It took years and many, many Amazon purchases later to find the items that really worked for my mom. Mostly these were found through trial & error and what works for one person may not meet your loved one’s needs. Some of these items are geared towards women as that is what I am most intimately familiar with, but most items are applicable for both men and women. It’s also important to note that there will be a varying level of needs as the disease progresses. You certainly will not need everything on this list right away (or maybe ever), but they cover a wide range of care. In the below post, I’ll break down what I found to be some of the most useful items. You can access *almost* all of these items through the link below:

My Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Essentials

Hygiene Items:

• Foam toothbrushes: These are great for when regular toothbrushes become too difficult to use. I would typically get the brush wet and rub a small amount of toothpaste all over the applicator. If your loved one begins to pocket food in their cheeks and gums, these are also great for doing quick sweeps around the gum line throughout the day to remove any stored bits of food.
• Cloth pads: These pads can be used on beds, couches, chairs, etc. Really anything you’d want to protect from absorbing liquid from accidents or spills. For a bed, place a pad underneath the fitted sheet and another one directly on top of the fitted sheet (between the fitter sheet and comforter). If your loved one has a chair they frequently sit on during the day, place a pad on the seat. These are pretty absorbent and stronger than disposable pads.
• Disposable pads: Same idea here as the cloth pads. For a bed, layer two disposable pads on top of the cloth pad on the fitted sheet and then one in between the top sheet and cloth pad. They won’t absorb everything, but are a helpful extra layer.
• Incontinence Underwear: It may be trial and error to find the brand that works for your loved one. You may like to use a different type at night versus the daytime. Depends is a great brand. Just like regular underwear, these will come in different sizes and colors. Make sure that they’re tight enough so that they aren’t falling down or moving too much, but loose enough so that they aren’t too tight or causing stomach pain. To remove during bathroom trips, use scissors to cut them off from the sides and use a plastic grocery store bag to dispose of them.
• Feminine pads: If your loved one is experiencing consistent accidents during the nighttime (which is completely normal as their bladder relaxes with sleep), you can try using absorbent feminine pads. These can be a useful extra layer.
• Large Disposable Washcloths: A bathroom necessity and the size helps make bathroom trips more efficient and clean. Make sure to not flush these.
• Aquaphor: I feel like this one is self explanatory but I use Aquaphor for everything! Alzheimer’s patients can experience dry lips frequently as they can become easily dehydrated. Make sure to apply Aquaphor or really any lip moisturizer a few times a day if you can.
• Urine & Odor Fighting Laundry Detergent: Make sure to get a laundry detergent that specifically targets urine and odor. You may want to pre-soak items but honestly, some detergents are good enough where you can just throw your items in and hit start. Fabric softeners and scent boosters can also be great additives to help keep laundry smelling fresh. Also, set a reminder on your calendar to run a cleaning cycle every few weeks on your machine!

Clothing Items:

• Updated Glasses Prescription: I’m putting it at the top of this list because as the disease progresses, it will become increasingly difficult for your loved one to complete a proper eye exam. Of course this requires early detection but if you’re able to, schedule an eye exam as soon as you recognize Alzheimer’s symptoms. Make sure the glasses are comfortable and fit your loved one correctly.
• Kizik Sneakers: I love Kiziks! They’re a hands-free, slip on shoe company with options for both men & women that look cute too. When looking for slip on, everyday sneakers, all of the options looked so boring and old. We got my mom a pair pretty early on and they were truly game changers. They gave my mom the independence to slip her foot into her shoes all while being extremely comfortable and stable. We found that they ran very small though.
• Joggers: I think pants were the hardest item for us to shop for. They needed to meet a very specific set of needs we had. They needed to be a soft, comfortable material. They needed to be loose enough to easily take on and off during bathroom trips. They needed to have leg openings easy enough to slip feet through but not too loose that tripping is a risk. I really liked Athleta’s Salutation High Rise Jogger for my mom. I would get these a size or so bigger than usual so that they were super easy to take on and off and also weren’t constricting my mom’s abdomen.
• Front-Closure Bras: In all honesty, bras are totally optional. In the beginning stages, I think bras can help protect dignity. Later on, bras may just be uncomfortable and an extra step in morning and night time routines. If your loved one is going to wear a bra, get one that has a front closure to make taking on and off easier. Also ensure the bra fits correctly and is not riding up during the day.
• Grip Socks: A lot of Alzheimer’s patients experience impaired spatial awareness, depth perception, and muscle coordination. These can lead to a shuffling, unsteady way of walking and a greater risk of falls. Grip socks are awesome especially if you have hardwood floors in your home and/or your loved one tends to wander a lot.
• Full-Zip Hoodies: These are best because they’re easiest to take on and off. Outfit changes can be really stressful for Alzheimer’s patients. Muscle issues like weakness, stiffness, and overall loss of muscle mass can make it hard to comfortably lift your loved one’s arms over their head. It can also be confusing and disorienting when clothing is lifted over their head. Clothing pieces that button or have zippers help make the process more comfortable. We started a collection of Lululemon Scuba Jackets in bright colors for my mom that she wore religiously. They became great gift ideas around the holidays too!
• Flat Claw Clips: Hair can easily become matted and knotted and these clips are a great way to keep hair out of the way during the day. The flat claw clips are also super comfortable if your loved one naps during the day.

