Recently I found it would be a good idea to take along a “go bag” when I take my wife to appointments. She’s having some problems with urination and maybe not getting to a restroom soon enough. She wears Always Discrete and hasn’t had any problem with leakage.
What do some of you take along and what sort of bag do you carry it all in?
I know I could Google it but would rather hear from folks on here. Y’all are more interesting!
I want to add I really enjoy this forum. I’ve learned a lot on here. One important thing I’ve learned is when to back off and shut my mouth. So thank you all!
I’m going with a backpack from Walmart. I had one like it several years ago that worked well for various trips before dementia. I’ll use it for doctor visits, etc. I’ll pick up another one to keep stuff in my truck. No car; hers was sold.
I'm heading to bed as soon as I go check the clothes in the dryer. Yes, I do our laundry here. Not sure I care for the way they do it.
Anyway, I’ll read through all the replies tomorrow you all have been good enough to send me.
As far as the kind of bag use whatever is easier for you to manage along with any walkers, wheelchair, etc you may be using. Include a plastic trash bag for soiled or wet clothes.
I also started putting those absorbent bed liners in the car seat my mom was riding in to absorb accidents in the car and protect the car seat. You can get these at Target, Walmart, medical supply stores etc.
If you're into crossword puzzles, in Safeway, their magazine/book section had a small enough size (slightly bigger than a paperback) that could fit in a purse. Walmart sells ballpoint pens with erasers on the end -- much easier to use in doing a crossword than a pencil with an eraser.
Ziplock bags can have a variety of uses, too (vomit bags, trash bags- especially for used personal care products, waterproofing electronics, etc.) I keep the extra-large size in my go bag. They are really useful if traveling, too- one of the dirtiest things in any hotel room anywhere I once read was the TV remote so the first thing I do after unpacking is drop the remote into a storage bag). These also have very little weight to them.
A dry washcloth (you could store this in one of the Ziplocks). Baby wipes are great but can dry out. A washcloth beats trying to clean someone with restroom paper towels any day and is very light-weight.
Cough drops. Useful not just for when you're sick. I often find that overly conditioned air can give me a dry throat regardless of how much water I drink. Also very light to carry.
Review your go bag regularly and toss out any expired food, trash, and to make sure the baby wipes are still moist. I keep a 3-day emergency go bag in my vehicle and check it twice a year for the same reasons.
If no wheelchair involved, just a simple tote bag (even a grocery store tote bag which is light in weight), and take the pads in it, and now an extra pair of light-weight pants and underwear/panties. I don't worry about wet wipes, sanitizer and all that stuff because we would access a bathroom which has sinks, soaps, etc. I like to keep it simple.
Now, if you're planning a longer day out, you can always add to that. But if it's just a simple out of house a couple of hours, I don't like to bog us down.
Having someone with medical needs for a day trip would be similar in some ways: I found this website about a go bag for ones with dementia by the Alzheimers Society that would be helpful: https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/documents/Be-ready-for-an-emergency-department-visit_My-ready-to-go-bag_Alzheimer-Society-Canada.pdf
I used a cloth tote bag to carry this. Put mom's wallet in tote with a printed list of her medications, health issues, doctors and mine & sister's phone numbers.
My Dh always gets stuck accompanying me to the ER, and it’s not always convenient to get to a hospital’s snack-bar.
Or they may be closed to “outsiders.” A hospital I go to regularly for blood checks had both a nice cafeteria and snack bar with fruit, sandwiches, coffee, etc. But for a 2-year period of the pandemic it was open only to staff. A sign said “visitors” could not go there and people with appointments (i.e. patients actually) were not allowed as they were considered "visitors". I take a para-transit bus to this hospital and the first time this happened I went for about 6 hours with no food. Water I could only get by going into a medical office and asking for a cup of water.
I always kept a list of meds. with complete details along with blood type. To me this is good to have in glove box as well in case of accident and you aren’t able to explain what is needed. You can also keep this list in your phone.
When my father was alive, I always carried back-up portable oxygen batteries, and E tanks for longer use, plus an additional "key" to activate the E tanks.
Cell phone car charger, plus a manual, as I never bothered to learn all the functions, and other than 911 and other important numbers, I just wasn't interested in relying on a cell phone while traveling.
Small phone directory such as those used before the advent of cell phones. I had one small booklet each for medical numbers, friends (especially Dad's church friends as someone would help or find someone else who could if we needed it (and we did, once, when the house front door jammed, it was cold weather, we couldn't get in, and oxygen was already running low).
Backup clothing, especially scarves, hats, gloves and blankets, year round, as older people get cold more quickly.
Tire pump and gauge were mandatory. Once I was in a panic when I couldn't get the gauge to work, pump wasn't working, and I had to go to a few different gas stations before I could get a low tire pumped up.
Dozens of freebie medical samples; I used to collect them at senior expos when they were readily available, for free. These always included the sani-wipes, bandaids, and much more.
Reading material, positive, and upbeat in case a bad situation arose.
Water in traveling cups, and sometimes backups in gallon jugs.
Antifreeze, funnel, and something else for the car - can't remember right now.
Hallah, I think you're wise to address these issues. With your wife's situation, I think I would also carry some plastic bags, either grocery bags, or those that come in a roll, for those "just in case" moments. And handi-wipes; I also have a large collection of those which I got at senior expos.
TNtechie, your comment on a first aid kit reminded me of when I cut a finger at a friend’s house. I asked him for a band aid. We searched all over the house……no band aid, no first aid kit. I finally remembered my wife had a first aid kit in her car. Viola! Band aid!
In my backpack have much of what's listed below, as well as mints and chocolate, which seem to help when it's a stressful day for my husband. As well as a small cotton ball that has a few drops of lavender oil on it, in a wee plastic bag-he finds the scent soothing. A squeezy ball for either person is great, helps when there are delays and I need something to squish while waiting for imaging or testing to get done : )
Medication list and her doctor's contact information, in case you're nowhere near her usual care region.
I'm so known by the family for carrying my mini-kit that the kids came to me when a player on the team gashed their hand during a scrimmage and the team kit was out of good sized band aids.
My husband, who is subject b to sudden bouts of dizziness always carries some of his anti-dizzy meds in his. Came in handy just today.
If you'd rather always be prepared on the spot but travel light, a 'man bag' of your choice could contain one change of underwear. Add wipes, rubbish bag, hand sani if expecting to get caught far from bathroom facilities.
Any sort of tote bag will do.
Or a 'crossbody bag' or 'courier bag' works well if you need your hands free.
Can also contain a water bottle, paperwork etc which is the reason you brought a bag with you! (If your wife is sensitive about the other items & forbids them coming along - have experience with that 😜)
PS. Socks - if she wears.
So many times the socks get wet! However, not going to hurt anyone too much to get home without any. None better than wet!
One time, my mother wetted the car seat because she was leaning to the side when she sat. It took a lot of cleaning and airing to get rid of the odor. Yuck!!! From then on, I put an underpad down wherever she sat. So glad I did because she did have more leaking accidents.
Change of pants if she wears them. Otherwise a snap button housedress.
Baby, wipes, lotion and her brand of depends.
A couple of books or magazines.
A couple of waters and some small snacks.
All this can be put into a large ladies purse or backpack.
This will cover her not thru just long appointments but also er visits up to admission.