Moving Into a Care Home: A Checklist (2026)

A care home move can feel rushed, especially if it follows a hospital stay or a health crisis. Getting the paperwork, packing and first days right won't remove all the emotion from it, but it will make the transition smoother for the person moving and for you.

What should you sort out before moving day?

Most of the stress around a care home move comes from loose ends, not the move itself. Deal with these in advance where you can.

• Lasting power of attorney (LPA): if the person moving can no longer manage their own affairs or make care decisions, check whether an LPA for property and finance and/or health and welfare is in place, or needs registering. See GOV.UK — Lasting power of attorney.
• The care contract: read it before signing. It should set out fees, what's included, notice periods, and what happens if the person's needs (or funding) change.
• Funding: confirm whether the placement is self-funded, council-funded following a financial assessment, or being assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare. Check current entitlement to Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit, and get independent guidance on care costs from MoneyHelper if the arrangements are unclear.
• The care needs assessment: if this hasn't happened yet, the local authority can carry one out — see GOV.UK — Apply for a care needs assessment.
• CQC rating and any recent inspection reports: check the home's current rating and read the detail behind it on CQC before the final decision, not after.
• GP and medication: arrange for the person's GP to be registered near the home if it's a distance from their old address, and get an up-to-date medication list from the current GP or pharmacist.
• Property and post: if the move is permanent, think about what happens to the person's home — redirecting post, informing utility providers, and telling the council for council tax purposes.

What should you pack for a care home move?

Label everything. In a shared setting, unlabelled clothes and belongings do go missing — it's one of the most common early frustrations families raise with staff.

Practical essentials

• Comfortable clothing, labelled with name (many homes can arrange this, or ask about laundry marking)
• Toiletries, and a written list of current medication, dosages and allergies
• Glasses, hearing aids (with spare batteries), and dentures, all labelled
• Walking aids or mobility equipment already in use
• Key documents: ID, NHS number, GP details, next of kin and emergency contacts, LPA documents if relevant
• A small amount of cash or a way to pay for personal items, hairdressing or trips, if the home doesn't handle this centrally

Personal touches

• Photos of family, pets or places that matter
• A favourite chair, cushion or blanket, if there's room
• Music, a radio, books, or materials for a hobby
• A bedside clock, a lamp, and anything that marks the room as theirs rather than a hotel room

How should you set up the room?

Do this together where possible, even if it's slow. Arranging the room is one of the few parts of the move the person can still control, and that matters.

• Put familiar objects where they'll be seen from the bed or favourite chair, not tucked in a drawer
• Keep the layout similar to their old bedroom if it helps with orientation, particularly for someone living with dementia
• Check call bells, lighting and any equipment work and are within reach
• Bring something with a distinct smell or texture from home — it can be more reassuring than photos for someone with memory difficulties

How do you help someone settle in during the first days?

Handing over good information is one of the most useful things a family can do. Staff who are new to someone can't read minds — they rely on you.

Write a one-page "about me"

Cover the basics: preferred name, daily routine, food likes and dislikes, sleep pattern, what upsets or reassures them, and any communication needs. For someone living with dementia, note their life history, work, family and interests — Alzheimer's Society and Dementia UK both have practical guidance on sharing this kind of information with care staff.

Visit, but let a routine form

Most families find frequent, short visits in the first week or two help, tapering off as the person settles into the home's rhythm. Constant visiting can occasionally slow settling in if it stops someone building relationships with staff and other residents — ask the home what they'd recommend for this particular person.

Expect ups and downs

Tearfulness, disorientation or asking to "go home" in the early weeks is common and doesn't necessarily mean the move is wrong. Keep in touch with the named staff member or key worker, and give it a fair length of time — usually a few weeks — before drawing conclusions.

What if someone doesn't settle well?

A poor first few days isn't unusual, but a poor first few weeks is worth acting on. Speak to the manager, ask for a care plan review, and be specific about what's not working — sleep, food, pain, loneliness or communication difficulties are the most common causes. If concerns aren't addressed, you can raise them formally with the home and, if needed, contact CQC, which regulates and inspects care homes in England. Age UK and Carers UK both offer support and advice lines for families navigating this.

This article covers England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own funding rules and regulators, so check the equivalent guidance for care homes in those nations.