Settling in: helping a relative adjust to a new care home

Moving abroad · 3 min read · Last updated 30 October 2026

Moving into a care home is a big change, and feeling settled can take time. Independent Age, a UK charity, says this is normal and that residents and families can help by sharing preferences with staff, bringing familiar things and staying in touch. This guide collects that advice, with notes for a move to another country.

Before the move

  • Visit, if you can, and talk to residents and staff. Ask what daily life is like and how staff help new residents settle in.
  • If possible, arrange a trial or short stay first.
  • Ask what your relative may bring: furniture, photos, a favourite chair, a radio, a phone.
  • Prepare a short life story: past work, family, hobbies, favourite foods and music, and any routines that matter. Staff use this to draw up a care plan.

Moving day and the first weeks

  • Set up the room with familiar items before your relative arrives, so it feels like theirs.
  • Make sure staff know your relative's preferences, such as meals in the room or favourite music, and that these are in the care plan.
  • Agree how you will stay in touch: a phone, video calls, email or visits. Set it up on day one.
  • Help your relative learn the layout and meet other residents. They can ask staff for help finding their way.
  • Go to residents' and relatives' meetings, which are open to friends and family.
  • Visit often at first, at different times of day, and talk to the staff on shift.

If the home is in another country

  • Plan your first visit to overlap with the move, and book return visits in advance.
  • Ask whether any staff speak your relative's language, and bring a short list of key words and phrases.
  • Set up video calls and check that the home has a reliable connection and staff who can help.
  • Identify a local contact, such as a friend, neighbour or care manager, who can visit and tell you how things are.
  • Keep a folder with your relative's medical details, medication list and legal documents, with translations. See healthcare cover abroad and moving a parent abroad.

Speak up if something is wrong

Independent Age says problems are common and that residents should feel free to raise them with staff, and that staff should try to meet reasonable requests. If a problem is not resolved, use the home's complaints procedure, and see warning signs and raising concerns.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to settle in?

There is no set time. Independent Age says it can take a while and that this is normal. Stay in touch with staff about how your relative is doing.

What should we bring?

Familiar items that suit the room: photos, a favourite chair or blanket, a radio. Check with the home what is allowed and what fits.

How often should I visit?

Many families visit often at first and at varied times of day. If you live abroad, plan visits in advance and use calls between them.

Sources and further reading

This guide is general information only, compiled from the public sources listed above as of the date shown. It is not legal, medical, tax, financial or care advice, and we cannot guarantee that it is complete, accurate or up to date. Rules, thresholds and prices change and differ by country and region, and some sources describe other countries' rules as examples. Check details with the authorities and care homes named, and take professional advice for your own situation before you act. If you spot an error, please email [email protected] and we will correct it.