Downsizing
What to Keep When Moving to Assisted Living
A practical packing guide for furniture, clothing, documents, medications, memory items, electronics, and comfort items.
Moving to assisted living usually means less space, but the goal is not to bring as little as possible. The goal is to bring the right items for comfort, identity, safety, and daily routines.
Keep first
- Identification, insurance cards, legal documents, and emergency contacts.
- Medications, glasses, hearing aids, chargers, mobility aids, and toiletries.
- Comfortable clothing, shoes, bedding, and familiar decor.
- Photos, memory items, books, hobby supplies, and religious items.
- Phone, tablet, address book, calendar, and labeled chargers.
Ask the community
Before packing, confirm furniture dimensions, appliance rules, medication storage, prohibited items, pet rules, laundry process, and whether rugs are allowed. Bring a floor plan to avoid unsafe crowding.
Use YouRetire tools
Use the retirement move checklist to create packing groups. Use the senior living comparison worksheet to keep each community's room rules and costs in one place.