So much of caregiving is solving problems. The goal here is to provide you one easy-to-access place to get Caregiver-recommended solutions for things you face while caring for your parent.
Many links are for Amazon, as that is an easily-accessible delivery option for Caregivers, even those who live in more isolated areas.
This is posted by Caregiver Pam H. in the public Facebook group Family Caregivers Support Group in July 2025. I took a screen shot last summer, wanting to preserve the idea as it is now buried among the posts by the group’s 106,000 members.
This tip for organizing meds deserves to be seen by more Caregivers, as it can help. All credit goes to Pam H., who posted that she is Caregiver to her Mom. Thank you, Pam!
My caregiving experience was in a small house, and the close proximity of the home meant noise travelled. The closeness was stifling. I needed to hear what was going on, but I needed a way to escape, too. AfterShokz headphones gave me the best of both worlds.
Bone conduction headphones sound weird, but they’re easy to use and very lightweight. They aren’t in the ear, so I didn’t miss Mom’s call…even while I was listening to my music.
Unfortunately, they’re expensive and they’re wireless so need recharging after 8 hours of use. But, for me, the mental freedom was priceless!
This is something I learned from other Caregivers online: keep a clearly-marked envelope with medical information, updated medications, list of pertinent allergies, and emergency contacts either within Line of Sight at the front door, or affixed to the fridge door. Also, make sure that your house number is lit at night. Inexpensive solar lights can be purchased on Amazon, if needed.
If you’d like a FREE download of a Medical Information Form, you can print one (without signing up for a membership) at vialoflife.com.
Caregiver, if you haven’t already, please compile all of the medical information you might need to take with you when an emergency arises.
Keep it in an easily-accessible place, ready to grab.
Include copies of all the documents you’ve prepared for First Responders (mentioned in the post above) as well as insurance information, list of medical professionals (MDs, specialists, pharmacy), and anything else you deem necessary.
For over 10 years, daughterhood.com has offered Caregivers options for both resources and support. All of their Zoom-based groups (free Zoom account needed) are led by Caregivers.
They offer topic-specific sessions, links to their caregiving podcasts, or written blog articles for a wide variety of caregiving situations.
With 70,000 reviews at 4.4 stars, this lightweight grabber tool is a great option to see if it works for your caregiving situation. One helpful Amazon review, by ‘meatballsandwichponydog’, mentions that it can pick up a pill capsule (!), earplug, and even a tennis shoe. But it wouldn’t budge on a 32oz jar of juice. To me, that means there are remotes, glasses, and spoons that it should pick up easily.
If it allows Dad to maintain some independence, and gives your back a break, then maybe it could be a problem-solver for your house.
This is one of those practical solutions that doesn’t seem linked to caregiving, but for both of my parents, really helped to keep them safe when they got up in the middle of the night.
These simple LED nightlights were bright enough to light hallways and bathrooms when light was needed, but aren’t hard on the eyes. They come on at dusk and go off at dawn, like clockwork, and haven’t been replaced since I bought them about 7-8 years ago. These show 31,600+ reviews, 4.7 stars.
There’s so much that we try to remember when we’re caregiving, for our Loved One and for us! I struggled to remember medication times, favorite show times, appointments and more, until I started with a white board on the fridge and then graduated to reminders/alarms programed into our Amazon Echo devices. “Alexa, set a daily reminder to take meds at 9am, noon, and 5pm.”
Take some pressure off, Caregiver, and utilize the technology you have around you. Setting reminders and alarms gets things off your mental to-do list.
I first saw this exact wash basin recommended by a Caregiver in a caregiving group online, as she uses this with her Mom. Amazon reviewer Amanda says “The pillow offers good support and is still easy to wash hair around it. The water does not leak down her neck or onto the bed. The material is thick enough that it feels sturdy, and the basin holds quite a bit of water.”
Amazon reviewer ‘jm’ said: “I was able to wash her hair with her lying flat. There was a sink nearby so didn’t use the drain hose. Just ladle the dirty water out with a cup I used to wet and rinse her hair. Easy to blow up..didn’t need a pump.”
As Caregivers to aging parents, the worry about UTIs comes up a lot in online caregiving discussions, especially when we see worrisome changes in our Loved One’s behavior. This is the first time I’ve seen UTI test strips mentioned as an option to help with monitoring for UTIs. The link to the mentioned product is included here to make your research easier.
IMPORTANT: Please ask your medical professionals if this is a viable solution for your care situation. Including this item here is not a substitute for medical advice.
If getting your Loved One (or you!) to drink enough water is a struggle, I found a clean, no sugar brand sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. (To me, these electrolytes don’t have a stevia aftertaste.)
