Home care guide
Bedridden Patient Care Supplies in Kenya: The Home Checklist
Is someone you love coming home to stay in bed? The first week is the hardest. You do not know what to buy yet.
This is the checklist we give families in Kenya caring for a bedridden patient. It covers the bed, hygiene, feeding, breathing and bladder care. Sternmed Afrika supplies the medical consumables from Nairobi.
The home care checklist
| Need | What to buy | Sternmed link |
|---|---|---|
| Keep the bed dry | Bed pads 60 x 90 cm | Bed pads |
| Bladder care | Foley catheter and a 2000 ml urine bag | Foley catheter, urine bag |
| Feeding | Feeding tube, as advised by the doctor | Feeding tube |
| Breathing | Nebulizer mask | Nebulizer mask |
| Pressure sores | Ripple air mattress, turning every 2 hours | Ask us to source |
| Toilet | Commode chair, adult diapers, wipes | Ask us to source |
| Hygiene | Disposable gloves | Ask us to source |
Protect the skin first
Pressure sores start when a person lies in one position too long. Turn the patient often. Keep the skin clean and dry. Change wet bed pads straight away. A ripple air mattress spreads the pressure. Ask a nurse to show you how.
Bladder and catheter care
A catheter must be fitted by a nurse or doctor. Keep the urine bag below the bladder. Empty it before it is full. Read our catheter guide if you need to understand sizes. For pad advice see bed pads for bedridden patients.
How much to buy for a month
Most families change bed pads 3 to 4 times a day. That is about 100 pads a month. One Sternmed bale of 100 costs KSh 8,000. See bed pads wholesale.
What we can source for you
We do not stock every item on this list yet. Tell us what you need. Through import on your behalf we tell you whether we can source it and the cost.
This guide is general information. Always follow the advice of the doctor or nurse caring for your patient.
Bedridden patient care supplies Kenya families forget
Most families remember the bed pads. Many forget the small things that make each day easier. A torch for night checks. A waterproof sheet under the bed pad. A notebook to record turning times, drinks and medicines.
Plan supplies for a full month, not a week. Running out on a Sunday night is stressful and costly. A monthly order from one supplier also keeps the brand and the size the same, which nurses prefer.
Turning the patient often is the most important habit. The NHS guidance on pressure sores explains how pressure sores start and how to spot them early.
Ask the nurse or doctor to review the list with you. Every patient is different and their advice comes first.
Free planner
How many bed pads do you need?
Prices: KSh 800 a packet of 10, KSh 8,000 a bale of 100. Delivery cost depends on your town.
Questions people ask
What supplies do I need for a bedridden patient at home?
Start with bed pads, gloves, wipes, a urine bag and catheter if prescribed. Add a ripple mattress to help prevent pressure sores.
How many bed pads does a bedridden patient need a month?
About 100, if you change 3 to 4 a day. A Sternmed bale of 100 costs KSh 8,000.
How do I prevent bed sores at home?
Turn the patient often, keep the skin clean and dry, change wet pads quickly and use a ripple air mattress. Ask a nurse for a plan.
Who fits a urinary catheter?
A nurse or doctor. Do not fit or remove a catheter yourself.
Do you deliver home care supplies outside Nairobi?
Yes. We deliver across Kenya by courier.
Can Sternmed source items it does not stock?
Yes. Use our import on your behalf service and we will tell you the cost.
Get the full list in one order
Send us your checklist on WhatsApp. We price everything in one reply.
