Medical things after someone dies

[boredsolicitor]

My dad died in March and I've not been able to go to his house because of the lockdown but now that this is relaxed I'm planning on making a long journey to try and clear the place. I remember last time I was there that there was an enormous amount of paraphernalia connected with his medical condition. He basically wore a permanent catheter because of prostate cancer and in the house there are many boxes of tubes and things connected with the catheter all of which are unopened. Also boxes of incontinence pads. Don't really want to throw them all away as there is nothing wrong with and they are all wrapped and boxed so it's obvious they're new/unused. I don't know whether it's possible to return them to the chemist? Or the doctor surgery? Does anyone know or do I need to just throw them away even though it feels such a waste.

[Floralnomad]

When my mother passed away we gave all the unopened boxes of incontinence pads to a local nursing home , they could take anything to do with catheters though I think it was something to do with them needing to be prescribed . They also took unopened gloves and some mobility aids that we had purchased . Sorry for your loss .

[Floralnomad]

That should say ‘couldnt ‘ not could .

[gingerfreckles]

You could take any equipment/medications to a pharmacy and they well dispose of it safely for you.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Did he use an incontinence service? We gave my dad's unused pads back to them. They refused the unopened boxes, but the opened boxes they said they'd also use for samples for new users. Nb they were all obviously 'as new' and in perfect condition.

All medications and catheters we were told had to be destroyed and were returned to pharmacy.

Sorry for your loss.

[NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1]

Sorry for your loss. As a PP said, a local nursing home would be glad of the pads.

[CMOTDibbler]

Although you can take them to a pharmacy (I have 4 bags of things from my parents house to take when things calm down) they have to destroy them as they don't know the storage conditions etc.
Offer the incontinence pads on your local FB group - people were incredibly grateful to take what I had to offer

[growinggreyer]

The District Nurses were very happy to take unused supplies of catheter equipment. They said the stuff would come in handy for night calls. It is all hygenically wrapped and sterile inside.

[Floralnomad]

I will say that the nursing home staff were thrilled with the pads as apparently they usually have an allocation per day per patient and we literally had hundreds unopened due to my mothers rather dreadful illness . Makes you wonder how they would have managed someone like her in a home at 3/4 pads per day when we were using that amount in a couple of hours some days .

[MaggieFS]

IME, the 'official' routes such as back to GP, Pharmacy etc don't have the ability to redistribute such items and aren't allowed to. They just take some things for disposal.

When DF died, we found a local charity for refugees and another (I can't remember the nature of it) were delighted to accept the items.

[MaggieFS]

IME, the 'official' routes such as back to GP, Pharmacy etc don't have the ability to redistribute such items and aren't allowed to. They just take some things for disposal.

When DF died, we found a local charity for refugees and another (I can't remember the nature of it) were delighted to accept the items.

[lillylemons]

sorry for your loss.
The charity shop will take the incontinence pads I see them in there all the time. the other things will need disposing of the best place for that would be the chemist

[coronafiona]

Our local hospice took donations of this kind of thing. Sorry for your loss and hope it's not too painful for you

[boredsolicitor]

Thanks so much everyone - there are some great ideas here for me to investigate. I appreciate your advice. It's stressful enough without fretting about landfilling boxes and boxes of useful items. Thanks again

[okiedokieme]

Take sealed things and pads to a local nursing home, they will be very pleased

[boredsolicitor]

Thank you - will do

[Richlyfruited]

So sorry for your loss

I lost my dad in March too and have just tried taking some of his medical kit and medicine to the GP surgery but they can't accept anything at the moment. They suggested putting in a safe place for the time being until they can take them.

Not sure about anywhere else but hopefully you can find a home for some of it. It's difficult enough having to deal with everything they have left behind especially in these times.

[boredsolicitor]

Thanks richly- so true. Sorry for your loss too.