Moving a Parent Into a Care Home: What Equipment to Bring
Moving a parent into a care home: what to bring
Care homes provide the bed and the basics. Almost everything that makes a room feel like theirs, and a good deal of what makes daily life easier, you bring yourself — and most families find out which is which after they have already moved in.
- Delivery to the facility
- Rent or buy
- Advice, not upselling
- Open 24/7
Ask the facility first — every one is different
Before buying anything, ask the care home three questions: what do you provide, what are we expected to bring, and what are we not allowed to bring? The answers vary a great deal between facilities and even between rooms within one.
Most provide the bed, mattress, a bedside table and basic furniture. Most do not provide a wheelchair, a personal cushion, a lift chair or a recliner. Many restrict what can be brought — electrical items may need inspection, some do not permit personal furniture at all, and space is usually much tighter than families expect.
Getting this list before you shop saves buying things that get sent home again, which happens more often than it should.
A care home room is often smaller than a spare bedroom, and much of the floor space has to stay clear so staff can move a lift or a chair around the bed. A recliner that fits dimensionally may still be refused because it blocks a transfer path. Ask where they would allow a chair to sit, and measure that, rather than measuring the room.
What families usually end up bringing
Usually worth bringing
Things that are personal to the resident, or that the facility genuinely does not supply.
- Their own wheelchair, correctly sized — shared chairs rarely fit well
- A pressure-relief seat cushion, which is personal equipment
- A lift chair or recliner, if the room allows it
- An overbed table, if not provided
- A walker or rollator they already use and are used to
Usually provided — check before buying
Buying these is the most common waste of money we see.
- The bed and mattress, in most facilities
- Patient lifts and transfer equipment used by staff
- Bathroom safety fittings in shared bathrooms
- Basic bedside furniture
- Incontinence supplies, in many facilities — ask
And when a home is being cleared out
The other half of this move is the house that has just been emptied — often full of equipment bought over several years. A hospital bed, a lift chair, a wheelchair, a walker, bathroom fittings. Families frequently do not know what to do with any of it, and it sits in a garage for months.
Some of it may be worth donating. Some charities and community loan programmes accept mobility equipment in good condition, though most will not take used mattresses, cushions or anything with a fabric surface for hygiene reasons. It is worth phoning before loading a car.
And it is a strong argument for renting in the first place. If a hospital bed had been rented rather than bought, this would be a phone call rather than a problem.
Respite stays, trial placements and short-term convalescent care are all common, and buying a chair for a six-week stay rarely makes sense. Renting also means no decision has to be made about what to do with it afterwards, at a point when the family has enough to deal with.
Common questions
Will you deliver to a care home?
Yes, across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Facilities usually have their own delivery procedures — a loading entrance, particular hours, sometimes a requirement that staff be present. Tell us the facility and we will work to their rules rather than turning up unannounced.
Does the resident need their own wheelchair?
Usually yes, if they use one regularly. Facilities generally have some shared chairs, but a shared chair is sized for nobody in particular, and seat width has real consequences for comfort and skin over months of daily use. A personal chair, correctly sized, is one of the better purchases in this situation.
Can we bring a lift chair or recliner?
Often, but ask first. Some facilities restrict personal furniture, some require electrical items to be inspected, and space around the bed usually has to stay clear for staff. Ask specifically where a chair would be allowed to sit and measure that space.
What about a pressure-relief cushion?
Cushions are personal equipment and are usually the family's responsibility. If the resident is at risk of pressure injuries, ask the facility what the care plan specifies rather than choosing one yourself — the right cushion depends on the assessed risk level.
Is any of this covered by funding?
It depends on the item and the resident’s circumstances. Personal mobility equipment may be covered by Ministry programs or extended health plans, usually with a prescription and approval before purchase. See our funding guide.
Can we rent for a respite or trial stay?
Yes, and for anything under a few months it is usually the sensible choice. Weekly and monthly terms, delivered to the facility, collected when the stay ends.
Must Medical Equipment is an independent retailer of home medical equipment and is not affiliated with any care facility or health authority. What each facility provides and permits varies — always confirm directly with them before purchasing. Nothing here is medical advice.
Tell us the facility and we will tell you what to bring
We have delivered into most homes across the Lower Mainland and can usually tell you what they provide before you spend anything.
- Showroom: 12987 80 Ave, Surrey, BC
- Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
- info@mustmedical.ca