Caregivers Collective | Reading time: ~ 2-3 minutes
When my dad first moved in with us, I had some things ready to go. The basics - toiletries, extra clothing, bed lines. The obvious stuff. But a lot of what became essential over time? I picked those things gradually, sometimes urgently, sometimes only after realizing I should have had it in the first place.
That's just how caregiving works, honestly. You learn as you go. But if I could go back and hand myself a simple checklist before he moved in, I would - because a little of preparation upfront saves a lot of last-minute stress later on.
The Hodgepodge Approach (And Why It's Exhausting)
For the first stretch of my dad's time with with us, I was adding to our caregiving toolkit in a very reactive way. Something would come up, I'd realize we needed a specific item, I'd order it or run to the store, and we'd move on. Rinse and repeat.
It worked - but it wasn't efficient. And when you're already managing someone's daily care, the last thing you want is to be making unplanned trips or waiting two days for a delivery because you didn't anticipate a need.
Two items in particular stand out when I think about this.
The Shower Chair I Almost Waited Too Long For
When my dad first moved in, he was mobile enough that a shower chair didn't feel necessary. He was steady on his feet - not perfectly, but enough. So it wasn't on my radar.
But balance changes. Slowly, then all at once. As his dementia progressed and his mobility became less reliable, I realized that showering without support had quietly become a safety concern. We got the shower chair - but I wish I'd had it waiting rather than rushing to find one when the need became obvious.
For brand new caregivers, here's my honest advice: if your loved one is elderly, get the shower chair before you think you need it. It's one of those items that feels unnecessary right up until it isn't.
The Pulse Oximeter I Never Expected to Need
This one surprised me. A pulse oximeter - the small slip that measures oxygen levels in the blood - wasn't something I had even thought about when he moved in. It felt more like a medical device that a caregiving supply.
Then the whole house got COVID. With him being elderly, suddenly monitoring his oxygen levels at home became something we needed to do a few times a day. Having a small device on hand gave us real-time information and a lot of peace of mind during a stretch where we were watching him carefully.
I keep it in our caregiving kit now without a second thought. But I'm glad we had it when we needed it. I think about how nerve-racking it would've been to not have it and desperately trying to get my hands on one at the last minute.
A Simple Starting Point for New Caregivers
I want to be clear about something: this isn't about having everything figured out before day one or when your loved one moves in. Nobody does. Caregiving is dynamic and your needs will evolve as your loved one's condition changes.
But having a basic checklist to start from - a simple inventory of the things most caregivers end up needing - takes some of the guesswork out of it. You might not need everything on the list right away. Some items might not apply to your situation at all. And that's OK.
Think of it as a starting point.
That's exactly what I had in mind when I put together the Essential Caregiving Supplies Checklist - a printable, categorized checklist covering personal hygiene, health monitoring, mobility and safety, clothing, bedding, and more. It includes Have, Need, and N/A columns so you can quickly assess where you stand without feeling overwhelmed.
It's the starting point I didn't have - but you do.
Get the Essential Caregiving Supplies Checklist - $3 -
Also available as part of the full Fundamental Caregiving Packet - $9 -
What's one caregiving supply or item you wish you'd had sooner? Drop it in the comments - your answer might help someone else who's just getting started.
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