Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General information only, not medical advice. Ask the person’s care team or pharmacist what applies to a specific situation.
Short answer
Home caregiver supplies fall into three buckets: everyday consumables (hygiene items and first aid), equipment that is used repeatedly for a medical reason, and an emergency stock for the household. Sorting a list this way shows which items to buy, which to borrow, and which to ask a plan or supplier about first.
Definition and scope
This page uses “caregiver supplies” (also searched as supplies for caregivers, caregiver essentials or a caregiver kit) for items a family or home caregiver keeps on hand when looking after someone at home. It is not the stock list of a home care agency; for that, see the home health aide supply kit guide. It names no brands and gives no prices.
How the three buckets work in practice
Bucket 1: consumables tied to hand hygiene
The CDC lists key times to wash hands, including when caring for someone at home who is sick and after changing diapers. The CDC says washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations; when soap and water are not readily available, it says an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be used, and the label shows the alcohol content. Soap and a sanitizer that meets that label test are therefore the supplies with a direct source behind them. Other consumables for incontinence are covered in adult diaper sizing and underpads.
Bucket 2: equipment
Medicare describes durable medical equipment (DME) as equipment that is durable (it can withstand repeated use), used for a medical reason, and used in the home. Those three words are a useful test for any larger item on a caregiver’s list. The same page tells readers to make sure their doctors and DME suppliers are enrolled in Medicare. Details are in Medicare Part B durable medical equipment, and what a medical equipment store is explains the supplier side.
Bucket 3: emergency stock
The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) emergency preparedness checklist for caregivers includes a home supplies list: drinking water, no-cook food, a flashlight, a portable radio, spare batteries and a cell phone. It also lists a first aid kit, medications, a medications list, an emergency medical form, a manual can opener, dust masks, personal hygiene items, backup prescription glasses and blankets.
Checklist by category
| Bucket | Items a source names | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Consumables | Soap and water; alcohol-based sanitizer with 60% or more alcohol | CDC Clean Hands |
| Equipment | Any item that is durable, used for a medical reason and used at home (the test, not a product list) | Medicare.gov |
| Emergency stock | Water, no-cook food, flashlight, radio, batteries, first aid kit, medications and medication list, emergency medical form, dust masks, hygiene items, spare glasses, blankets | Family Caregiver Alliance |
Where it matters for supply decisions
Before adding an item to the list, ask four questions:
- Is it a consumable, a piece of equipment or emergency stock? Only equipment meets the Medicare DME test above.
- If it is equipment, is the supplier enrolled in Medicare? Medicare.gov advises using enrolled DME suppliers.
- Can it be borrowed first? See the medical equipment loan closet guide.
- Has the care team said it applies to this person? Needs differ from person to person.
Common misunderstandings
A kit is not a product list. The sourced items above are short; add others only when the care team or a named source supports them.
Every item bought for home care is not DME. Medicare’s definition requires durability, a medical reason and home use together.
Standard precautions are not a home shopping list. The CDC standard precautions page is written for healthcare providers and calls for hand hygiene and personal protective equipment when exposure to infectious material is expected; it does not tell families what to stock.
FAQ
What are caregiver supplies?
Items a family or home caregiver keeps for daily care and for emergencies, sorted here into consumables, equipment and emergency stock.
What belongs in a caregiver kit?
For emergencies, the Family Caregiver Alliance checklist is the sourced starting point: water, no-cook food, light, radio, batteries, first aid kit, medications and a medications list, and an emergency medical form.
Does Medicare pay for caregiver essentials?
Medicare covers durable medical equipment, and its coverage page advises using enrolled suppliers and defines which items count as DME. Consumables are a separate question to ask the plan.
What hand-cleaning supplies does the CDC mention?
Soap and water, and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for when soap and water are not readily available.
Sources
- CDC, About Clean Hands (page dated 16 February 2024; checked 1 November 2026)
- Family Caregiver Alliance, Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Caregivers (read 1 November 2026)
- Medicare.gov, Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage (read 1 November 2026)
- CDC, Standard Precautions for All Patient Care (April 2024; checked 1 November 2026)
