Moving Checklist for Senior Living: 60-Day Countdown

Target keyword: moving checklist senior living

How to Use This Checklist

Moving a parent into assisted living or a senior community is one of the most logistically complex transitions a family manages. Unlike a typical residential move, it involves medical records, legal documents, insurance transitions, facility onboarding paperwork, medication coordination, and the emotional weight of a permanent lifestyle change.

This 60-day countdown gives you every step in order. Work through it with the family member or professional caregiver taking point on coordination, and check off items as they’re completed.

60 Days Before Move-In

Facility Paperwork

• Request and review the residency agreement in full (review with an elder law attorney if needed)
• Confirm move-in date and any deposit requirements
• Ask for the facility’s room floor plan and dimensions
• Confirm what furniture is provided vs. what you bring
• Request a list of prohibited items (candles, appliances, certain furniture)
• Ask about pet policy if applicable
• Confirm parking for move-in day

Legal and Financial Documents

• Confirm power of attorney (healthcare and financial) is current and executed
• Confirm healthcare proxy and living will are on file
• Order extra certified copies of any legal documents (5–10 copies)
• Notify financial advisor or estate attorney of change of address
• Confirm who has authority to manage bill pay going forward

Insurance

• Contact Medicare/Medicaid to update address and confirm coverage continues
• Notify Medicare Advantage or supplement plan provider
• If transitioning to Medicaid, confirm enrollment status with caseworker
• Notify long-term care insurance carrier; file any required facility approval forms
• Review facility’s billing policies — what Medicare covers, what’s private pay

45 Days Before Move-In

Medical Records and Care Transition

• Request complete medical records from primary care physician (allow 2–4 weeks)
• Obtain a current medication list from the prescribing physician(s)
• Schedule pre-admission assessment with the facility’s Director of Nursing
• Get a TB test or chest X-ray if facility requires it (many do for new residents)
• Request records from specialists (cardiologist, neurologist, etc.) as applicable
• Confirm hearing aid, dental, and vision prescriptions are current
• Schedule any pending appointments before the move (dentist, eye doctor, specialist)

Financial Accounts

• Set up a small personal needs account if the facility offers one
• Set up automatic bill pay for recurring facility charges
• Notify Social Security of address change (ssa.gov or 800-772-1213)
• Notify pension or annuity providers of address change
• Notify all banks and financial institutions of address change

Begin Downsizing

• Walk through current home with floor plan in hand
• Identify furniture items that will move
• Begin sorting: Keep / Family / Donate / Trash
• Research and schedule donation pickups

30 Days Before Move-In

Utilities and Services (Current Home)

• Schedule electricity/gas shutoff (if home is closing) for the week after move
• Schedule cable/internet/phone disconnection
• Cancel local newspaper and delivery services
• Set up mail forwarding to family member or facility address (USPS.com — takes 3–5 business days to activate)
• Notify magazine and catalog subscriptions of address change

Facility Preparation

• Submit all required pre-admission paperwork to facility
• Submit physician’s orders required for care plan
• Label all clothing with name tags or fabric marker (many facilities require this)
• Label all personal items (TV remote, glasses case, clock, etc.)
• Confirm moving company or family logistics for move-in day
• Set up TV streaming or cable service if desired

Medications

• Fill 90-day supply of all current medications before move (easier than mid-month transition)
• Confirm facility pharmacy arrangements — many facilities have a preferred pharmacy
• Bring complete medication list including OTC supplements to pre-admission assessment

14 Days Before Move-In

Notifications

• Notify doctor’s offices of new address and facility contact information
• Update voter registration
• Notify any religious organizations or community groups
• Contact DMV if a driver’s license address update is needed
• Notify insurance companies (life, auto if applicable)
• Update contact information with any legal professionals (attorney, financial advisor)

Packing and Logistics

• Begin packing items destined for the new room
• Clearly label all boxes and bags with the room destination
• Take photos of current room, display case arrangements, and treasured wall arrangements
• Confirm move-in window with facility (many have specific hours and elevator reservations)
• Confirm who will be on-site for move-in day
• Plan for where your parent will be during move-in setup (visiting with family elsewhere is often less stressful than watching the chaos)

Move-In Week

Day Before Move

• Pack an “essentials bag” with 2 days of clothing, medications, phone charger, toiletries, favorite comfort item
• Confirm all helpers for move-in day have the address and parking plan
• Confirm move-in time with facility contact (get a name and cell number)

Move-In Day

• Set up room before your parent arrives if possible — bed made, photos hung, lamp on
• Get the medication list to the nursing station immediately on arrival
• Meet the charge nurse and day-shift aides
• Walk your parent through the room and identify where things are
• Locate the call button, bathroom, and dining room together
• End the day with a comfortable activity or meal — set a positive final note

Day After Move-In

• Call or visit to check in
• Report any setup issues to the facility
• Confirm medications were administered correctly (nursing staff handles, but verify)
• Leave a list of family contact information with the nursing station

First Month Follow-Up

• Attend the 30-day care conference (most facilities schedule this)
• Confirm Medicare/Medicaid billing is processing correctly
• Verify all mail is being redirected properly
• Check that home address is fully vacated and utilities are closed
• Check that facility has an updated emergency contact list
• Assess whether current level of care remains appropriate

Important Documents Checklist

Keep copies of these in a family binder and leave a set with the facility:

• Photo ID (driver’s license or state ID)
• Social Security card or number on file
• Medicare card
• Supplemental insurance cards
• Power of attorney (healthcare)
• Power of attorney (financial)
• Living will / advance directive
• POLST or MOLST form (Physician/Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
• List of medications, doses, and prescribing physicians
• List of allergies and adverse drug reactions
• Emergency contacts (family, doctors)
• Insurance benefit summaries

FAQ

How far in advance should we start the move-in process? Sixty days is the minimum for a smooth transition. Ninety days is better if the parent is moving from a home that will be sold or significantly cleared out. The paperwork and medical record gathering alone typically takes 3–4 weeks.

Can I set up the room before my parent arrives? Most facilities allow families to set up the room 1–2 days before the resident arrives with advance scheduling. This is highly recommended — walking into a personalized room rather than an empty institutional space significantly reduces move-in day stress.

What if we forget something? The first week is forgiving. Staff have seen every forgotten item. Most essentials (toiletries, basic clothing) can be purchased locally. The key items that matter most — medications, legal documents, the call-button understanding — are the ones to get right.

How do I handle the emotional weight of this day? Plan ahead. Designate one family member as the logistics lead and another as the emotional support person for your parent. Take breaks. End the day with something intentional — a shared meal, a prayer, a family memory shared together. The day is hard; having a closing ritual helps.

What happens to the home after the move? If it’s being sold, allow at least 2–4 weeks post-move before listing to finish sorting, cleaning, and staging. Rushing the home sale adds stress at an already difficult time.

Bottom Line

A 60-day timeline is enough to execute a smooth move-in if you start all the parallel tracks — paperwork, medical records, downsizing, logistics — at the same time. Use this checklist as your single source of truth, delegate tasks across family members, and give the emotional dimension the same time and attention as the logistics. A well-executed move-in sets the tone for everything that follows.