OTC Products Every Caregiver Should Know About for Senior Care

Caregivers Need the Right Supplies

If you are caring for a senior family member, understanding their OTC benefit can save significant money and ensure they have the products they need. Many caregivers don't realize the full range of products available through Medicare Advantage OTC benefits. This guide helps you maximize the benefit for the person you care for.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Disposable gloves: Nitrile or vinyl gloves for wound care, incontinence care, and hygiene assistance. Always use gloves when handling bodily fluids to protect both you and the person you're caring for
• Hand sanitizer: Keep hand sanitizer at every care station — bedside, bathroom, and kitchen. Use before and after every caregiving task
• Face masks: Disposable masks for when either you or the person you care for has a cold or respiratory illness. Protecting vulnerable seniors from respiratory infections is critical

Daily Care Products

• Incontinence supplies: Protective underwear, bed pads, cleansing wipes, and barrier cream. Stock up quarterly to ensure you never run out — running out of incontinence supplies is a common caregiver stress point
• Skin protection: Moisturizing cream for dry skin, barrier cream for moisture-exposed areas, and gentle cleansers. Aging skin tears easily and heals slowly
• Oral care: Toothbrushes, denture cleanser, mouth moisturizer, and lip balm. Oral care is often neglected in caregiving but affects nutrition, comfort, and overall health

Medication Management

• Weekly pill organizers: AM/PM pill organizers make medication management easier. Fill them once a week and both you and the senior can verify medications were taken
• Pill crushers and splitters: For seniors who have difficulty swallowing pills. Crush tablets and mix with applesauce or pudding for easier administration
• Medication log: Keep a written or printed log of all medications, dosages, and times. In an emergency, this log helps paramedics understand the complete medication picture

Maximizing the OTC Benefit

• Plan quarterly: Most OTC benefits renew quarterly. Plan purchases so the benefit is fully used each quarter — unused amounts typically don't roll over
• Order online if available: Many plans allow online ordering with home delivery, saving a trip to the store. Check if your plan has an online OTC catalog
• Keep receipts: If purchasing at a retail store, keep receipts in case of any benefit balance questions. Some plans require specific product codes