Guide

Moving a parent into memory care, and making the room feel like theirs

A move is hard on anyone living with dementia. Familiar things in familiar places help. Here is how families can plan the room and the day.

Why the room matters so much

For someone living with dementia, a new place can feel confusing and unsettling. Familiar sights, routines and belongings are one of the few things a family can control that make a real difference. The Alzheimer Society of Canada recommends bringing photographs, music and personal items, and building familiar routines into the new setting.

In practical terms, that means the room should look as much like the old bedroom as the space allows. Not a fresh start with new furniture. The same bedspread, the same chair, the same pictures.

We are movers, not clinicians, and nothing here replaces the advice of the care home's staff, who know your parent's needs. What follows is what we have learned about the physical side of a move like this.

Before the move: ask the home

Every home has its own rules. Ask these questions early:

What furniture can we bring, and what does the room already have?
Can we see the room or get its measurements ahead of time?
Are there rules about wall hangings, rugs, extension cords or small appliances? Rugs in particular are often not allowed because of fall risk.
What time of day is best to move in, and how is the elevator booked?
What should be labelled with your parent's name? Usually clothing and personal items.

The Alzheimer Society also advises leaving valuables at home, which is worth taking seriously in a shared setting.

Want to talk it through first? Call or text (289) 670-3146, or book a free walkthrough.

Choose the pieces that carry the most meaning

Space is small, so choose the things your parent looks at and touches every day. Usually that is:

Their own bedding and pillow. It looks and smells like home.
A favourite chair.
Framed photographs of family, especially older ones from the years they remember best.
A familiar lamp, clock or blanket.
A few objects from the old living room or dresser top.
Music they love, and something to play it on.

Set it up to match the old room

If you can, take photos of the old bedroom before anything is packed. Then use them to set up the new room. Bed against the wall on the same side. Photos in the same order. The chair facing the window the way it always did. The things on the dresser top laid out as they were.

It sounds like a small detail. For someone who is disoriented, walking into a room where things are where they expect them can make a real difference to the first days.

Plan the day so the room is ready first

Many families find it goes best when the room is fully set up before their parent arrives. A family member takes them out for lunch or a drive, the room is moved in and finished, and they arrive to a room that already looks like theirs instead of a room full of boxes.

The Alzheimer Society suggests taking some time on arrival to settle into the room and visit the common areas of the home. Plan for the day to go slowly, and have someone ready to stay a while.

Where we come in

We move people into memory care and long term care homes across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph, including transfers from a retirement suite into a memory care floor. We take photos of the old room, move what is coming, and set up the new room to match it as closely as the space allows, usually while the family is out with their parent. Then we deal with whatever is left behind.

These moves often come up at short notice. Call or text us and we will tell you honestly how quickly we can be there.

Questions families ask

Should my parent be there on moving day?

Many families find it easier if the room is set up first and their parent arrives to a finished space. The care home's staff can advise on what is best for your parent in particular.

Can we bring their own bed?

Some homes allow it and some provide a specific bed for safety reasons. Ask the home. If their bed cannot come, their own bedding and pillow on the new bed still helps a great deal.

How quickly can a memory care move be done?

The room itself is usually a same day job. Spots can open with little notice, so it is worth calling us as soon as you know a move is coming.

Further reading: Alzheimer Society of Canada, moving in to long term care.