My mom is my grandmother’s caregiver and I try to watch over them as time allows. My mom, like many other caregivers, are angels on earth. As babies, our parents take care of us. However, as time passes, roles are reversed and soon its time to care for our parents. My grandmother has had a few strokes but at 90 years old, she’s still going strong. Part of that reason is thanks to the care my mother provides for her. I love seeing my grandmother smile and it’s important to me that I keep my mom smiling as well. The love between generations is strong and we all lend a hand when possible. One of the ways I help out is by preparing packages to assist in the caregiving process. Products like Depend® Fit-Flex® Underwear and Poise® Liners are lifesavers in both my mother and grandmothers lives. That’s why they are musts for a DIY caregiving box.
Where to buy your health related products
Shopping at Sam’s Club saves me time and money. I feel good about our membership as my mom can obtain her prescription refills, have free health screenings and buy all of their personal health products in one stop.
Using the Digimarc Discovery app, when you buy the Depend® Fit-Flex Underwear and Poise® Liner products at Sam’s Club you can scan anywhere on the package and it will take you to the Sam’s Club Family Caregiving website. The site gives you tips and ideas for items that caregivers may benefit from. The Depend® packaging will also have a sticker inside that you can redeem at the pharmacy for an awesome caregiver sample kit.
In addition to the website, the club itself is a one-stop destination for all of your caregiving needs. Our local Sam’s Club has a pharmacy, an optical center, hearing aid center plus offer free health screenings every month. As a member, the benefits are amazing. If you know a caregiver and are familiar with their needs, you may find that the items I list below are exactly what they need. If you’re looking to create your own storage container for caregiving, here’s what I used.
- Poise Liners
- Depend Fit-Flex Underwear
- Underpads
- Washcloths
- Gloves
- Wipes
- Foam Cleanser
- Big pretty Box
They’ll appreciate the gesture and love the products
My grandmother prefers the ease of slipping on the Depend Fit-Flex Underwear for women and the comfort that lasts. Poise liners offer great support for light bladder leakage. Both products alone and sometimes together, help with incontinence and any accidents that may happen throughout the day or overnight.
I want my Grandmother to feel comfort and dependability which these products give her. Not only do they lock away wetness, they also block odor. We appreciate the all-around leg elastics the Depend Fit-Flex Underwear are made with. When shopping for these products you can find them in the front of the Club near the pharmacy.
There you will find many other products that are helpful to caregivers. For me, it’s important that I offer support to my family. Something small, can make such a big difference. Showing you care and know what they need, is a loving gift. Seeing the love between these two special ladies makes my day. I enjoy being able to contribute along with spending time with the two matriarchs of my family. Helping them out, warms my heart.
Do you know someone who could use a DIY Caregiver Storage Container? Check out Sam’s Club Caregiving website for more ideas.
Thank you so much for sharing your family’s story. My 70-year old mother-in-law cares for my 96-year old grandmother-in-law. I don’t know how she finds the strength to do it because I know it’s a lot of work, but it’s what you do when you love someone. #client
I would give my grandmother already thread needles so she could do minor repairs . A lined note pad so she could write letters and notes. Assortment of greeting cards so she could send to friends. A magnifying glass, even with glasses they have a hard time reading . And s flashlight
While the items may help give the caregiver ideas, support etc…it is still not ‘for’ the caregiver. I have been a caregiver of adults since 2007 and I find that the ‘gift’ I appreciated most was just someone to have a conversation with. My first was my sister with lung cancer. I found time with her such a blessing. After she passed away, I placed an ad for another one and found Mister! (Hospice had vouched for me.) I found that the aide that came twice a week to bathe him was happy to sit and simply talk for 20 or 30 minutes with me. That also was true later with other hospice organizations after that. A connection to the outside world. So, if I was to put together a box, I’d include some reading material, writing paper and envelopes as well as a few stamps, some tea or whatever beverage they enjoyed etc.
Kate you are so right, conversation is such an underrated gift. The gift of time, time spent with your loved ones and sharing in moments, listening and being there.
Great tips Kate. I like the threaded needle idea.
I took care of my mom her last year she passed last year she was 93 .. She was so active till she got cancer very rare type no other medical problems until then .. I so miss her
Vina I’m sure she appreciated all you did for her.
I think a few luxuries are needed. Talcum powder, lotion for a much needed back rub, socks with grippers. I think a person would like something like that as a gift instead of necessities.
And yes, I have many years of experience as a caregiver.
My mom will be 93 next month and has lived with my sister for 25 years. She now has dementia, is completely incontinent, has to be bathed etc. she has periods of lucidness but it comes and goes. I go there to help my sister out but I can’t be there all the time. She has now started to wake up a couple times a night and last night went to the kitchen a boiled water in a pot to cook sweet potatoes because she thought it was Thanksgiving. It’s a good thing my sister heard her because she could have started a fire. Before February I used to go there 3 days a week. Unfortunately I had a very serious operation and I wasn’t able to go for about 3 months. Now I go one day a week ( I am 69 and live an hour away and I am the oldest of 3 girls). My sister that she lives with is 57 and my middle sister who lives an hour and a half away is 64 and has four grandchildren under 3 who she watches a lot. We do not want to put mom in a nursing home but it is becoming extremely hard on everyone. This has been going on for about four years. We don’t know what to do at this point so if you have any suggestions I would welcome them. Physically she is fine other then her mobility, she has bad legs. She does have a pacemaker, but it is her mind that is the biggest problem. If you have anything to share with us I would certainly appreciate it
Thanks for listening,
Barbara
Hi Barbara, I’m so sorry to hear about the difficulty your mom and family are going through. Dementia and Alzheimer’s is a horrible illness. You guys sound like you’re doing what you can, family is everything and It sounds like you guys have a good support system. I know what it feels like to not be able to do as much as you want. I also understand wanting to keep your loved ones at home and not in a nursing home. However, it’s a very personal decision. If it will benefit your loved ones, it could be a good decision. Nursing homes are not bad, they’re there to help us care for our loved ones. Best of luck to your family and thank you for reading my post.