Carer's essential travel kit

Lugging suitcases around train stations and up and down stairs is no fun. You will be on your own with no one to help you. You need to be able to manage all your stuff by yourself. How many times have you gone on holiday with way too much luggage and not even touched half of what you took? The same thing applies when you go caring.

There is a definite art to travelling light. Great advice I read recently was to take half as much luggage as you planned and twice as much money. Start planning your kit in advance. Research the weather conditions expected but always have a contingency plan for extreme weather conditions.

Clothes

For clothing, layers always work best. Leggings and long T shirts can work on their own or add an extra layer of warmth under looser tops and trousers. Three or four trousers and tops will be enough. Camisole type vests can double up as winter warmers and summer tops.  You should be able to do laundry regularly but check the care labels of your garments so you know if they are drip dry and whether or not they can be tumble dried. Three or four sets of socks and undies will be enough.

Think carefully about your sleepwear as you may not have space for a gown. You may need to attend to your client at night so you need modest and practical sleepwear. Consider a scarf or poncho that can double as a dressing gown.

Mostly the homes you are in will be well heated so as long as you have a light jacket or jersey for indoors you should be fine. It is best to take off your shoes in other peoples homes so a pair of slippers or indoor only shoes is a good idea. In training they suggested crocs might be useful when showering a client, but it depends on the configuration of the shower.

For outdoors you will need a good coat, and can usually find one at the charity shops for around GBP 8. In winter remember a warm hat and gloves. Non slip outdoor shoes for icy weather
are essential.

Toiletries and cosmetics

We all have different priorities when it comes to toiletries and cosmetics but try and work out what is the least amount of stuff you need to ensure your comfort and well being.  For some it might be all over moisturiser, body wash, shampoo and deodorant.  For cosmetics some people can manage with just foundation, mascara and lipstick.  Pack whatever works for you, but also remember you may find yourself in a rural location miles away from shops so you wont always be able to immediately replace when you run out of something.   Think about your hair products and work out your absolute must haves. Leave the rest behind. If you are doing short stints like a fortnight at a time you could look at the travel pack section in the pharmacy and get small sizes of everything.

You might want to take a really small hand towel that doubles as a bathmat. You should be given towels where you work so that helps minimise luggage.

Health products

Just in case nipping off to the shops is not an option wherever you land up caring, make sure you have a mini medical supply to cover most situations that arise. Paracetamol or equivalent is a definite must. Flu remedies, antiseptic cream, vapour rub and plasters will all be useful. You might find yourself in situations where a small bottle of disinfectant is a useful idea too.  Do not forget your nail clippers and emery boards. If your client needs personal care, short nails are essential. In training we were advised not to wear nail polish or rings, so those can stay a home. I think flat discreet rings are fine, but no rings that can damage delicate skin when working with a client. Depending on the level of care you are giving you are often expected to provide your own disposable gloves. Even if not doing personal care for your client you might be glad of your own protective gloves for dish washing and bathroom cleaning. You are likely to be in a home that is well heated but you may find a hot water bottle useful in colder weather and for soothing any aches and pains. 

Vital extras

Your smart phone will be essential for communicating with your agency and prospective clients. Check out airtime and data deals and consider investing in a dongle although often clients will provide Wi fi. Stick with 3G if they give you a choice when buying a simcard, 4G has not been set up everywhere so if you are in a remote area you might not have a phone signal with 4G. Having said that you can still survive with 4G as long as you have wi fi for email, whatsapp and facebook calling.  

If you are a self employed carer you will need an invoice book to invoice your clients. An A5 size will probably be best, but you will manage with a smaller one. 

You will acquire a pile of documents and certificates so a display file will be useful. Alternatively have something that keeps all your papers together so they don't get damaged.

Bearing in mind that you have to carry everything, you still need to think about your entertainment. A kindle is brilliant for an endless supply of reading material. You need to weigh up the pros and cons of  having a laptop or ipad. Remember this will mainly be for use in your time off  as your client needs your undivided attention. In the presence of your client a smart phone will be more discreet and acceptable than anything bigger, but as this is not really acceptable carer behaviour it is best to avoid electronic media in front of your client. 

If you are going to a remote client away from shops, you might want some of  your favourite sweets or snacks.  There is nothing worse than craving the unobtainable!

Handbag versus rucksack

Ditch your fancy handbag which will slip on your jackets and get in the way when you are trying to manage your other bags.  Rather have a waterproof rucksack style bag with lots of  zipped compartments where it will be easier to find everything. If you are struggling to manage your load you can always carry it in front of you rather than on your back and this might minimize back strain.  

Test it

Gather your kit together in good time so that you can have a trial pack and carry session. If you can find some stairs to practise on, give it a go. Enlist a friend who has been caring or travelled light before so she can help you prune the unnecessary. If you have a long driveway try taking your load to your gate and back. Be really honest with yourself and think of carrying that load in a strange place where knights in shining armour are going about their own business and can't help you. See what stuff you can leave behind and keep pruning until you can manage everything on your own.

Failing that

If you are struggling to prune your kit and cannot carry it solo, you  might prefer to only go in summer so you do not have to think about the woollies. Just remember summer is really short though and you can never quite tell when it will be. Or alternatively just take two of every item of clothing preferably all in navy blue or black and only take assignments where they can promise you a tumble drier that they don't mind you using every day.  You will soon become a pro at travelling light and wonder why you ever took so much away with you on all your previous travels.