20 personal care products all caretakers should have

When providing care for another person, it can feel like there is an endless list of tasks to remember. Between appointments, medications, and any individualized needs, keeping track of it all can become a job within itself.

Whether you’re providing occasional assistance or full-time help, it can be hugely beneficial to create a place where all your most used caregiving items live. As a former caregiver for my mother and current aid to my grandmother, I know from experience just how helpful it can be to have necessary supplies gathered and ready to go whenever you need them.

These personal care items can help in an emergency, like an ER visit, but they’re just as useful for trips, medical appointments, and visiting people at home. Much like you should have a Survival Kit at home in case of emergency, creating a Caregiver Kit is a great way to make sure you’re prepared for anything. It eases pressure on stressful situations and can even make routine checkups feel like a breeze.

Keep reading to find our list of essential personal care products. If you provide home care for the elderly or those with disabilities, these are 20 personal care items you shouldn’t be without.

20 personal care items all caretakers must have

First aid kit essentials

Keeping a first aid kit handy is one of the easiest ways to be prepared for any situation. Ideally, you should have one in your car, at home, and in whatever bag you travel with most. You can easily buy a pre-made kit, such as the one featured below, or create your own.

When choosing a first aid kit for caregiving, consider the medical needs you address daily and in an emergency. For instance, because my grandmother is on blood thinners, our first aid kit always includes something that can quickly and efficiently stop bleeding.

Masks, hand sanitizers, and gloves

Though items like face masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer are a good idea for anyone to carry at all times, they’re also essential personal care products. Whether you’re helping someone who’s immunocompromised, providing home care for the elderly, or interacting with bodily fluids on the regular, keeping yourself, the person you love, and the people around you safe should always be a priority.

In the heat of the COVID pandemic, we tested many KN95 masks, hand sanitizers, and disposable gloves for baseline efficacy. Of note, we found the Hotodeal KN95 mask to be a solid option worth purchasing from Amazon. With more than 68,000 positive ratings, it would appear shoppers agree with our assessment.

When it comes to gloves and hand sanitizers, we really liked the latex-free qualities of these gloves from The Safety Zone, which fit well, are textured, and offer solid flexibility. Purell, of course, remains the gold standard for hand sanitizers, but the elderly or those with reduced dexterity may appreciate these easy-open hand sanitizers instead.

A good pill organizer

Pill organizers can be a huge help in keeping your schedule on track and condensing personal care items into a simple, travel-sized container. They come in all sorts of fun shapes, sizes, and colors these days, so shoppers have a lot to choose from. For times when you need your medications to stay in their original bottles (such as when flying internationally), a large storage container, such as a medicine bag, may be the better choice.

Medical planner for tracking

Between medications, allergies, appointments, and tests, there can be lots of information to keep track of when it comes to caregiving. Particularly for those who share caregiving responsibility with others or assist someone who’s mostly independent, having a designated place where critical information lives makes complex duties less confusing for everyone involved.

Ideally, you’ll want to keep track of details like the above, as well as symptoms and any condition-specific needs, in a medical planner or journal. Any notebook can work in a pinch, but it likely won’t provide the prompts or layout necessary to remember what you want to track.

It’s a good idea to also have a medical alert card on hand for anyone assisting with caregiving, so critical information needed in an emergency, such as allergies and current medications, is immediately available.

Blankets and sweaters to stay warm

While most people know to grab a jacket if it’s cold outside, as a caregiver, it’s best to have a warm covering available at all times. Between chilly waiting rooms and blasting air conditioning in the summer months, keeping a blanket or jacket on hand can make the experience more pleasant.

It’s a good idea to find a sweater, blanket, or similar item that the person you’re caring for likes, and is willing to keep, in your caregiver kit. This stops the item from being forgotten and makes sure you always have it at the ready.

Water bottles for hydration

Staying hydrated is a vital need for daily living, but it can be especially important for the elderly or those with complex medical conditions. Luckily, it’s never been easier to travel with a water bottle, as many public places provide access to refill stations and drinking fountains. When choosing a water bottle for your kit, consider whether the person you’re caring for requires a handle, straw, or other accommodations.

Consider how the bottle will be used to determine how leakproof it must be. Also, think about buying a second water bottle so you can stay hydrated, too. Doing so encourages both parties to drink more and ensures you don’t forget to take care of yourself while caring for those you love.

Portable snacks

No matter where you’re going, a portable snack is an essential personal care item to have at the ready. While snacks might be especially important to those who are caregiving for people with conditions like diabetes, adding some healthy snacks to any outing can be a good way to keep energy high and moods more positive. When selecting your snack, focus on foods that won’t melt or perish quickly, so you aren’t left with a mess or moldy leftovers if it stays in the bag for a while.

Transport chairs and portable seats

It’s not at all uncommon to find yourself in a place with limited to no seating available. For those who may be aging or have trouble standing and walking for long periods of time, it’s a good idea to have a backup option ready so the person you’re caring for can have fun without sacrificing comfort or safety. Transport wheelchairs and portable seats are great ways to service this need.

We tested the Giraffe Creation Folding Stool and liked the product for its compact design and sturdy build quality. It makes a surprisingly great event or transportation companion if the person you’re caring for has milder disabilities or is an older adult capable of living independently.

That said, a transport wheelchair features a more traditional design and will likely be more comfortable for someone to sit in over long periods of time. The Medline model featured below was an essential part of my caretaker toolbox.

Games to stay entertained

Whether you find yourself endlessly waiting for appointments or looking for ways to pass a few minutes on a trip, having accessible entertainment necessitates an unlikely personal care product that can’t be missed. While solitary activities like reading and puzzle books are a great way to spend a low-energy day, having games you can play together is a fun way to stay engaged while bonding with your loved one in the process.

Once you’ve got all your favorite games picked out, it may help to store them in a travel case. The Hermitshell model featured below has a 4.8-star rating and more than 400 positive reviews.