Caregiving comes with many daily challenges, but certain items can make that journey more manageable. The resources and solutions our family uses have varied over the years, based on my parents’ needs and changing circumstances, but here are some essentials you should consider having on hand:
DISINFECTING WIPES AND PAPER TOWELS
Because my parents can’t bend over as easily and don’t always notice messes, there are always food and drink spills that require our attention. Crumbs collect under momma’s feet because she is bothered by the textures of food (dysphagia) and often misses the trash can when discarding things. So, we keep disinfecting wipes and paper towels in all commonly used spaces, which we grab to wipe up messes and spot clean.
ODOBAN DISINFECTANT/ DEODORIZER/LAUNDRY REFRESHER
We previously struggled with managing incontinence and spent lots of money replacing sheets and clothing. Although we are still challenged sometimes, we are pleased with some solutions that reduce the mess, cleanup and odor.
We keep disinfectant/deodorizer/ fabric refresher on hand in spray bottles and gallon containers. We use the spray bottles to clean smaller messes, freshen rooms and disinfect small surfaces. We keep the larger bottle in the laundry room and add it to wash loads. It has helped tremendously and reduced the amount of bed linens and clothes we discard.
INCONTINENCE BED SKIRTS
I stumbled upon these bed skirts during a Google search for incontinence solutions. The bed skirt is a wearable incontinence pad, and the inside fabric is very absorbent while the outside is waterproof. The skirt conceals leakage as long as momma isn’t too squirmy and doesn’t move the skirt around while she’s in bed. These skirts are pretty easy to put on, and they simplify morning clean-ups.
HYGIENE WIPES
We use hygiene wipes to remove dirt and grime before using soap and water. We place them in trash bags and take them outside to the garbage can after each use to reduce odors.
DISPOSABLE GLOVES AND ANTIBACTERIAL BODY WASH
My morning routine includes filling the basin with warm water and grabbing a wash rag, incontinence brief, fresh disposable underpad, hygiene wipes, two trash bags, a set of disposable gloves and body wash/bubble bath for momma’s bed bath. The gloves help protect our hands, especially when changing and discarding briefs and used wipes.
ADULT BIBS
When we grew tired of changing and discarding clothes after meals, we decided we needed to find a better solution. I found a few inexpensive bibs that mostly solved our problem, and I recently have begun making adult bibs for momma that are longer than the bibs I ordered and provide more coverage.
FOLDABLE BED RAIL
After momma had a few falls, we bought a baby bed rail that had to be removed each morning and replaced at bedtime. After using it for months, we decided to look for a design that would not only prevent falls, but also would be more user friendly. Now we use a foldable medal rail that works wonderfully and does not require daily removal and installation.
PILL PACK PRESCRIPTION BOX
My caregiving initiation began with medicine management. When I look back, I feel badly because I caused momma lots of frustration by insisting that she fill her weekly pillbox properly. After a bit of research, I found a local pharmacy and mail-order pharmacy that will package their meds into a month’s worth of individual packets. The pill-pack box removes the guess work, effort and stress from the process.
SECURITY CAMERAS
Security cameras are everywhere in my parents’ home except the bathroom, and they give us a sense of safety and comfort since we do not live with them. We also pay a small subscription fee for cameras in key locations, which allows us camera playback.
KEYLESS DOOR ENTRY
Because we aren’t with my parents all day, keyless entry lets us remotely unlock the door to allow guests to drop off items or visit. We have provided regular, trusted guests, including friends, loved ones and medical professionals, with their own code to enter during set hours.
While no product can solve all the problems that come with caregiving, the right tools can ease the burden, protect dignity and help families focus on what matters most.