They’re made with real ingredients, all natural, and flavored with real fruit.
I’ve bought the popular brands both in bottles and advertised online…these electrolytes don’t taste salty because their sodium level is lower.
This referral link gives you $10 off, and gives me a $10 credit (click on the logo at the top of their page). Or, just go to www.justingredients.com.
Even when there was no recollection of her family, my Mom would look at this picture on her wall, seemingly familiar with the images. I think they brought her some comfort and held some sort of familiarity she couldn’t identify.
My sister-in-law made up 2 family tree posters for Mom that were the size of poster board, with images collected off family Facebook accounts. It could be easily recreated with printed pictures, poster board, and a glue stick, and provides a connection for Mom of those she loves, even if she’s forgotten. And it could easily include cherished family friends and pets. (I didn’t realize that poster board can be delivered to your door via Amazon. Go figure.)
Caregiver, if you’re looking for printable creative activities for your Loved One – things like crafts, word games, and puzzles – then check out the resources available at Maria’s Place.
The Amazon Echo Show is, by far, my favorite caregiving solution. When I lived in-home with Mom, it allowed me to check in via my phone’s app, making sure everything at home was okay. When Mom moved into full-time care, the device became indispensable: playing her music or videos, showing pictures of family, and having our nightly 7pm chats. Family “dropped in,” too.
We purchased 4 sizes of the Echo Show for caregiving. The speakers are of good quality, and the device is “plug and play” so none of us needed any tech no-how to use it; it basically set itself up. It does require an internet plan.
OdoBan is a solution that I learned about online from other Caregivers, and it worked! It isn’t overwhelming scent-wise, but most importantly it really does help with incontinence smells.
I got mine on Amazon. You might be able to find it locally near you. I just found that it’s one less thing to do to have it delivered to me.
Caregivers often suggest Scrubzz rinse-free bath sponges online when others ask about recommendations for bathing when a bath or shower isn’t an option. Scrubzz are highly rated at Amazon.
Caregivers have posted that you can buy these via Amazon but prices are better at the company’s website.
My Mom struggled for the last several years, and accidents happened. Getting her into the shower wasn’t always an option, and I experimented with all kinds of wipes and no-rinse bathing products that were messy or left a residue that had to be cleaned up later. I wish I’d had these.
As you know, Caregiver, aging brings about all sorts of mobility issues. Brushing hair becomes so much harder, because reaching up gets more challenging.
I bought this little brush on a whim, and it turned into a favorite experience for Mom! I found one that looks identical on Amazon, and the good reviews say things that confirm it’s the same item but a different name. You can do a search for silicone scalp brush to find one you like. Money well spent!
Caregiver, sometimes a simple gadget can help to maintain cherished independence.
My Dad initially asked for help because he just couldn’t manage his shirt buttons anymore. I wound up getting two, because both he and Mom used these.
It’s an inexpensive investment that allowed Dad to continue to button his favorite shirts, without help. (I found it using “shirt button helper” on Amazon. )
For me, anything I could find that gave back that sense of independence…was priceless.
Caregiver, this item is something I researched and had in my Prime cart, but never actually bought. I realized too late that my Mom just didn’t have any strength left to lift herself, and it was a very sad day when I realized that getting her into my vehicle had become impossible.
I include this here not because I’ve used it, but because it’s very highly reviewed and I came *this close* to purchasing it before realizing it wouldn’t perform the miracle I needed at the time. It’s a small device, easily inserted in the door latch, that gives Mom some stability as she gets into and out of a vehicle.
Incontinence supplies can be so bulky, and my proper Mom, with her painted fingernails and sparkly jewelry, needed a bag to match her personality that could carry her “unmentionables” in public, should she need them. For her, this lightweight 10 x 13 bag with soft handles fit the need nicely; she was pleased to have it displayed on her walker. (An Amazon search for colorful tote bags shows many options; an idea is linked here.)
Part of keeping Mom’s dignity is finding solutions to facilitate her needs in ways that fit her personality. This bag worked for us to mask bulky necessary supplies in a bright and cheery way.
Caregiver, if Mom needs more time to eat before food needs reheating, this is an inexpensive solution. It’s a piece of marble, that when microwaved for a couple of minutes, holds heat to keep food plates warmer for longer.
The one recommended by Caregivers (and the one I bought, pictured here) was found on Amazon (or do a search for warming tray/plate to find one that works for your situation).
Caregiver, how do you decompress after a stressful day? Do you read, or watch movies? Do a craft? I discovered quite by accident that Mom loved to spread out her coloring books on a table, open up her case of colored pencils, and spend hours transferring bright colors onto paper. She found it soothing, and it became an activity that she and I could do together when conversing was a challenge.
