Going out with my father has a lot of the same prep as going out with a wee little one. Except I can find lots of info about prepping to leave the house with an infant or toddler.

I couldn’t find anything about leaving the home with a senior citizen.

So here’s my first attempt at prepping to do errands or go doctoring with dad.

Prepping to Go Outside

It’s a multi-day process!

I wish I was joking. When adding something to the calendar for him, the first reminder is set for two days prior to the event, and the second reminder is set for two hours before time to leave.

Why two days?

He has to bathe the day before. The pathway to the car has to clear. The dad-bag has to be stocked. The File of Life has to be up-to-date. Gotta make the dogs will have chewies. The car has to have his walking & transfer accessories. The scooter battery has to be charged.

Why two hours?

He needs to do a beard trim, wipe off the stinky bits, put on the warming lotion (wintertime), add some nice thermal undies to the usual attire, and so on. It takes a lot of time because he’s arthritic and limbs just don’t have the range of motion they need anymore.

Oh, and phones have to be charged.

What’s in the dad-bag of bags?

  • First aid kit
    • Medication list
    • Doctor list
    • Sanitizing wipes
    • Cold packs
    • Bandaids
    • Blood stopping gauze
    • Tourniquet
    • CPR Kit
    • Chest Seal
  • Toileting accoutrements
    • Pee pads
    • Diapers
    • Toilet seat covers
    • Toilet paper
    • Baby wipes
    • Pee bags
    • Hand sanitizer*
    • Silver spray*
    • Soiled clothing bag
    • Extra clothing
  • COVID care
    • UV-C light
    • Goggles
    • Masks and support frames
    • Gloves
    • Silver spray*
    • Hand sanitizer*
  • Comfort care
    • Hand cream
    • Lip balm
    • Sunscreen
    • Snot wipes and tissues
    • Season-appropriate hat
    • Hot packs
    • Wind protection for ears, face, and neck
  • Food & Restaurant
    • Stretchy silicon sippy cup lid and soft straw
    • Placemat
    • Juice
    • Snacks
    • Bibs
    • Lozenges
    • Hand sanitizer*
    • Silver spray*
  • Other important items
    • Reading glasses (these fit perfect in a large prescription bottle)
    • Glass cleaner
    • Stain pre-treatment pen
    • Pen, pencil, and permanent marker
    • Notebook
    • Device charging cords
    • Pre-paid VISA
    • Air cleaner pendant
    • Two full day’s medication

* Why yes, there are multiple little hand sanitizers and silver prayers! This is a lot easier than remembering to move one around as needed.

Why silver spray?

Because dad’s allergic to a lot of the perfumed commercial options, and a lot of those are pressurized, meaning they spew everywhere. The silver spray uses a traditional pump bottle, and goes only where we point it. Additionally, its not a big deal if we accidentally ingest some.

An EMT bag?!

They’re huge, brightly colored & easy to spot, made for rough & tumble use, easy to clean, and have lots of compartments. They’re also designed to open up for easy access and stuff finding.

A nice bonus is that first-responder types know exactly where to find important things. It can get a tad confusing when the car holds several fashionably designed items such as a purse, briefcase, backpack, computer bag, and an excursion bag. Especially if they’re a matched set.

Got enough gear?

Nope! There’s more!

The car also holds a scooter, walker, and cane. A blanket and pillow. It’s own set of masks, gloves, and wipes.

In an econobox car.

Yep. It’s precisely packed so we can still fit in a cart-full of groceries.

Let’s just say if we were to play Tetris, you will lose.