaces, 36 inches): access-board.gov/ada
- U.S. Access Board, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (forward reach range, 15 to 48 inches): access-board.gov/ada
- National Institute on Aging, Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room: nia.nih.gov
- National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's Caregiving: Bathing, Dressing, and Grooming: nia.nih.gov
- Family Caregiver Alliance, Downsizing a Home: A Checklist for Caregivers: caregiver.org
- U.S. Fire Administration, Heating Fire Safety: usfa.fema.gov
- U.S. Fire Administration, Appliance and Electrical Fire Safety: usfa.fema.gov
- FDA, Recommendations for Consumers and Caregivers about Adult Portable Bed Rails: fda.gov
This guide is general information for organizing a move. It is not legal, financial or medical advice. Rules differ between communities and states.