5 Steps for a Smooth Move into a Care Home

Moving into a care home is a big change for everyone involved, but especially for older adults who have been living in the same routine for a long time.

While every situation is different, there are practical things you can do to make the process less stressful and help your loved one settle in more easily. This article provides five steps that can make the transition smoother for your loved one.

Step #1. Prepare Early and Gather Information

It goes without saying that the more you know before the move, the fewer surprises there will be. You can start by making a shortlist of care homes that can meet your loved one’s needs, checking out the online reviews and then arranging a visit. Seeing the environment, meeting staff and observing daily life can tell you more than any brochure or online testimony.

Ask questions about routines, activities, medical support and how staff help new residents settle in. Also, find out what items you can bring from home and whether you can set up the room before move-in day, so you can make a plan when packing.

It also helps to get practical matters organised early. This might include sorting out finances, collecting medical records and making sure any ongoing prescriptions are ready to transfer. Having these things in place can make the first few days feel calmer and more focused on settling in, rather than spending all your time dealing with paperwork or missing items.

Step #2. Involve Your Loved One in the Process

When moving into a care home, give your loved one a say in the decisions that affect them wherever you can. Families can do this by visiting care homes together, looking at photos of rooms and discussing decor or talking through what daily life might be like in each place. Even small choices, such as which personal items to bring or where to place them, can help your relative moving into a care home feel more in control.

Listening to any worries or questions your loved one might have is also important, because some concerns can be eased with practical solutions, like arranging regular visits or ensuring a favourite activity is available. At the same time, their other problems might just need to be acknowledged and talked through.

Keep in mind that being involved from the start can make the move feel less like something happening to your loved one and more like a change they’ve helped create. And it’s sense of participation can make settling in much easier.

Step #3. Make the New Space Feel Familiar

A care home room can feel a bit empty at first, which feels strange and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Bringing in personal touches can make a huge difference to how quickly it starts to feel like a space that belongs to them.

Think about the things they use or see every day at home, including a favourite blanket, family photos, a comfy chair or a well-loved mug, because familiar items are incredibly comforting, especially in the first few weeks when everything else is new.

If the care home allows it, set the room up before moving day so they arrive to something that already feels lived in. Even small details, like putting their clock on the bedside table or hanging up a favourite cardigan, can make the space feel more welcoming from the start.

Step #4. Build a Relationship with the Care Team

For a smoother move into a care home setting, it’s essential to get to know the care team early to make the move feel less daunting for everyone.

If you can, pop in before moving day to meet the staff who’ll be looking after your loved one. Share little details about their routines, likes, dislikes and quirks – the things that don’t always make it onto official paperwork but can make daily life more comfortable for them.

Keep the conversation going once they’ve moved in by having a quick check-in during visits or a phone call now and then. This helps you stay informed and gives staff the chance to raise anything they’ve noticed. It also shows that you want to work with them and not just hand things over.

When the relationship is strong, small issues can be sorted before they turn into big ones, and your loved one benefits from a consistent, more joined-up approach to their care.

Step #5. Offer Ongoing Support After the Move

The early weeks can be the hardest. So, your visits, calls and encouragement can make all the difference while they’re finding their feet.

Try to visit regularly at first, even if it’s just for a cup of tea or a short chat. Familiar faces help break up the adjustment period and give them something to look forward to. At the same time, provide them with space to join in with activities and start building connections with other residents and staff.

Keep in touch with the care team, especially in the first month. They can let you know how things are going and suggest ways to help your loved one settle in faster. Why not bring a favourite snack, a book or news from home? To make the new place feel more like home. Settling into a new care home takes time, but ongoing support means they don’t have to do it alone.

Helping the Change Go Smoothly

The first weeks after moving into a care home understandably feel unfamiliar, but these small, simple actions can make the transition easier. Preparing well, keeping personal touches close and staying connected all help to create a sense of stability, eventually becoming a place where your loved one feels supported, understood, happy and part of daily life.