What to Bring to Assisted Living: A Complete Packing Checklist

Quick answer: What to bring to assisted living includes about a week to 10 days of comfortable, labeled clothing, familiar bedding and a favorite chair, photos and keepsakes, toiletries, mobility aids, a current medication list, and key documents. Leave valuables, large furniture and unsafe items at home. Ask the community or board and care home what it provides before you pack.

Packing for a move to assisted living or a board and care home is different from any other move. Space is limited, comfort matters enormously, and some items are restricted for safety. Knowing what to bring to assisted living helps your parent feel at home faster and avoids returning trips for forgotten essentials. This guide offers a complete packing checklist, what to leave behind, tips for memory care, and how to label and organize everything.

What should you ask the care home before packing?

• What furniture is provided, such as a bed, dresser, nightstand or chair?
• Are bedding and towels provided?
• What are the room dimensions?
• Is there a closet, and how big is it?
• Are space heaters, extension cords, candles or small appliances allowed?
• Is laundry included, and is clothing washed together?
• Are incontinence products supplied?
• Is a TV or phone line provided?

Many board and care homes in San Diego provide furnished rooms, while assisted living in San Diego apartments are often unfurnished.

What clothing should you pack?

• Seven to 10 days of everyday outfits, easy to put on, such as elastic-waist pants and front-opening tops
• Undergarments and socks for at least a week
• Pajamas and a robe
• Nonslip shoes and slippers that fit well
• A sweater or light jacket, since indoor temperatures vary
• One or two nicer outfits for celebrations or religious services
• Seasonal items, rotated by family as weather changes

Pack fewer, practical items. Overfilled closets make it harder for caregivers and residents to find clothes.

What furniture and comfort items should you bring?

• A favorite recliner or armchair
• Familiar bedding, quilt or throw blanket
• A small dresser or nightstand, if not provided
• A lamp with an easy switch
• Framed photos and artwork
• A clock and calendar with large numbers
• A small TV or radio, and favorite music
• Plants, if allowed

Arranging the room to resemble home helps residents feel settled.

What personal care items should you pack?

• Toothbrush, toothpaste and denture supplies
• Hairbrush, comb and grooming items
• Electric razor
• Lotion, deodorant and favorite toiletries
• Glasses, hearing aids, chargers and spare batteries
• Incontinence products, if not provided

What medical items and documents should you bring?

• A current medication list, plus medications if the home has not arranged pharmacy delivery
• Mobility aids, such as a walker, cane or wheelchair
• Medical equipment, such as a CPAP machine or oxygen supplies
• Insurance cards and photo ID
• Copies of the power of attorney and advance health care directive
• POLST form, if your parent has one
• Doctor contacts and recent medical records

California care homes also require admission paperwork, such as a physician’s report and a tuberculosis test. Ask what the home needs before moving day.

What should you pack for memory care?

• Clothing that is simple and easy to put on
• Familiar items that bring comfort, such as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal
• A memory box or photo album with labeled photos
• Music from your parent’s younger years
• Fewer items overall, to reduce confusion

Avoid valuables and items that could cause distress if misplaced. See memory care facilities in San Diego and Mom won’t recognize her new memory care community for adjustment tips.

What should you leave at home?

• Expensive jewelry and large amounts of cash
• Irreplaceable heirlooms
• Large furniture that blocks walkways
• Throw rugs, which are tripping hazards
• Candles, space heaters and extension cords, unless allowed
• Medications not prescribed or approved by the home
• Car keys, if your parent no longer drives

Our senior safety guide covers more home safety risks.

How should you label belongings?

• Label clothing with iron-on or stick-on name labels
• Mark glasses, hearing aids and dentures, or their cases
• Label electronics, chargers and mobility aids
• Photograph valuable items you do bring
• Keep an inventory list, and give a copy to the home

Frequently asked questions

What should I bring to assisted living? Clothing for about a week, familiar bedding and furniture, photos, toiletries, mobility aids, medications or a medication list, and documents.

What should I not bring to assisted living? Valuables, large furniture, throw rugs, candles, space heaters and unapproved medications.

Does assisted living provide furniture? It varies. Many board and care homes provide furnished rooms; many assisted living apartments do not.

How much clothing should I pack? About seven to 10 days of easy-to-wear outfits, plus seasonal items rotated by family.

Should clothing be labeled in assisted living? Yes. Labels help prevent lost items, especially with shared laundry.

What should I pack for memory care? Simple clothing, comforting familiar items, labeled photos and music, and fewer items overall.

Conclusion: what to bring to assisted living

Knowing what to bring to assisted living helps your parent settle in faster. Ask the home what it provides, pack practical labeled clothing, bring familiar comforts and photos, include medical items and documents, and leave valuables and hazards at home. A free senior care assessment can help you find the right home before packing begins.