How to Move with Medical Supplies by Lindsey Allen

There are people all over this country who receive some form of at home medical care. The extent of the medical care will vary from special medication requirements to elaborate in-home setups with hospital grade equipment. A family with special needs requirements should take the following advice to ensure their move goes as safely and comfortably as possible.

Get the Estimate:

In person estimates should always be used by individuals facing a move. On the day of the in person estimate, the potential client should explain to the moving representative the extent of the special considerations that will have to be made. Be sure that these considerations are included in the estimate.

Don’t Pack Until Necessary:

Packing necessary medication/equipment before the movers arrive could cause the movers to mistakenly place the items in hard-to-reach or places. This is especially true of medications, electronic monitoring devices, etc.

Save the Equipment for Last:

Packing up medical equipment and placing it on the moving truck last will ensure that it is the first set of items to be removed. This is good when comfort of the patient is an issue. Every effort should be made by the caretaker to establish the patient’s living area as quickly as possible.

Don’t Forget the Power:

Many medical supplies, like specially designed beds and monitoring devices, require a source of power and a working wall outlet. This means that the caretaker should ensure the power in the new home is up and running at least a day prior to the move. Most of the equipment used for in-home care can run off of internal or external battery supplies, but these are temporary solutions to the problem. Make sure that the power in the new home is up and running before transferring the patient.

Communicate with the Movers:

Some medical supplies should not be moved by non-qualified personnel. Place post-it notes or other identifying marks on items that should not be moved without the supervision of a caretaker, family member, or in-home nurse. This will greatly lower the risk of damage to the equipment.

In the Case of Medications:

Place medications together in a purse or backpack, and place the entire package into the trunk of the family car (if they will be driving their vehicle) or with carry-on luggage (if the patient will be flying to their destination). This will prevent the movers from accidentally picking up the medications and unknowingly placing them in a hard-to-reach location. If the patient is able to, a day’s worth of medication should be placed in small plastic baggies and carried with the patient on their person while the movers are doing their job.

Many families with special needs members are concerned as to how a moving crew will disrupt the comfort of the patient, but with enough planning, explanation, and consideration, the move for the medical patient does not have to bring with it any extra discomfort. The caretaker should do their best to explain the process to the patient before the move takes place so that he or she can mentally prepare and make any special requests ahead of time.