Helping A Loved One Who Can't Help Himself

Do you have someone in your life who needs extra help? Perhaps they are aging or have physical/mental challenges? It may be a temporary condition or perhaps long term. Whatever the need, you are there for them. But how do you make it all work? You need a good caregiver’s plan! With that in place, you and your family can truly enjoy the time that you have together! You can see that I did just that. For many months, my dad and I went to festivals, on shopping trips, out for ice cream, concerts, the zoo and special events like a Veteran’s Day celebration.

Taking Dad to the Lilac Festival last May – one of our many fun field trips!

My dad lived to the ripe old age of almost-90 years old. He passed away 5 years after mom did, just one week before his birthday. Actually, his funeral was on his 90th birthday – pretty cool!

He was a wonderful man all his life and took such good care of all of us. Those last few years of Mom’s life, he sat at her side every waking hour. It took a toll on him but he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Soon after, he declined in health himself. It became apparent that he could not safely live on his own so he moved in with my brother and his wife. It was a huge undertaking but they did it with joy.

What we all learned in the process of caring for him was that you have to have a plan and keep good records. My sister-in-law has a gift for detail, for which I am so grateful,  but all three of us had a hand in caring for Dad. It was a joy for us to have quality time with him those waning years of his life.

Dad at age 89, meeting his newest great-grandson.

It was love-at-first-sight!

After two years of in-home care with my brother’s family, we needed to make the move to a nursing home. The nursing home does have supplies for their residents but Dad did so well with the incontinence products he had been using that we continued to buy them and bring them in. We discovered that several other families were doing the same thing.

Dad was a World War II Vet. I will always cherish being with him as he

was honored at a special Veteran’s Day celebration last year.

So let’s talk about how to make things more efficient.

First, make a list of the supplies that you will need. This will vary but there are common components. Here are some suggestions (alphabetically):

Needs List

Beverages

Calendar (yearly)

Cleaning Products (toilet bowl cleaner, multipurpose cleaning spray, etc)

Cleaning Supplies (sponges, towels etc)

Deodorizing Trash bags

Flushable wipes

Food (meals / snacks)

Hand Sanitizer

Hearing Aid Batteries

Medical Supplies

Medication (over the counter)

Medication (prescription)

Paper Towels

Pens

Personal Hygiene Products (deodorant, shampoo, soap, etc)

Pill Cutter

Pill Organizer

Planner (daily)

Sticky notes

Timer

When we were taking care of dad, we needed good disposable men’s underwear like Member’s Mark Underwear for Men size L/XL. We were looking for them to be effective, easy to use and comfortable. Good flushable wipes and de-odorizing tall kitchen bags were also a must.

Timing is everything. Keeping track of dad’s appointments (doctors, audiologist, dentist, podiatrist, barber, etc.) healthcare meetings, doses of medication, purchasing new supplies, picking up those supplies, transportation, paying his bills — you name it — were a big task.  You will find that a planner, yearly calendar, and timer (for remembering when to administer meds) are essential. A pill organizer will also help you to stay organized.

There is a free printable checklist at the end of the post that you can use as a planning tool.

Let me tell you a little more about the Sam’s Club Family Caregiving program. Whether shopping in club or online, Sam’s has all of the products you will need at great prices.

Go to the Sam’s Club Family Caregiving website to see for yourself.  

Some of the many products and services they have for their members include: pharmacy, incontinence products, lift chairs, medical supplies, walkers, canes, crutches, scooters, wheelchairs, cushions, nutritional aids, sanitizers, hearing aids and amplifiers, blood pressure monitors and on and on. Isn’t it wonderful that they have done all the legwork for you?

Shop at Sam’s Club today for all of your loved one’s needs.

Follow them on Facebook.

Enjoy!