Last updated on January 15th, 2026 at 06:38 pm
For many people, moving to an adult family home is a profoundly challenging transition. It’s not just that the person is moving to a new home, although that alone can be difficult. Often, the larger challenge is accepting that they need a level of care that they cannot get in their current home environment. There may be a significant loss of independence, personal comfort, or both.
If your loved one is facing this transition, there are some things you can do to ease their way or at least make things better while they adjust. We’ve put together some tips to help you support your loved one before, during, and after their move to an adult family home (AFH), whether they’re moving into an AFH run by by Sunrise Services or another organization.
Before Move-In
Choose the Right Adult Family Home
Your loved one will feel more comfortable if they know they are moving to the best possible AFH for them. Each AFH will have a different social environment, staff, set of amenities, openness to pets, location, and overall feel. Sunrise Services can help you and your loved one explore some options in our own AFHs.
Don’t choose an AFH until you’ve researched and toured at least a few possible homes. Keep in mind that AFH staff are required to be certified Home Care Aides (HCA-Cs) in Washington state, which means they must have completed at least 75 hours of caregiver training. Give your loved one a chance to speak with current residents and spend time there if possible.
Include Your Loved One In the Decision As Much As Possible
The AFH will be your loved one’s new home. The decision affects them more than anyone else, so they should be included as much as possible in the decisions. That means taking them on site visits if their health allows it, working with them to determine which amenities are must-haves and which are nice-to-haves, having candid discussions about pros and cons, and being open about timelines and finances.
Situations like chronic illness and dementia can make this challenging. Nevertheless, usually everyone ends up happier when a family approaches the decision in an inclusive way.
Look For Opportunities to Socialize
Moving to an AFH shouldn’t mean being cut off from the community. Look for ways for your loved one to stay involved in the communities or activities they’ve loved in the past, like book clubs, gardening clubs, games, church events, or artistic hobbies, even after they move into an AFH.
The AFH itself may be able to help with social activities, but for trips that aren’t directly covered by the community, you may be able to find transportation through metro, ride sharing, or home care services.
Honor Your Loved One’s Feelings
It takes time to emotionally transition to any new home. That’s especially true when someone is moving from a house full of memories to an adult family home.
Be willing to talk through any fears or apprehensions your loved one has. Acknowledge their emotions as valid and treat them as such. Give your loved one plenty of opportunities to reach out to you, other family members, friends, spiritual guides, and any other emotional resources for support. Most of all, be patient.
Prepare for the Adult Family Home Costs
Different AFHs and assisted living communities can have different pricing models. Some homes may cover everything for a single fee, while others may offer “levels of care pricing” based on the type of care each resident needs.
Ask about the pricing and financing options early on so you can put your loved one’s financial concerns at ease. Don’t forget to keep a record of moving expenses, as they may be tax-deductible.
Pack Strategically
Prioritize essential items like toiletries, medications, clothing, bedding, and furniture first. Then prioritize other items they use regularly, like craft or hobby-related items and music collections. From there, start with the large items and then move to the smaller items.
Keep in mind that some items important to your loved one, like mementos from their children’s school years or records of achievements they are proud of, could be tucked away in an attic or garage. Your loved one may want to bring these items to the AFH.
Cover the Logistics
Contact the postal services to get mail forwarded from your loved one’s old home to their new one. Have addresses updated on credit cards, bank accounts, and subscription services.
Check how the AFH handles internet, cable, and utility services for residents. Make a plan to cancel any services that will not move with your loved one into their home.
Set Up the New Adult Family Home Living Space
Ask the AFH if they can help with packing, moving, and unpacking. Having the new space fully functional when your loved one arrives will help smooth the transition.
Don’t Forget the “Impractical Essentials”
For many people, it’s the decorative or otherwise “impractical” items that make a space feel like a real home. If you can arrange furniture and decor in a similar way to your loved one’s old home, their new living space may feel more familiar and comfortable.
If they kept photos or art displayed in their old home, display them prominently in the new one. Tack up a wall calendar with upcoming events and dates of recurring visits from loved ones. Make sure they’re well-stocked with items that will support their interests, like books, art supplies, craft items, and/or music instruments.
Prepare For a Good First Impression
Make your loved one’s move-in experience better with an extra, thoughtful touch. Tuck away notes from you, other family members, and your loved one’s friends in places your loved one will find them. Place tickets to an event they’ll love on the nightstand. Play their favorite song on move-in day.
After Move-In
Meet the Neighbors
Your loved one will likely share their new home with other residents, some of whom could be a great resource during the transition period. There are likely also neighbors living in other homes or residences nearby. Each person they meet could potentially become a new friend, so encourage your loved one to introduce themselves.
Talk to the Staff
The first week is a great time to get to know the AFH staff. Your loved one may have meetings with caregivers, nurses, and other professionals to assess needs. If you have any questions that weren’t answered while you were researching different AFH options before, now is the best time to ask them.
Dine With Other Residents and Staff
Meals are often good opportunities to connect with other residents and staff. Encourage your loved one to eat meals together with other community members if possible. Staff members are often happy to share a meal too, and they could become good friends with your loved one.
Visit As Often As Possible
Visits are especially important during your loved one’s first few weeks at the community. You don’t want your loved one to feel abandoned, and this is a time when they may feel particularly vulnerable. If you can come up with a consistent long-term schedule for visiting your loved one and/or sharing a meal, that will also help.
Need More Personal Advice on Transitioning to an Adult Family Home?
Sunrise Services strives to offer quality, individualized care for adults with support needs. We have provided quality residential supports for adults for over four decades. Our adult family homes program staff can help you find an AFH, answer your questions, or address your concerns.
If you are just beginning to plan a transition to an AFH, contact Sunrise Services to partner with us.
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