Tips to help you prepare for your move to a long-term care home
The time between being notified of a vacancy and moving into a facility is very short - within 24 to 48 hours - therefore, it is necessary to organize for the move in advance.
What can I do to prepare?
These are the most important steps that you and your family should take to be ready to move to a long-term care home:
Confirm whether your family doctor will continue to provide medical care after the move, or if you will need to arrange to find a new doctor
Make a list of places that will need a change of address notification, including BC Medical Services Plan, Canada Post, your bank and insurance companies and social organizations. Many long-term care homes prefer that your business mail is redirected to your designated financially responsible person rather than delivered onsite.
Review budget planning to include the costs of long-term care accommodation that will be payable on admission and monthly after that
What information do I need before I arrive?
We will let you know when a vacancy becomes available. Immediately following this notification you should contact the care home to find out:
what transportation arrangements are needed
who should come to help with admission
what belongings and furnishings can be taken
what personal items are needed and how to label them
what are the site's policies regarding belongings, pets, mail, religious beliefs or other pertinent concerns
if outings and overnight stays for friends and family can be arranged