When you’re caring for an older adult at home, you want to make sure they enjoy comfort, safety, and independence. Caregivers like you can create a supportive and nurturing environment that promotes your loved one’s health and personal well-being by using the right supplies. Below, you’ll find a starter list of essential supplies needed for home health care, from mobility aids to daily living tools.
Related Blog: What Safety Equipment Can Help with Fall Prevention?
General Mobility
When caring for your loved one at their home, it’s important to make sure they can move around the house safely and comfortably. Mobility aids can play a crucial role in supporting their independence and reducing the risk of falls. By providing stability, reducing strain, and assisting with everyday tasks, these tools can help your loved one navigate their home with ease.
Walkers & Rollators
- Safety: Walkers and rollators can significantly reduce the risk of falls, especially for older adults with balance or mobility issues. They provide stability and support, helping to prevent slips and trips.
- Reduced Strain: Using a walker or rollator can help alleviate strain on joints and muscles, making it easier for your loved one to move around the home without experiencing pain or fatigue.
- Less Exertion: These mobility aids can conserve energy, allowing your loved one to participate in activities without becoming overly tired.
Useful Equipment: NOVA Rollator Walkers
Reachers
- Safety: Reachers can help prevent falls by allowing your loved one to retrieve items from the floor or shelves without bending or stretching excessively. This reduces the risk of losing balance or straining muscles.
- Independence: Reachers can help your loved one maintain their independence by enabling them to perform tasks independently without needing assistance.
Useful Equipment: NOVA 24” Reacher
Hip Kits
- Recovery at Home: Many older adults who undergo hip replacement surgery are able to recover at home with the proper support and equipment. Hip kits provide a collection of tools specifically designed to aid in the recovery process.
- Essential Tools: Hip kits (such as the ones offered by NOVA) typically include items such as dressing sticks, shoe horns, and sock aids. These tools can help with tasks like putting on shoes, socks, and clothing without straining the hip joint.
Useful Equipment: NOVA Hip Kit
Bathroom Safety Supplies
Creating a safe and accessible bathroom is essential for older adults, especially since the bathroom is where more than half of falls occur in the home.
Bathroom supplies like bath chairs, grab rails, and non-slip mats can significantly reduce the risk of falls and improve overall comfort. By incorporating these aids into your loved one’s bathroom, you can help them maintain their independence and enjoy a safer bathing experience.
Useful Equipment: NOVA Bathroom Safety Equipment
Bath Chairs & Benches
- Safety: Bath chairs provide a stable and secure surface for bathing, while transfer benches make it easier for your loved one to get in and out of the bathtub. Both of these tools are crucial for preventing falls.
- Comfort: These aids can make bathing more comfortable for older adults who may have difficulty standing for extended periods.
- Independence: Even something as simple as a hand-held shower head attachment can help your loved one maintain their independence by allowing them to bathe comfortably and without assistance.
Grab Rails & Risers
- Safety: Grab rails provide additional support and stability in the bathtub or shower, while toilet seat rails and risers can make it easier to get on and off the toilet.
- Accessibility: These aids can improve accessibility for older adults who may have limited mobility or balance issues.
Bath Mats
- Slip Prevention: Non-slip bath mats can significantly reduce the risk of falls in the bathtub or shower by providing a secure footing.
- Comfort: They can also add a layer of comfort and warmth to the bathroom floor. Plus, your loved one can enjoy a more stress-free bathing experience when they know there’s a bath mat that gives them firm footing.
Bedroom Safety Supplies
Creating a safe and comfortable bedroom environment is essential for the health and happiness of your loved one. By incorporating daily living aids like cushions, bed rails, and overbed tables, you can help prevent falls, promote restful sleep, and foster a sense of independence. These tools can significantly improve your loved one’s overall well-being and quality of life.
Useful Equipment: NOVA Bedroom Safety Equipment
Cushions
- Sleep Quality: Ergonomic cushions can significantly improve sleep quality by providing support and comfort for the body. This can help alleviate pain, reduce tossing and turning, and promote a more restful sleep.
- Fall Prevention: Getting enough sleep is crucial for overall health and well-being, including reducing the risk of falls. A good night’s sleep can improve cognitive function, balance, and reflexes, making it less likely for your loved one to experience accidents.
- Mental Health: Sleep plays a vital role in mental health. Adequate sleep can help regulate mood, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
Bed Rails
- Fall Prevention: Bed rails can provide a physical barrier to prevent your loved one from accidentally rolling out of bed while they’re sleeping. This is especially important at night when they may be less alert.
- Safety: A fall in the middle of the night can be particularly dangerous as there may not be anyone around to assist them. Bed rails can help minimize the risk of serious injuries.
Overbed Tables
- Convenience: Overbed tables provide a convenient and accessible surface for eating meals, working on paperwork, or engaging in hobbies from the comfort of their bed, couch or reclining chair.
- Independence: They can help your loved one maintain their independence by allowing them to perform tasks without having to get up and down.
Empowering Home Health Care
Caring for your loved one and making sure they are safe and thriving is one of the most important roles you can have. Be empowered to continue the dialog, the education and be proactive.
Learn how the NOVA Network empowers home care.