Wash cloths are cheaper by the dozen - I used the inexpensive all cotton wash cloths sold in packages of 6 or 12 and available in super markets, K-Mart and Target type stores and drug stores to deal with my husband’s incontinence and other needs. 

• The thin nature of these wash cloths allows the caregiver to get a good grip on the 'problem' at hand. They are easily rinsed off (remember how we used to slosh cloth baby diapers in the good ole’ days) and thrown in the laundry for final cleaning. These cloths last for weeks before they get ratty looking, and because the price is right can be replaced without hitting your budget too hard. 

• Different colors for different functions.  One color for incontinence use only.

• Products similar to baby wipes, are difficult to use.  Babies don't have all the undergrowth to deal with that adults have.  You need something that gives you a good grip on the situation, literally.  I also found that it was easier to set up the wash cloths, some already soaped and some with just water for rinsing. Stack them and grab and discard as needed.  If using the packaged products pull out all the sheets you think you'll need before you begin.  They do offer convenience ‘on the road’ and some of these products are flushable.

• When I traveled with my husband, I kept a few moistened and soaped wash cloths in zip lock bags in my ever present tote bag.  I looked for off highway gas stations that offered the privacy of a single stall room with sink.  I always carried a small bottle of liquid soap in the tote bag. 

Nothing works better than soap and water when dealing with incontinence.  I cut liquid soap, half soap to half water.  This allows an easy flow of soap from dispenser and doesn't put too much soap on the cloth.  Use a dispenser with a pull top, the tab tops get in the way when you're in a hurry and you will always be in a hurry to get the job done as quickly as possible.

Cold Pressed Castor Oil and Bag Balm- make a good lubricant/salve for skin lesions/ bruises/diaper rash. They are both healing to the skin,  are an excellent inexpensive buffer between diaper and skin, and they don't have an unpleasant smell.  Diaper rash can escalate to a full blown problem overnight.  I recommend regular use of either of these products.  Even Hospice was impressed with how quickly Tom's skin rebounded with these products.  

One note of caution, be careful not to get any of the oil on the incontinence pad or the tabs won't hold. 

• Cold Pressed Castor oil has been used as a topical skin treatment since biblical times, and I used it as a skin treatment exclusively from the moment my husband became incontinent. It can be bought in any health store.  For Information on topical use of this product this book is available on Amazon:  Edgar Cayce and the Palma Christi by William A. McGarey

• Bag Balm My sister swears by it for diaper rash for her twins, and I found many of my support group members had been turned on to it by one of the group members.

Baby Medication Syringes - The plastic syringes are inexpensive, and are available in any drug store, K-Mart, or Target-like store. I used them for feeding clear soups and other liquids when Tom had difficulty eating. The syringe holds a good spoonful of liquid and the size of the apparatus makes it easy for the caregiver to regulate the amount of liquid that goes into the mouth. Cut the tip of the syringe back to get the desired hole size. It also worked with pureed foods.

Ice Tea or Ice Cream Soda Spoons are easier to use when feeding a reclining or bed-ridden person. The longer handle gives much more leverage than regular soup or tea spoons.  

Stick to cotton, rayon, silk or woolen clothing if your person is becoming bed ridden.   Polyester and other synthetics, although touted as being easy to clean, are not kind to fragile skin, and they really aren’t easier to keep clean. In fact, I have found that once a stain is set in a synthetic it is impossible to remove.  There are more and more beautiful, un-dyed, natural fiber fabrics appearing in garments in stores like K-Mart and Target and catalogues, which gets them into anyone’s budget.  Stay away from highly perfumed softeners and strong bleaching.  Look to more nature friendly products and rinse thoroughly after washing.   The less chemical on the skin the better.

• Cotton is the strongest natural fiber there is and it stands up to repeated washing.  I recommend this as a preferred fiber in clothing.  I also recommend all-cotton sheets, percale or flannel.  Read the labels to be sure they are 100% cotton before buying.  Look for cotton knits, because knits stretch and are softer on the skin.  

• Rayon is the only man made fiber with natural breathability, and, contrary to belief, it is washable. Spin dry long enough to remove wrinkles then take out and hang dry.  Rayon /cotton blends are fine. 

• Silk knits are warming and light on the skin, but they often feel sticky in a hot humid climate. 

