When moving into a retirement community, there’s always a temptation to pack up everything in your home with you. It’s quite understandable that you may think you need to transition with all your old belongings to make your new apartment feel like home. However, it is important to only pack up the necessities and what community allows as many independent retirement communities have rules and guidelines about the items you can bring.
Moreover, you need to downsize on some household items, especially ones that you don’t use every day. After confirming the size and floor plan of your new apartment, knowing the essential ones you need for your daily routine will help you downsize properly. Below are some of the essentials you need to bring with you when moving into independent living.
Decorations and Comfort Items
A good way to make your new apartment feel like home is adding decorations and comfort items to the space. Decorating with comfort items can instantly transform your space and bring in feelings that remind you of home. Examples of decors that can help you personalize your space include family photos and artworks. Comfort items you can bring along include your favorite blankets, pillows, and beddings.
Organizers
When moving to an independent living community, you already know that the space of your apartment may not be as big as your home. You need to downsize as much as possible, and organizers will help to keep your new space neat and tidy. With organizers, you’ll be able to access your essential items easily.
Labels
Even though organizers and storage bins will keep your items well arranged, you need labels to identify which bin holds what. Without labels, you can easily forget what each bin holds and where certain items are stored. This can lead to you emptying each bin before getting what you need.
Essential Personal Care Items
Personal care items are a necessity that you must park with you when moving into an independent living community. This includes your hygiene products, medications, and personal grooming necessities. These may include:
- Hand soap and bathing gel
- Hair styling tools
- Jewelry
- Toiletries
- Deodorants
- Eyeglasses and hearing aids
- Vitamins and medications
- Umbrellas
- … and many others.
Clothing and Shoes
Shoes and clothes are important items but you have to pack according to your new closet size. Only pack clothes that you wear often so there will be space for other necessary items. Except you plan to wash them yourself, ensure that the clothes you pack are washable outfits that don’t need to be hand-washed. Also, ensure that you pack some out-of-season clothes, shoes or boots so you don’t have to buy new ones when the next season comes.
Nametags
Since retirement communities offer dry cleaning and laundry options, you will need to sew name tags on your clothes to be sure they don’t get mixed up or missing. Include your name and room number on the tag you put into your clothes or other washables.
Entertainment Items
Ensure that you pack your television set, books, games, and other entertainment items you need for fun. This will keep you entertained while you take time to make new friends in the community.
Financial And Legal Documents
When transitioning into independent living, ensure that you move with your Insurance policies, estate papers, personal wills, and medical prescriptions. Make sure you store them in a personal safe in your new home so that you can easily access them in times of an emergency. You can also have a family member keep them for you.
