Home Care Equipment

Published by IHSSHours.com · October 7, 2026

IHSS pays for a person's time, not for equipment. The right equipment can still make that time safer and easier, for the person and for whoever helps them. These are common items, grouped by the part of daily life they help with.

Check Medi-Cal first. Medi-Cal covers some medical equipment and supplies when a doctor prescribes them. Ask the doctor before you buy.

Illustration of a bathroom with a shower chair, grab bar and handheld shower head

Bathroom and toileting

Wet floors and the step into a tub make the bathroom a common place to fall. These items let a person sit, hold on, and stay out of the hardest positions.

Shower chair or bath bench
SeatedNo install
Lets the person sit while washing, so they are not standing on wet tile.
See options on Amazon
Tub transfer bench
TubNo install
Straddles the tub wall, so the person sits down outside the tub and slides across instead of stepping over the edge.
See options on Amazon
Grab bars
Install needed
Something solid to hold when stepping in, standing up or turning. Choose bars that screw into the wall, not suction-cup ones.
See options on Amazon
Handheld shower head
Easy install
Lets a seated person, or the person helping them, aim the water without anyone standing in the spray.
See options on Amazon
Raised toilet seat with arms
ToiletNo install
Raises the seat height and adds arms to push up on, which makes sitting down and standing up easier.
See options on Amazon

Related guide: IHSS Help With Bathing

Illustration of a hallway and bedroom with a walker, a bed rail and a wall handrail

Walking, transfers and the bedroom

For getting around the house, in and out of bed, and through the night safely.

Folding walker with wheels
Walking
Steady support for walking inside the home. A physical therapist can set the right height.
See options on Amazon
Rollator with a seat
WalkingRest seat
Four wheels, hand brakes and a seat for resting on longer walks.
See options on Amazon
Quad cane
Walking
A cane with four feet stands on its own and gives more stability than a single-tip cane.
See options on Amazon
Bed assist rail
Bedroom
A handle to push on when sitting up and getting out of bed.
See options on Amazon
Gait belt
For caregivers
Gives the person helping a secure place to hold during transfers, instead of pulling on an arm.
See options on Amazon
Motion-sensor night lights
NightNo install
Light the path to the bathroom automatically, so no one is reaching for a switch in the dark.
See options on Amazon

Illustration of a front door with a door alarm, a medical alert pendant and a wall clock

Memory loss and safety

For someone who may wander, get up at night without help, or need to call for help quickly.

Door alarm
WanderingNo install
Chimes when an outside door opens, so a caregiver in another room knows right away.
See options on Amazon
Bed or chair exit alarm
NightFalls
A pressure pad that alerts the caregiver when the person starts to get up.
See options on Amazon
Medical alert device
EmergencyOften a subscription
A wearable button that calls for help. Many have a monthly fee, so compare the total cost.
See options on Amazon
Day and date clock
Memory
Shows the day, date and time of day in large words, which can help with orientation.
See options on Amazon

Illustration of a weekly pill organizer on a counter with a glass of water and a timer

Medication

For keeping doses straight. A pharmacist can help set up an organizer the first time.

Weekly pill organizer (AM and PM)
Daily
One compartment per dose, so it is easy to see whether today's pills were taken.
See options on Amazon
Automatic pill dispenser with alarm
Reminders
Sounds an alarm and opens only the current dose, which helps when doses are being missed or doubled.
See options on Amazon
Pill cutter or crusher
Ask pharmacist first
For pills that must be split or crushed. Some pills should never be crushed, so ask the pharmacist first.
See options on Amazon

Related guide: IHSS Medication Help

Illustration of a shelf with folded pads, plain boxes and gloves next to a bedside commode

Personal care supplies

Everyday supplies for continence care and keeping skin clean and dry.

Disposable gloves
For caregivers
For personal care and cleaning up. Nitrile gloves suit people with latex allergies.
See options on Amazon
Washable bed pads
Reusable
Protect the mattress and can be washed and reused.
See options on Amazon
Adult briefs and liners
Daily
Come in many sizes and absorbencies. A doctor or nurse can help choose the right type.
See options on Amazon
Bedside commode
NightNo install
A toilet chair by the bed, for nights or for when the bathroom is too far to walk safely.
See options on Amazon
No-rinse body wash and wipes
Skin care
Clean the skin without a full shower on days when bathing is too hard.
See options on Amazon

These are general examples, not medical advice. A doctor, nurse, physical therapist or occupational therapist can tell you what fits the person you care for.

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Educational information, not legal advice. Only your county can authorize IHSS services, and only after an assessment. IHSSHours.com is an independent resource and is not affiliated with CDSS or any county IHSS office. · More IHSS guides