Tuesday’s Caregiving Tips, 10/14/14

 Tuesday’s Three Caregiving Tips, 10/14/14

   Here are three real quick caregiving tips on ways to save in the pocketbook area.  The first tip comes from Robert recently going back to see his physical therapist (PT) for getting his mobility back as well as getting to where he’s standing right and not slumped over at about a 45 degree bend or more.  One of the medical devices his therapist uses is called a “Transfer Pole.  As seen here in this grainy photo.  One day it hit me, why not put a post-it note up on the wall at or just above the height he can reach and have him reach for them, as in their photos, and you can move them around so the reach changes giving them a challenge.

                        Its a good thing you can’t see my horrible artwork.

 

 

 

 

     The second tip was found in our local drug stores pharmacy department.  If you have to shop for incontinence products such as wipes, the first place you would normally go is the pharmacy area and the incontinence aisle.  Well I happen to have to pick some wipes up for Robert and was grabbing a few scripts at the same time and grabbed their special (2 – 3 packs for $18.00) with each pack having 65 wipes in them, so 195 wipes total or 0.46 cents each.  It was sort of funny because I also had to grab some good old 2 ply Charmin.  When I came across wipes there also I assumed they were the same cost until I looked closer, 84 wipes in each pack at a price of only $2.29 each, lets see nowthat works out to 0.27 cents each or a grand savings of $13.42 on 3 packs.  Check your local stores and see if they carry wipes in other sections of the store besides the pharmacy, toilet paper aisle and even the baby diaper department.  Who know there could be even a better deal out there.

 

     Final, my third tip relates to compression socks, briefs, leggings, etc. Search on-line for deals, please don’t buy these at your local drug store or from your hospitals pharmacy.  Search online, look under “compression socks, running socks, etc.”  Also search eBay, Overstock.com all of those sites have and sell them at a price about 1/2 of your local brand name stores, some of the auction type sites even have, “Free Shipping” so the only issue you will have is to wait for delivery.  Now if you’re looking for quality, still look online, Tommy Copper (Great Product) is out there being sold on the online auction sites as well as several other copper related manufacturers.

                                                    

 

AUTHORS BIO:

Richard is a trifecta caregiver, along with his wife he cares for himself, with Chronic Back Pain which he’s had for 21 years.  He cares for his brother in-law, Robert who lives with him and who has dealt with Epilepsy his entire life.  He also advocates for his mother who has various cardiac related issues, severe hearing loss and other medical issues.  You can read about his experiences with chronic pain and how he deals with his mothers and brother in-law’s issues on PickYourPain.org or at Caregiving.com.  He is also involved in several of Caregiving.com’s support groups and chat rooms, he is co-host of an internet based radio show about caregiving. Richard is also a patient adviser, board member for Intake.me which is working to improve the intake process at medical facilities.  Richard has three adult children who despite them having to deal with his medical issues, he says, “They have turned out better than I’d hoped for.”