Items to Bring When Moving to a Retirement Community

Once your family member has made the decision to move to a retirement community like Park Place of St. John, the next big step is deciding what to bring with and what to leave behind. This task can be overwhelming. How can you help your loved one condense a lifetime of memories into their new apartment? What will be provided for them, and what will they need to provide themselves? Here are some ideas to help:

​​​​Household Items

Bring the furniture and decorations that make their apartment their home! This includes personal furniture, like a bed, their favorite recliner, a television or two—whatever makes them feel comfortable. How much furniture they bring depends on their floor plan. No kitchen appliances are needed—their apartment will come furnished with all they’ll need. Besides their refrigerator, stove, and oven, all apartments also come with a microwave and dishwasher. However, they should bring their own dishes, glasses, silverware, bakeware, and serving platters.

They should also bring little items they will use regularly. These can be small items, such as pillows and bedding, an alarm clock, a flashlight, and other handy household items. Their unit will have a washer and dryer right in their apartment, so bring a laundry basket or hamper and laundry detergent. They’ll also want to bring larger items, such as wastebaskets, a telephone, and lamps. Housekeeping is provided every other week, so we suggest they bring basic house cleaning products for that in-between time as well.

Personal Care Products

They will want to have all their favorite toiletries and hygiene products that they’re used to using. They should bring their favorite shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving products—whatever they typically use. Don’t forget that they should bring any healthcare items as well: their vitamins, bandages, prescription medicine (in the original bottle), and over-the-counter medicine they want on hand.

Necessary Documents

Even if they have family members who hang on to these documents for them, they’ll want to bring at least a photocopy of these on the day they sign their lease: their social security card; any insurance cards, including private insurance, Medicare, prescription medication card, or other supplemental insurance card; and their driver’s license or state identification card.

Just remember—this is your family member’s home! They can personalize it in so many ways, and we want them to feel comfortable here. And if this list of items seems overwhelming, and you’re concerned they may forget something, don’t worry; that’s what our shopping trips are for!