Mom found that Jade Summer coloring books were easy to color without her feeling overwhelmed by an intricate pattern. And, because designs are one per page, I cut out pages and had Mom sign them to send to family for birthdays or Christmas cards, which was something she loved to do but could no longer accomplish.
Caregiver, if your Dad is facing increasing cognitive challenges, it can be hard to find activities that he enjoys that don’t cause frustration. Keepingbusy.com is a website that offers many different types of dementia activities (including free resources), and is where we purchased this 35-piece puzzle for Mom. I highly recommend a puzzle like this!
Amazon carries sequenced puzzles, which might be a good start to see if your Loved One enjoys this activity.
In our house, the silicone cushions designed for hammertoes broke easily and got lost all the time. Mom couldn’t keep them on.
Our local medical supply store carried little 0.4oz bags for $6, which would last Mom about a week; buying wool for hammertoes online was just as expensive. But a local coffee shop had craft supplies, where I happened upon 4oz packages of merino wool used for crafting. Because the wool was used for comfort, and there were no wounds on Mom’s feet, we didn’t need medical grade cushioning. Come to find out, those little 0.4oz bags of wool weren’t medical grade after all, just wool.
You can find a similar solution on Amazon where reviews state that it is “very soft and high quality.”
Caregiver, I spent much of my in-home caregiving time just “winging it.” Frazzled, frustrated, and just doing the best I could, then when I needed answers I did late-night Google searches trying to find answers, hoping that what I found was reputable.
I found “How to Care for Aging Parents” after Mom moved into a care home. I wish I’d found it earlier. It provides an “encyclopedia” of sorts in that it covers topics from adapting to new roles, navigating medical and legal issues, living with dementia and other cognitive impairments, through to saying good-bye and dealing with grief.
This might be something available at your local library.
Caregiver, I found “The 36-Hour Day” to be the most helpful resource for me when I was caring for my Mom as she battled dementia.
In an easy-to-read format, with bite-sized chunks of information, it offers help to understand the effects of dementia on your Loved One, how to care for them, and how it affects *you* to care for someone who struggles with cognitive decline.
Let’s face it, dementia is hard, and it’s heart-breaking. “The 36-Hour Day” answered a lot of questions for me, and helped me to better understand my Mom’s reactions. Check your local library or order online.
Caregiver, my Mom actually started this one…you can see some of her less colorful handiwork on the scissors shown. I thought it was just something my Mom did…tied yarn and strings on nail clippers, scissors, and bookmarks. Every single one in the house, without fail. Truth is, it used to drive me crazy. Now, I regret cutting so many of them off.
Reading this Caregiver hint in The Caregiver’s Essential Handbook, I wonder now if she learned to add these “tails” when she specialized as a Geriatric Registered Nurse. Braided yarn tied to items really does make them easier to see when they “travel” throughout the house.
FYI, This book is dated and out of print. Regretfully, I didn’t find it helpful to my caregiving situation.
I would have loved to have had dignified bibs for my Mom when she was here at home, but honestly I never thought about it. (My focus was on buying the best stain removers for the laundry!)
Once Mom moved into her care home, they used adult-size kid-shaped bibs, and those made me sad every time I had to put one on her. How I wished I could have had meal scarves like the ones shown here, for her!
A search on Etsy.com for “dining bibs” or “meal scarves” gives many reasonably-priced options, easily shipped to your door.
As dementia took it’s toll on my Mom, she couldn’t remember my name. The picture shows the very first nametag I wore, and it carries the memory of my Mom’s eyes catching the name, and calling me by it. It was a comfort to her – and to me – to remove her uncertainty…and to hear her say my name again.
This idea is for you if your Loved One struggles to remember names and connections: I bought a pack of Avery Name Tags (https://a.co/d/0faQXEK2 via Prime) hoping to remove her uncertainty.
Caregiver, I know how painful it is when Mom doesn’t remember who you are. Yes, it feels weird to wear a nametag for your Mom, but it was so worth it!
It’s certainly not a perfect solution, Caregiver, but sometimes it helps to read short stories from others who have caregiving journeys similar to ours.
There are a number of caregiving books out there, but I found that these short stories and poems “hit home” because I can relate! Some experiences will bring tears, some will provide ideas that help, and others will make us smile…and in one way or another, each of them have value.
Thank you for choosing to care, Caregiver. What an amazing gift you are!
Because the design of this page is “By Caregivers, For Caregivers,” we’d love to hear from you!
If you have a solution you’d like to share with other Caregivers, please email us at: transitionalcaregiver@gmail.com