Home Health Aids

How to Buy the Best Home Health Aids: A Buying Guide

Everyone has skinned their knee, cut their finger, or sprained a wrist at one point in their life. Many times these common injuries occur in our own backyard. Of course, a little bump or bruise doesn't mean you need to visit the doctor - that's why you have the medicine cabinet.

Home health aids are all the small healthcare items you keep in your home: Band-Aids, rubbing alcohol, basic medical gauze and tape, Q-tips, Icy-Hot, Epsom salts, and more. Anything you use to ease a common ache or pain, or used in first aid training falls into this category. You may also sometimes see these items in the store under the category "medical supplies." Home health aids are an important addition to any home, as they can help you to treat and care for small injuries around the house.

You can find the home health aids you need at special members-only prices at your local Sam's Club - whether you're buying a new first aid kit, or restocking the one you keep in the kitchen.

What Different Types of Home Health Aids Are There?

Home health aids include many different items that help with in-home basic health care. These include but are not limited to:

• First Aid Kits and Supplies: Most homes have a basic first aid kit that includes adhesive bandages, gauze, tape, and isopropyl alcohol for cleaning cuts and scrapes. You can recognize this kit by the red cross usually printed on its cover.
• Scales: Part of your day-to-day health includes maintaining a healthy weight as recommended by your doctor. A scale can help you track your progress.
• Home Safety Aids: Anything that makes your home a little safer to maneuver would fall into this category. You can think of things like bath mats, shower chairs, and tub rails as examples.
• Thermometers: A thermometer tells your internal body temperature and is useful for understanding if you have a fever. There are different types of thermometers used for different portions of the body, so check the type you need before purchasing.
• Breathalyzers: A breathalyzer is a small device used to read the blood alcohol content (BAC) of an individual.

What Home Health Aids Do I Need?

Every household will need different home health aids, so when it comes time to stock up, you should take into account what you'll actually use. It's always a good idea to have a small first aid kit with the basics for any medical emergency, whether that's heatstroke or a sprain that needs a splint. Other basics like cold packs or hot pads for joint or muscle pain can also be good to have on hand. Some emergency kits will include small bottles of aspirin in the case of a heart attack.

Keeping a scale in your home can help keep all the members of your household on track with a healthy weight as recommended by their doctor. It can also help you to reach any personal fitness goals you have set. Other equipment in the home health aid category you may need will again depend on the needs of your household. If you have anyone with mobility or accessibility differences, you may want to look into home health aids that will make day-to-day life a little easier and safer. These could be handrails for the toilet or bathtub or a chair for the shower.

What to Consider When Buying Home Health Aids

What does your household need?

If you don't need a breathalyzer or a tub rail at home, then you may not need to purchase one to add to your home health aids. However, most households will benefit from having a first aid kit for emergencies and other daily health care essentials like cotton swabs or thermometers. You should also know if your household has any allergic reactions that require medicine to treat, or allergies to medicines or materials like latex, before buying home health aids.

What do you already have in stock?

Before buying new home health aids, consider what you have at home already. You'll be able to keep your health kits stored efficiently and without worrying about expiration dates if you're purposeful in your shopping.

Should you buy a kit?

Many home health aids come in kits that include a small amount of many medical necessities for one price. These kits often come with their own container so they'll easily fit under the sink or in a cabinet.

What's your budget?

Some home health aid items come in a range of prices, like thermometers or home safety devices, so consider your budget when you begin to shop.

When will things expire?

Keeping expired items in your home health kits can be dangerous, as they may not work like they're supposed to if they're too far out of their expiration date. This is especially true if your kit contains aspirin or other medications for medical emergencies.

In addition to purchasing home health aids

You may also want to enroll in a first aid course, or familiarize yourself with useful first aid tips so that you can implement these tools in the best way possible. The American Red Cross often offers courses, so check with your local branch today. You can keep a first aid guide in your home that walks anyone through basic first aid skills and first aid techniques even if they haven't taken a course.

What Brands of Home Health Aids Does Sam's Club Sell?

Sam's Club is thrilled to offer our Members the following brand of home health aids:

• Member's Mark
• Band-Aid
• Neosporin
• Thera-Med
• Dynarex
• Medline
• Carex
• Veridian

FAQ - Home Health Aids

How much are home health aids?

Depending on the home health aid, the price can range from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. Most common needs, like bandages, are less than $20.

What home health aids do I need?

You should consider the specific needs of your household when purchasing home health aids, but things like bandaids, ibuprofen, and cold packs are usually helpful to have on hand.

How often should I replace my home health aids?

Check the expiration of each item in your first aid kit to know when to replace your home health aids. Different items will expire at different times, with medication needing to be replaced the most frequently.

Does Medicare cover home health aids?

According to the Medicare.gov website, Medicare does not cover medical supplies you usually use at home. Check with your provider to see which supplies are covered.

Where do I buy home health aids?

Sam's Club is pleased to offer a wide variety of home health aids to our members.