Meal Time Items:

• Dining Scarf: This was a sensitive one for me because it felt so degrading to put these on my mom, so I was determined to find an option that felt more sophisticated and fashionable. I found cute ones on both Amazon and Etsy that come in a bunch of different patterns/colors and hold up well in the wash. These work well for meal times and later on if your loved one begins to develop dysphagia and saliva buildup.
• MiO: On the topic of hydration, it was easier to get my mom to drink water when there was some flavor to it. We would put a couple squeezes of MiO in her water almost everyday. One note- it is rare but possible that MiO can trigger canker sores due to their high acidity and citric acid. My mom developed a bad bout of canker sores all over her mouth in January 2025 which could have been caused by a number of things. If you notice this with your loved one, try pausing on adding MiO to their water and see if it clears.
• Clear tumbler w/ straw: It is so important to keep your loved one hydrated as they lose the ability to independently drink water and are highly susceptible for UTIs. We liked to use these clear tumblers with my mom as it helped her to be able to actually see what she was drinking. They hold up well in the dishwasher too!

Medication:

• Pill organizer: We liked this pill organizer but really any will do! As the disease progresses and the number of medications for your loved one increases/fluctuates, this is crucial and will help to stay organized.
• Pill crusher: I have a love/hate relationship with these. We always used a manual one which was hit or miss if it actually crushed the pill depending on the size. I found this electric one on Amazon. I’m a big proponent of making even the little things easier because there’s a lot of things that come with the disease that are hard and not in your control. Why not make what you CAN control as easy as possible?
• Apple sauce: As pills become harder to swallow, we liked to mix up the crushed pill in a tiny amount of applesauce and feed it to my mom with a spoon. This really helped at nighttime. In the mornings, we usually mixed her pills into her yogurt with breakfast (if they are tiny, you may not need to crush, especially if you feed with a thicker agent like yogurt).

Miscellaneous Items:

• Aura frame: If there is one thing on this list that I recommend above all else, it is THIS! My mom would sit in her chair in our living room for most of the day and watch our family photos cycle though our Aura frame on the coffee table. It made her so happy. We shared the link with family and friends so they could add their own photos as well. 
• Towel warmer: We actually did not have one of these but in retrospect, I think this would have been great! Definitely not a necessity, but everyone can relate, those few moments when you get out of a warm shower and immediately get hit with cold. Bathtime can be super over stimulating, confusing, and uncomfortable for your loved one, so this would be a great addition to help make bathing more comfortable.
• Stability belt: These can help in later stages as your loved one may have increasingly limited movement. Specifically for bed time and stairs.
• Stair/Entry Gate: Wandering can be an early and distressing symptom of the disease. It can be terrifying and anxiety-inducing for caregivers, especially at night. I would also recommend a lock within the bedroom, but a gate is also a great idea, especially for the stairs. If you do get a gate, make sure it is secure and tall enough that your loved one cannot trip and fall forward over it. I do want to note that some Alzheimer’s patients may try to climb over the gate—causing higher, more dangerous falls—or become trapped between the gaps in the rails. Do what feels right for your loved one!
• To-go bag: When we would go out somewhere with my mom, we liked to always have a to-go bag on us with some necessities. It always included her tumbler, a bottle of MiO, a few pairs of underwear, wipes, and (my personal favorite) a bag of candy. The candy helped if my mom ever got anxious or upset when we were out somewhere. Fun fact- sour candy is actually a great way to help distract when someone is experiencing anxiety. The intense taste offers a good distraction.
• “Glam Kit”: I kept a makeup bag right by my mom’s chair that had all of her “glam essentials” that I knew would make her feel good no matter what- her Lancome La Vie Est Belle perfume, Laura Mercier Body Lotion & Hand Cream, Bobbi Brown Blush, Ole Henrickson Lip Treatment, Aveeno Face Wash Wipes, and La Roche Posay Facial Moisturizer. If she was having a moment, I’d grab the kit and do a quick “glam” or skincare routine on her. It might feel silly doing these things- feeling like your loved one won’t even recognize things like blush and perfume anymore. But I’m a firm believer that everyone wants to feel put together- it’s just good for the soul and helps with maintaining dignity.
• Baby doll/stuffed animals: These can be really helpful tools for some, especially if your loved one is experiencing increased agitation. But for others, they may not work at all. Specifically for women, baby dolls can tap into deep-seated, long-term maternal and nurturing instincts and provide a restored sense of purpose. After our family dog, Domino, passed away in 2023, we got my mom a little black dog stuffed animal that sat with her everyday. I also started a Jellycat collection for her which turned into another fun Christmas gift idea.
• Photo book: Photo books are a GREAT activity to keep your loved one occupied during the day. They can also be a great cognitive stimulation tool, help decrease anxiety, provide comfort, and reinforce identity. Try to gather photos from all different stages of your loved one’s life. They may or may not recognize themselves, but that’s okay. Make sure there’s plenty of photos of family and friends. If you have friends come over to visit, this can be an activity to do together.