Explore These Resources
Discover a wealth of information tailored for caregivers, offering support, guidance, and community connections to help you navigate your journey with confidence.
Essential Daily Care
Here are my top tips and products for caring for bed-ridden patients
Tracking Medical Care
These are some tools I used for tracking medical records, transfusion protocols, and SOS medicines.
Community Support
Key online communities that I used for elderly caregiving and cancer care
Essential Daily Care Products
Note: These products have been extensively tested on patients with highly sensitive, allergy-prone skin and are recommended based on real-world experience.
Always consult with healthcare providers before introducing new products to your care routine.
Always consult with healthcare providers before introducing new products to your care routine.
| Category | Product/Task | Advantages/Tips | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral care | Oral care is extremely important as the chronic illness of patient progresses. Even if the patient has tracheostomy or Ryles tube, keeping up with oral care is critical. | ||
| Oral care | Disposable Mouth Swabs | Can be done at bedside; safe for low platelet count | Amazon |
| Oral care | Glycerine Borax Solution | For mouth/tongue cleaning; available at select chemists | Medical Shop |
| Oral care | Kidney Tray | Keep one for oral care; separate container for nausea | Medical Shop |
| Body Care | The best option is if the patient can take a bath even while sitting in a chair. Use a chair with arms so patient can hold on. Next option – wet sponging. If too weak for wet then go for dry sponging. | ||
| Body Care | Wet Sponging | Use soft napkin + Eau de Cologne in warm water; bedside care | Soft napkins Amazon Eau de Cologne Amazon |
| Body Care | Dry Sponging Wipes | Removes dead skin; Vitamin E wipes better for seniors | Amazon |
| Body Care | Moisturizer/Body Lotion | Prevents dry skin Escalate: coconut oil → Moiz-XL → Aquaoat | MOIZ-XL Amazon Aquaoat Amazon Amazon |
| Body Care | Talcum powder | Keep skin dry after lotion; keeps patient refreshed | Cuticura Amazon Yardley Amazon |
| Body Care | Face cloth | Keep at bedside for patient to wipe eyes/face | Amazon |
| Toilet Care | Critical especially as condition progresses and patient becomes bed-ridden. Ensure thorough cleaning of the vaginal – anal area to avoid UTIs and/or anal infection. Sitz bath is for people with constipation and piles and also to prevent infection. | ||
| Toilet Care | Sitz bath | For piles/hemorrhoids; add 10% betadine to warm water IMP – Do this at least once daily even if patient is weak if they have any of the above conditions. | Sitz bath Amazon Betadine Amazon |
| Toilet Care | Diapers | Hypoallergenic for sensitive skin; change 2-3x daily Use pants-style for a semi-mobile patient, tape-style for a bed-ridden patient | Amazon |
| Toilet Care | Wet wipes | For diaper care; gentle on sensitive skin | Amazon |
| Toilet Care | Moisturizer and Powder | Use the same lotion/cream given above followed by an antifungal powder to prevent infection in diaper area. | Abzorb Amazon Surfaz Amazon |
| Toilet Care | Underpads | Protect against diaper leakage | Amazon |
| Bedding | First step – Wedge pillow if patient is somewhat mobile but weak. Second step – Hospital bed if patient is becoming very weak. | ||
| Bedding | Wedge pillow | Keep patient upright; maintains shape well, even after 2-3 years of usage | Amazon |
| Bedding | Hospital Bed (3-way Fowler) | Electrical bed; can rent; excellent for mobility & nutrition Ensure the bed AND mattress (typically foam with waterproof cover) is wiped down thoroughly with wet wipes at first use and regularly | MaxTech Health MaxTech IndiaMart may also offer good deals. |
| Bedding | Air Bed (Anti-bedsore) | Essential for preventing bedsores; adjust to 50% initially then gradually increase over time as the patient becomes comfortable To prevent overheating, ensure adequate ventilation and temperature control, and add couple layers of bedclothes over the air bed. | Amazon |
| Bedding | Cotton Bedsheet | Layers: hospital mattress sheet + air bed + cotton sheet + muslin | Muslin cloth Amazon |
| Bedding | Dohar (Cotton Quilt) | Use cotton, not synthetic blends (prevents heat/sweat/itching issues) | Amazon |
| Laundry care | To prevent bed sores, it is essential to change everything that comes in contact with the skin on a DAILY basis. In monsoon keep additional spares so that only completely dry sheets/cloths are used. | ||
| Laundry care | Clothes | Soft cotton shirts | Amazon |
| Laundry care | Washing | Add Dettol, Surf Excel, Comfort to every wash | Dettol Amazon Surf Excel Amazon Comfort Amazon |