Two to three months out
Tour communities more than once, and at different times of day. A Tuesday lunch tells you more than a scheduled Saturday visit. Ask about levels of care, what triggers a move to a higher level, and what that costs.
Read the residency agreement carefully, including the fee schedule, the notice period, and what happens if care needs change. Have a second set of eyes on it, whether that is another family member or an elder law attorney.
Request the floor plan and the exact room dimensions in writing. Everything downstream depends on knowing what fits.
Four to six weeks out
Build the furniture plan first, then sort belongings against it. Deciding what comes is far easier when the answer is anchored to a real room rather than to a feeling.
Begin sorting in short sessions. Keep, gift, donate, sell, release. Photograph items being released so the memory can travel even when the object cannot.
Line up the vendors: movers, donation pickups, estate sale or consignment, cleaners, and a hauler for what remains.
Two weeks out
Handle the administrative layer: mail forwarding, utility transfers or shutoffs, insurance updates, pharmacy transfer, and notifying doctors of the new address.
Confirm what the community handles on arrival day, including elevator reservations, permitted move in hours, and whether they will hang pictures or mount a television.
Label boxes by room in the new home, not by room in the old one.
Move day
Consider whether your parent should be present for the whole day. Many families find it kinder to have them out for lunch with a relative while the heavy work happens, then arrive to a room that is already set up.
Prioritize in this order: bed made, bathroom stocked, favorite chair placed, photos hung, television and phone working. A room that looks lived in on the first night changes how the whole transition feels.
The first two weeks
Expect an adjustment period, and expect it to be uneven. Visit often but not constantly, and encourage participation in one or two regular activities so the days develop a rhythm.
Check in with staff about how meals, sleep, and medications are going. Small adjustments early prevent bigger problems later.
If your family would like help carrying any part of this checklist, Homeward Transitions coordinates the whole sequence for Louisville families. The first conversation is complimentary.