What to pack for a care home: a printable checklist

For a care home move, pack about 7 to 10 days of clearly labelled, machine-washable clothes, everyday toiletries, glasses, hearing aids and dentures, key documents and a handful of familiar comfort items. Hand all medicines to staff on arrival rather than keeping them in the room. Call the home first, because each one has its own rules on furniture, electrical items and room size.

In short

• Pack roughly 7 to 10 outfits; care home laundries often wash daily and at high temperatures, so wool, silk and dry-clean-only items tend to shrink or go missing.
• Label every item, including slippers, glasses cases and hearing aid boxes with iron-on, sewn-in or stick-on name labels.
• Bring all current medicines in their original packaging plus a list; the home records and stores them and will usually set up its own pharmacy supply.
• Take copies, not originals, of documents such as a lasting power of attorney (LPA), any advance decision and the council care plan.
• Rooms are often small, so one armchair, a few photos and a familiar bedspread often achieve more than furniture.
• Personal spending comes from the Personal Expenses Allowance (at least £31.80 a week) if the council funds the placement.

Before you pack: questions to ask the home

A ten-minute call with the manager saves a lot of wasted effort. Ask:

• What size is the room, and what furniture is already in it?
• Can we bring a chair, side table, TV or small fridge? Will electrical items need a PAT test (portable appliance test) first?
• How does the laundry work, and what labels do you prefer?
• Is there a lockable drawer or safe for valuables? What does your insurance cover?
• How do you handle residents’ pocket money, hairdressing and chiropody charges?
• Can we put pictures on the walls, and who will hang them?

Many of these questions also appear in our care home visit checklist and our guide to questions to ask when visiting a care home.

The printable checklist

Print this page or copy the table. Tick each item as it is labelled and packed.

Clothing

• 7 to 10 comfortable day outfits that are easy to put on, such as elasticated waists and front-opening tops
• 10 to 14 pairs of underwear and socks
• 4 to 5 sets of nightwear and 1 or 2 dressing gowns
• 3 to 4 cardigans or jumpers in machine-washable fabrics
• 2 pairs of slippers with backs and grip soles, plus outdoor shoes
• A coat, hat, scarf and gloves for trips out
• One or two smart outfits for birthdays, family events or religious services

Toiletries and personal care

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, denture pot, denture adhesive and cleaning tablets
• Familiar brands of soap, shampoo, moisturiser and deodorant
• Perfume or aftershave they have always worn
• Hairbrush, comb, electric razor and charger
• Make-up, nail file and any hair products they use

Aids and equipment

• Glasses plus a spare pair, in a labelled case
• Hearing aids, spare batteries, cleaning kit and charger
• Walking stick or frame, if they have their own

Documents (copies)

• Lasting power of attorney for health and welfare, and for property and financial affairs
• Any advance decision to refuse treatment, ReSPECT form or DNACPR form
• Council care and support plan and any hospital discharge letter
• NHS number, GP details and a list of key contacts
• A one-page “about me” profile: routines, likes, dislikes, faith, what helps when upset

Comfort items

• Framed photos and a few pictures for the walls
• Their own bedspread, throw or cushion
• A clock, radio or small speaker
• Books, large-print puzzle books, knitting or a hobby
• A tablet or simple phone, with chargers labelled

Medication: let the home handle it

Care homes in England must manage medicines safely under the regulations the Care Quality Commission (CQC) enforces, and NICE guidance on managing medicines in care homes (SC1) sets out how. In practice:

1. Bring every medicine your parent takes, in the original pharmacy packaging, including creams, inhalers, eye drops and anything bought over the counter.
2. Bring a current list from the GP or the hospital discharge letter.
3. Hand everything to the nurse or senior carer on arrival. They will check it against the list and record it.
4. Ask how they will transfer the repeat prescription to the home’s pharmacy and GP.

Some residents can look after their own medicines after a risk assessment, but this is the home’s decision with your parent, not a default. Do not leave tablets in a handbag or drawer. If your parent comes from hospital, our guide to care after hospital discharge explains what the discharge letter should include.

