Carehome and what clothes to bring

[Toopie28]

Hi All,
Wonder if you can help me please.
When Ma went into the carehome I brought a whole bunch of clothes for her. Mostly winter of course.
I'm now swapping out for less heavier items and will vacuum store the winter ones.

I don't live here and will be renting the house so should I bring everything to the care home? Or maybe rent a storage? I don't have anyone around that will keep her stuff - that's just how people are here.

She has a lot of jackets and heavy coats. Uses them to go out to church only.
Plus I've had to buy her bigger size clothes since they are stuffing her like fois gras over there.

I think I'm holding onto them for sentimental reasons. I need you folks to tell me to keep the minimum 🫤

 

[SAP]

I gave a lot of my mums clothing to charity and started again with pull on trousers and easy tops to put on, prior to that mum wore jeans mostly. She also put on weight which was a good thing so another set of new clothes , then the hospital she was in lost loads 😡 and now she is losing weight. Everything in the home is boil washed so delicate clothing will get ruined . A coat is handy for outings and easy shoes to get on and off, plenty of undies and socks. My mums home is very very warm so even in winter she prefers light weight tops.

 

[Angel55]

Hi All,
Wonder if you can help me please.
When Ma went into the carehome I brought a whole bunch of clothes for her. Mostly winter of course.
I'm now swapping out for less heavier items and will vacuum store the winter ones.

I don't live here and will be renting the house so should I bring everything to the care home? Or maybe rent a storage? I don't have anyone around that will keep her stuff - that's just how people are here.

She has a lot of jackets and heavy coats. Uses them to go out to church only.
Plus I've had to buy her bigger size clothes since they are stuffing her like fois gras over there.

I think I'm holding onto them for sentimental reasons. I need you folks to tell me to keep the minimum 🫤

💗 Definitely keep things to a minimum 😊

I would perhaps look at things that are easier to get on and off as well. Extra room to make dressing easier.

It is usually warmer in the homes as well so maybe things that layer too.

Just a few ideas ♥️

 

[HLA]

Hello!

Well done for helping your mum settle into the carehome. I think a lot with clothes depends on your mother's relationship with clothes. Did she have favourites, did she treasure things, what about favourite colours?

I have found over the last 1 2/2 years of mum being in a care home/hospital/moving - and mum loving clothes and being sensitive to textures - but weight massively changing... that it has become a constant. I have some in long term storage (I will get to them eventually), and I buy repeats of the same things. e.g. same trousers from M&S used to have in an 18, she now wears a 12. I also scour second hand websites for similar clothes in her new sizes. This is partly for me - it feels like I am doing something positive. And occasionally I will take something and see if she likes it. Supermarkets are surprisingly good at jumpers etc that are soft, and can be replaced easily once trashed.

Mum has loads of wool/cashmere (veteran TK Maxx shopper) and I just leave them in the care home. If they get trashed, fine. And I'll replace with good second hand/cheaper alternative. I use Vinted or Thrift where you can search great condition clothes.

Coats - I have kept a few (one a charity double in smaller size), and rotate them. I store in the attic.
Shoes - I have bought comfy trainers she can tie or zip (she walks a lot). Plus birkenstocks/sandals.
Underwear - tends to go missing! Keep sending some to the care home.

I know I have too many clothes. And I will get rid of things slowly... it is very hard.

Weight/food - Your mum may be hungry a lot of the time, and upset if not fed enough. Mine hadsthe opposite problem, and is hungry but cannot express it and hates the food... and meds as well as changes in the brain affects this a lot, so if your mum is gaining weight it may not necessarily be bad. Hopefully she will also have exercise, and access outdoors.

Gosh much longer than I thought!!!

Good luck, you are doing brilliantly!

XX

 

[Jessbow]

If you have nowhere to store a seasonal change around, you'll probably have to minimise and store at the carer home 'all season' clothes and a coat or perhaps two.

By the time you have paid for storage, you'll probably be better off buying new as required.
Could ask the care home if they have a store that you could keep a case of 'out of season' clothes in.

If she is going to be mostly ndoors at the care home, she probably wont need much of a season change- they tend to be quite well heated

 

[Jools1402]

Don't forget to label them - either with name or room number. If you use a sharpie this can fade with multiple washes - ask if the home does laundry tagging

 

[phill]

Don't forget to label them - either with name or room number. If you use a sharpie this can fade with multiple washes - ask if the home does laundry tagging

You can buy laundry markers (ie special pens whose ink doesn’t wash out) in anywhere selling sewing supplies, or online.

 

[Jools1402]

Yes - but they do fade over time - especially when homes use hot washes

You can buy laundry markers (ie special pens whose ink doesn’t wash out) in anywhere selling sewing supplies, or online.