• Wool can be a problem if the person has a sensitivity to wool.  However, wool on top of cotton always works.

• Synthetics induce sweating, which increases the chance of skin breakdown in an immobile person.  They can be rough on the skin and make skin itch.  As a further note, most all woven men’s pajamas are cotton/polyester blends. I do not recommend them.  Sleeping on polyester sheets is like sleeping on a plastic bag in my opinion.  Also, many elderly develop allergies to synthetics.  Our people will not be able to tell you of their discomfort.

100% cotton knit turtle neck shirts are actually easier to put on an immobile end-stage person than a T-shirt.  Put the arms in first, wiggle the shirt as high on the arms as possible and pull over the head.  The turtle neck actually stretches easier and further than any other top.  

• Shirts that button in front involve a lot of manipulation of the arms which become very stiff during the last stage of this illness.  Shirts that button or close in back can cause bed sores.

• Cut labels from the neck.  They scratch, itch and can rub sensitive skin.

• Pull-on pants, with elastic ties are easier to get on people who have less and less ability to aide in their own dressing.   

• Remember, feet need the same attention as the rest of the body.  Soft white cotton socks keep the feet warm as well as covered.  Men's cotton tube socks are sturdier than women's and stand up to wear, sweating etc.  I'd recommend them for women as well as men.  Their feet and hands tend to get cold easily as the disease progresses.   

• Shoes and some slippers may hurt during the late stages.  If you insist on foot wear look for fleece pull on slippers.

Cover bed mattresses with breathable water-resistant covers instead of plastic covers and rubber sheets. These allow the skin to breath and are washable.   I know everyone wants to get that plastic cover but plastic induces sweating, which increases the potential for skin breakdown.  It isn't necessary to protect the entire mattress unless your person isn't being changed regularly.  The water-resistant covers used along with the baby crib pads (and towels) which protect the torso area, should cover any event that happens.  I never had to worry about the mattress during the six years of dealing with my husband's  incontinency.  The point is to clean them regularly and not wait until everything is covered with mess and if mess happens, it can be cleaned.

• Do not leave a chair or bed-ridden person in a plastic covered, leatherette chair on the premise that they are easier to keep clean in the event of spills or incontinence. The plastic will induce sweating and, again, add to breakdown of the skin. 

• If you are purchasing a recliner for a disabled person, and I recommend them highly, get one with normal upholstery that is well padded.  Use baby pads on the seat if you are afraid of incontinence accidents. Those are washable and your person will be much more comfortable. I added an egg crate mattress cut to fit our chair and made it presentable with an all-cotton throw on top. I also added an ottoman at the feet to give his legs and feet proper support.  My goal was always to consider the state of his skin. He never had a lesion that erupted into a full scale bed sore until the very last week of his life.

• Use pillows to support the torso, knees, elbows, neck, heels.  Gravity constantly pulls the body and they don't have the ability to adjust to the pressure.  Bed sores result from rubbing on any surface.

Hand held shower head with an 8-foot hose.   Get a 7 - 8 foot hose.  The purpose of the 8 foot hose is to increase ability to shower a chair-ridden person properly. The additional length allows the caregiver to spray up, over, around and under with ease. I recommend a plain lightweight plastic hose, and it is possible to purchase an inexpensive lightweight hand-held nozzle without the hose, thereby putting your own package together. 

It helps to have an on-off button on the hand-held nozzle to control water flow.  You do not need the heavy, multi-purpose massage shower heads, which are also more expensive and somewhat unwieldy.

If your local hardware store doesn’t carry the 8 foot hose, ask if they can make one for you. If not, a local plumbing supply place can. Again, don’t let them talk you into the metal spiral, covered, more expensive hose. Lightness and maneuverability are the key words when bathing a disabled loved one. Some catalogues are offering such a shower nozzle with a 7 foot hose. The important point to hose length is reachability.

Bungee Cords instead of baby gates.   I found that two substantial eye hooks screwed into the door frames with a bungee cord strung between them effectively kept Tom out of any room off limits.  The baby gates actually created a hazard, in that they were too short for his height and he could fall over them.  They were also a pain in the neck to open and shut for my access to my own space.  The bungee cords allowed me to keep doors open throughout the house while securing his walk space.  They also gave Tom a signal of resistance when his body touched on them, he never tried to get over or under them, and he was unable to figure out how to detach them.