Dementia-specific items

Familiarity matters more than ever for someone living with dementia. Our guide to choosing a dementia care home has more on room design. Useful extras include:

• A memory box or life-story book with photos labelled by name and relationship
• A large-faced clock showing the day and date
• Items linked to their working life or hobbies: a toolbox with safe items, gardening magazines, a handbag with familiar contents
• Music from their teens and twenties on a simple player
• A twiddle muff or fidget blanket if they are restless
• Clothes in the styles and colours they have always chosen
• A photo of their own front door or a sign with their name on the room door, if the home allows

Avoid bringing too much at once. A cluttered room can increase confusion. Bring things in gradually over the first few weeks.

What not to bring

• Valuable jewellery and large amounts of cash. Items get lost, even in good homes. Bring costume jewellery or a wedding ring only if your parent will miss it.
• Original documents. Keep originals of the LPA, will and deeds at home or with a solicitor.
• Rugs and mats. They are a trip hazard and are usually not allowed.
• Unchecked electrical items. Heaters, electric blankets and extension leads are often banned.
• Delicate fabrics. Wool, silk and dry-clean-only items rarely survive the laundry.
• Large furniture without asking. It may block hoists, wheelchairs or fire exits.
• Your own stock of medicines. All medicines go to staff.

Labelling tips that actually work

• Use the home’s preferred method. Some send clothes to an outside laundry that only accepts sewn-in or iron-on labels.
• Put full names on labels, not initials, plus room number if the home suggests it.
• Label the same place every time, such as the inside back of the collar or waistband, so staff can find it quickly.
• Use a laundry marker for socks and small items where labels will not stick.
• Engrave or sticker glasses, hearing aid cases, phones, chargers and walking aids.
• Keep an inventory. Many homes ask for one on admission. Take photos of anything of value and keep the list updated when you add items.
• Re-check every few months. Labels wash out, and new clothes bought as gifts are often missed.

Money, insurance and contracts

Read the contract for what is included in the weekly fee. Hairdressing, chiropody, newspapers, toiletries and trips are often extra. Our guide to care home contracts explains what to check, and care home top-up fees covers third-party payments. If the council funds the place, your parent keeps at least £31.80 a week as a Personal Expenses Allowance for personal items. Ask whether the home’s insurance covers residents’ belongings, and up to what value; it is often limited.

If your parent is moving from hospital, check whether they are entitled to up to six weeks of free care after hospital before paying fees.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The packing list is the same across the UK. Care homes are regulated by the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, Care Inspectorate Wales and the RQIA in Northern Ireland, and each has its own medicines standards, but in all four nations the home manages residents’ medicines unless a risk assessment agrees otherwise.

Frequently asked questions

How many clothes should I pack for a care home?

Around 7 to 10 day outfits, 10 to 14 sets of underwear and socks and 4 to 5 sets of nightwear is usually enough. Care home laundries often wash every day, so there is no need for more. Choose machine-washable fabrics that cope with hot washes, and label every item with your parent’s full name.

Do care homes provide toiletries?

Some include basic toiletries in the fee and others charge extra or expect families to supply them. Check the contract. Even where they are supplied, many families bring familiar brands of soap, moisturiser and perfume, because familiar smells are comforting, especially for someone living with dementia.

Should I bring medication to a care home?

Yes. Bring every current medicine in its original packaging with an up-to-date list, and hand them all to staff on arrival. The home records and stores them and will usually arrange future prescriptions through its own GP and pharmacy. Residents only manage their own medicines after a risk assessment.

What is the best way to label clothes for a care home?

Iron-on or sewn-in labels with your parent’s full name are the most durable, and many homes prefer them because stick-on labels can come off in hot washes. Order them a couple of weeks before the move. Use a laundry marker for socks, and label glasses cases, hearing aid boxes and chargers too.

Can you take your own furniture into a care home?

Usually you can bring a few pieces, such as an armchair, a small table or a bedside cabinet, but ask first. Rooms are often small and need space for hoists and wheelchairs. Upholstered furniture may need fire-safety labels, and electrical items may need a PAT test.

What should you not take to a care home?

Avoid valuable jewellery, large amounts of cash, original legal documents, rugs, heaters, electric blankets, extension leads and delicate clothes. Do not keep a separate stock of medicines in the room. Ask the home for its list of banned items, as rules vary.

Sources

• NHS: Care homes
• CQC: Give feedback on care
• GOV.UK: Lasting power of attorney
• Care and Support Statutory Guidance

General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures for 2026/27, checked October 2026.

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 29 October 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.