Moving to Assisted Living

A 2025 Caring study revealed that a top five cause of anxiety for American seniors over the age of 65 is knowing where to live in advanced age. As many as two-thirds of these older adults will experience mental and/or physical changes that require them to receive long-term care. Seniors who need some daily assistance but do not have significant ongoing medical needs may benefit from moving to assisted living. 
There are more than 30,000 assisted living communities in the United States that provide help with the activities of daily living to almost 1.2 million seniors. This guide can help seniors and their families determine if assisted living is right for them, consider the right factors to find their ideal facility, and make moving to assisted living as smooth as possible.

Before moving to assisted living, your family members will need an opportunity to discuss the transition to provide details about their long-term care preferences. You will also need to tackle logistics like determining your loved one's financial limitations and medical needs. 

Make sure your loved one is fully prepared for the move by terminating services they will no longer need, determining the items they will bring, and downsizing their overall belongings as appropriate for their new space.

Although you may feel anxiety around practical matters, the transition will go more smoothly if you discuss your loved one's needs, fears, and hopes. The move can be challenging, and it may take time to convince them that moving to assisted living is in their best interest. A discussion can also make it less likely that they will resist or refuse to relocate. 

Once you've acknowledged and (hopefully) addressed any concerns about moving, have a conversation centered around the benefits of assisted living — like living in a community and having easy access to new activities and events. Helping your loved one see moving to assisted living as a positive transition rather than a defeat can help you start strong.

You can begin the conversation about transitioning to assisted living in several ways. Consider discussing your loved one's relocation to an assisted living community as a natural progression in life. You can compare it to other milestones, such as purchasing a home or becoming a grandparent. 

Remember to be patient, practice empathy and understanding, and wait for their opinions about long-term care decisions. Emphasize that you are hoping to help them make decisions that will ensure their long-term health and well-being. 

Any senior who plans to move should complete several important pre- and post-move steps. A checklist can be helpful whether they relocate to an independent living community or an assisted living facility. 

When relocating to a senior living community, your loved one should consider other factors beyond the move itself. Determine the type of senior living facility they will be relocating to based on financial factors and medical needs, in addition to personal preferences. Then, they will need to choose the facility that offers the best fit.

Consider the following steps before moving to assisted living:

• Assess Their Finances: Organizing your loved one's finances will help determine the care they can afford. Communities often require documentation of income and assets to ensure residents can cover the long-term cost of services.  
• Talk to Doctors: If your loved one has a significant health concern, the ideal community may be a medical and personal decision. A family physician or geriatrician can perform an evaluation and make a facility recommendation. 
• Shop Around: Search Caring.com's senior directory for assisted living communities, memory care facilities, and nursing homes near you. Then, tour communities together and talk to residents, ask staff questions, and take notes of your loved one's overall impressions. 
• Bring in a Pro: If you're feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a geriatric care manager to assess your loved one's care needs, locate senior communities, and assist with moving to assisted living. Senior move managers can also help older adults relocate.   
• Delay Selling the Home: An older adult may not want to sell their family home while transitioning to assisted living. In the case where a community requires your loved one to buy an apartment or condominium, mortgage brokers can help with a "bridge loan" to cover the down payment until their house is sold.  
• Read the Fine Print: Read long contracts thoroughly before signing them to understand care terms and/or limitations. If you have questions or concerns, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys can help you find a lawyer to go over your paperwork. 

Make sure that you don't leave any important bills or financial matters unresolved before moving a family member into assisted living. Cancel any monthly services that will no longer be needed, such as utilities and internet. 

If they plan to rent or sell the family home, they should finalize any associated paperwork before moving. Consult the following assisted living move-in checklist for further steps to take before (and after) your loved one's relocation to assisted living.

For many seniors, a move from a family home to an assisted living community will require them to downsize. You may need to help your loved one by taking an inventory of their belongings and determining what to take with them. 

For example, mementos may be important for them to have a sense of comfort. However, there may not be sufficient room for large furniture, which may hinder their mobility in their new living space. 

It may be easier to get rid of belongings that will travel to assisted living with your loved one early on. Downsizing gives you more space to work in and reduces clutter. 

Consider selling, donating, or gifting items to friends, family, or charities. An estate sale service may also help with additional tasks such as appraisals and after-sale cleaning. Once you have eliminated items that will not be taken to assisted living, it will be easier to pack up the remaining belongings.

Leave small collectibles, rugs, and chairs with wheels off your assisted living checklist due to space limitations or safety concerns. Include other items, such as a few treasured mementos and practical daily essentials, on your assisted living move-in checklist.

Creating a "moving to assisted living checklist" may help ensure that your loved one's belongings are organized, packed, and moved. Further, an assisted living move-in checklist can help you determine where to place different items in your loved one's new accommodations. 

You can download our comprehensive prep and packing assisted moving list  or you can skim the packing checklist below.

Here is a general packing list of necessities by category and items by room to assist you with the planning process:

 

Personal items

Pajamas

Robe

Underwear

Clothes for cold and warm weather

Socks

Hangers

Shoes and non-skid slippers

Medications

Eyeglasses or hearing aids

Walker, cane, or wheelchair

 

Cleaning supplies
Dish soap

Washing and drying towels

Window cleaner

Bathroom cleaner

Laundry basket

Laundry detergent

Dusting cloths

 

Entertainment

Television

Music system

Desktop, laptop, or tablet

Tool kit

Books or magazines

Hobby supplies

 

Bedroom

Bed

A nightstand

Dressers

Pillows

Bedding

 

Living Room

Furniture with seating

Small tables

Wall decor

Curtains

Lamps

Clock

Blanket or throw

 

Kitchen

Small table

Microwave

Mini fridge

Dishes and glasses

Silverware

Cooking utensils

Pots and pans

Coffemaker and kettle

Trash can

 

Bathroom

Towels and facecloths

Wastebasket

Toiletries

Hairdryer

You might be tempted to bring certain items that are better left behind. Make sure your moving to assisted living checklist does not include the following:

 

• Lots of collectibles (surface space will be limited)
• Throw rugs or area rugs (they're a tripping hazard)
• Chairs on wheels
• Candles or a space heater (potential fire risk)
• Very valuable items
• Multiples of most things
• Large furniture
• Items that are stored away because they are rarely used

Settling into a new living community can be overwhelming — it's like the first day of high school or college all over again. Your loved one will want to get to know their new living space, meet new people, and make a strong first impression. Still, they might feel homesick about the house and neighborhood they've left behind.

Fully adjusting to life in an assisted living community takes time. The time it takes can depend on various factors. Talk to your loved one about their feelings surrounding the move. Visit frequently and ask other family members to stop by — doing so may be beneficial to a loved one who recently moved into an assisted living facility.

When making decisions about moving to assisted living, you and your loved one(s) should consider many factors. Key considerations include your loved one's medical needs, finances, and personal preferences. Using a checklist for moving to assisted living can help you plan for what to take along and leave behind. For more tips, check out our assisted living resource hub.

• Assisted living facts and figures. (2025). American Health Care Association
• Find a lawyer. (2025). National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
• Senior mental health survey. Caring.com (2025)