A Caregiver’s Guide to Building an Expert-Approved Home Medical Kit

Essential first-aid supplies help caregivers deal with everything from illness to injury

Laura Petrecca,

Updated February 18, 2025

AARP

Reviewed by

Kyle Bradford Jones, American Academy of Family Physicians

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En español

Published December 20, 2024

/ Updated February 18, 2025

a person zips up a first aid kit. next to items like a pulse oximeter, a thermometer and medical tape

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Getty Images (7))

As a caregiver you’re involved with countless aspects of your loved one’s health, but a properly prepared home health care kit can help caregivers be ready for any issues that arise.

A well-stocked first-aid kit, “promotes a sense of peace of mind for the caregiver and also for the patient,” says Brian K. Unwin, MD, chief of geriatrics and palliative medicine at the Carilion Clinic Center for Healthy Aging in Roanoke, Va. Your kit’s contents should be tailored to your loved ones’ specific condition, medical history and recommendations from their healthcare providers. While customization is important, here are the six steps to create and maintain a home health care kit.

1. Build a strong foundation

Here are basic items that you can use to monitor and care for your loved one.

Infrared or digital thermometer. “I would suggest the contactless thermometers in general. They're very good, as long as they're a reputable brand,” Unwin says. They can be especially useful for those who have difficulty holding an oral thermometer in their mouth.

Pulse oximeter. These clip onto a finger to get a digital reading of blood oxygen levels. “The numbers are nuanced on a person-to-person basis,” Unwin says, so work with your loved one’s doctor to establish a baseline reading.

Blood pressure monitor. Your local rescue squad or your doctor can ensure you have the right size cuff and show you how to use the monitor properly, Unwin says. Your doctor can ensure it’s calibrated correctly.

Instant cold and heat packs. These instant packs are usually activated by squeezing and have the advantage of neither being too cold nor too hot when used on older skin. Unwin advises avoiding electric heating pads, because “They can cause significant burns and skin injury in older adults.”

Age-friendly bandages, gauze, and tape. Traditional adhesive tape can tear the fragile skin of older adults so opt for low-friction options like paper tape or silicone adhesives, notes Jessica Corona-Irwin, RN, at Remo Health, a virtual dementia care company.

ACE wraps or compression wraps. Use them to apply gentle pressure, control swelling or hold bandages in place. But be careful that you don’t create a tourniquet by wrapping it too tightly, Unwin warns.

Home testing kits. You can still get four free COVID-19 tests from the government. And there is also a combination COVID-19/flu test available at drug stores. Results could help your doctor decide whether to prescribe antiviral medications like Paxlovid or Tamiflu.

Use caution before adding medication

Always consult your loved one’s healthcare provider and pharmacist before adding over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to your kit. You want to avoid potential drug interactions and age-related complications.

“Some pain relievers shouldn’t be used in older adults,” says Unwin. For example, ibuprofen can cause gastric irritation, decrease kidney function and elevate blood pressure in older adults.

Along with pain relievers, talk to your doctor before dispensing medications such as antihistamines, decongestants and antidiarrheal drugs .

2. Consider specific health conditions

In addition to general first aid items, consider your loved one’s medical condition and include items tailored to their specific needs. It can be helpful to have some of the items in one place, especially if the main caregiver is handing off to someone else.

Glucose tablets for diabetes. “The time-sensitive emergency is often low, rather than high, blood sugar,” says Kevin Biese, MD, director of the division of geriatrics emergency medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. For an insulin-dependent diabetic, make sure they have access to properly stored insulin and a travel cooler in case they need to travel with insulin.

EpiPen for allergies. If a doctor has prescribed an EpiPen, consider keeping an extra. “It’s one the few interventions in medicine that can absolutely be lifesaving,” Biese says.

Extra bandages for those on blood thinners. If your loved one is on blood thinners, keep enough dressings on hand to effectively manage any bleeding, Unwin says.

Scale for those with heart or lung disease. If your loved one is short of breath, keeping track of weight can help pinpoint the problem. For example, if the pulse oximeter shows your loved one has normal oxygen levels in their blood but the scale shows your loved one weighs eight pounds more today than they weighed five days ago, fluid retention may be causing shortness of breath, says Unwin. With this data, your doctor can guide you on next steps.

Comforting items for cognitive issues. Family photos, familiar picture books, or a “fidget blanket,” made with textured material to provide tactile stimulation for patients suffering from dementia. In addition, writing up a list of strategies for preventing and managing fear, agitation or confusion, can be helpful, Corona-Irwin says.

3. Add in telehealth equipment

Having the right tools on hand can help make virtual healthcare visits more effective, as tech advances allow you to “show and tell” what is going on with your loved one, says Unwin.

In addition to a high-quality webcam or smartphone with a camera, a stable internet connection and tool such as a blood pressure monitor next to you allows you to share readings in real time. “There may be situations with certain heart conditions where (a doctor) will want to know what the blood pressure is in order to decide what to do next,” says Biese.

Even taking a photograph of a laceration and sharing it with your doctor can help them guide you on what to do, says Unwin

Check with your loved one’s provider for specific recommendations on what to add for remote appointments and communication.

4. Add a “go” bag to your kit

In case of a natural disaster or a visit to the emergency room, it’s a good idea to have a special “go” bag within your main kit or stashed near it.

Even if you and your loved one are just leaving for a weekend trip to visit family, it can be useful to take the items with you.

Medical summary. List supplements, prescription and over-the-counter medications with information on what each treats, the dosage, and administration times. Include details on any recent vaccinations, hospitalizations, allergies, and any devices – such as hearing aids – or joint implants.

Extra medication. Keep prescriptions in their original container, so they are easily identified.

Copies of important documents. Make sure to include ID, insurance and Medicare/Medicaid cards, along with healthcare power of attorney, advanced directive, Do Not Resuscitate order and a list emergency contacts.

Spare eyeglasses. Keeping extra pairs with current prescription lenses can be expensive, but a pair with the previous prescription “is a lot better than nothing,” says Biese.

Extra batteries for items such as hearing aids and glucose monitors ensure you stay powered up.

Incontinence supplies. If your loved one uses them, having spare pads and other products can avoid a mishap.

5. Learn how to use the kit’s supplies

Make sure that you and any back-up caregivers are comfortable using what you’ve put in your kit. You can find online and in-person first-aid classes through the American Red Cross. “Taking a class really increases a person's sense of confidence and competency,” says Unwin.

The Red Cross also offers a free first aid app that provides instant advice on how to perform CPR, control bleeding and other skills.

6. Update your kit regularly

Every six to 12 months, “just take a look and make sure that you've got the essential equipment [in your kit] and that any medications are not expired,” says Biese.

Here are some steps to take during your annual inspection:

Replace expired medications, bandages and any other perishable supplies.
Check devices to make sure they are functioning. Replace batteries if needed.
Review the paperwork to ensure it is all current and accurate. Make updates as needed.

Remember, if you face an emergency these tools can help, but your presence and reassurance is an important part of handling any health crisis, Unwin says.

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Laura Petrecca is a contributing writer for AARP. She has written for USA Today, Real Simple, Digiday’s WorkLife, Kiplinger, AARP, Men’s Health, Worth, Crain’s New York Business and Advertising Age.

Kyle Bradford Jones, MD, FAAFP, is an associate professor in family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine.