You can' t reuse the adult diapers, but I have found that Walmart has the best prices.

We have seen the staff at my mom's assisted living facility do this:

Rather than just put one diaper on my mother, they also put a super maxi pad in the diaper.  That way the pad gets dirtied first, then they can just pull it out.  It has helped with the expense.

Hope that helps a little.  Yes, they sure are expensive.

 I care for my 93-year old mom at home. Over the years we have discovered that if there is a sale in the newspaper for incontinence supplies, they are gone by the time I get there. I am all about saving gas money, too. The best prices I have found are at Target. Our Wal-Mart is usually sold out quickly. Mom likes a certain brand and certain number in the package. She also puts a pad inside the adult diaper at night and most of the time she stays completely dry. ( She does sleep on top of a cloth mat which is rubberized on the other side and a towel. ) Sometimes CVS has good sales on pads and diapers. Only in an emergency will I pay full price for her supplies.

My mother also uses the Boost pads in her pullups, but  I buy the Sam's club brand pullups in the box of 58.  Under $30.  That's not too bad.  

One thing that makes a difference for us is a good relationship with the pharmacy.  We prefer a local one rather than the mail order one so we can't always get the best price, but heres a 'for instance'   The PCP prescribed the blood pressure pill Mom takes in the extended release form to reduce the # of pills she has to take.  But her insurance wouldn't cover it unless it was mail order.  so it was close to $50/month.  Mom doesn't take many pills and this one is very small.  So after talking to the pharmacist, I got Mom's doc to change it to two 50milligram pills a day instead of one 100  milligram ER.   The cost for a 90 day supply is $12.  Savings of $46 dollors /month and cheaper than it would have been through her insurance plan.  I could have gotten it for 10 at Walmart but prefer the local pharmacy.  $2 over 3 months is not an issue but $138 over 3 months IS.  

Please check and see if a different brand name or the generic is available for less and the doc will allow to switch.   They (docs) are often as subject to advertising as the public in general and don't know what comes out of your pocket, so there are often overlooked money saving options at the drug store.

Another savings is if your LO is not actually sick but the doc wants regular lab work for some reason, see if he/she will give you the order so you can take the LO to a lab (like Lab Corp) for the test.  I can call the office and pick up the orders on the way to the lab, and save my mother money on the office visit.  Medicare picks up the entire cost of the lab work, but not the office visit.

Maybe that can help some.

I have found that there are benefits available through the VA for veterans and have been able to receive adult diapers at no cost. for my husband...maybe there will be help ....contact your local VA or go to a va hospital and tell them you want to apply for medical benefits for yourself or your spouse or ?.

Also, occassionally there is a coupon in some of the ads that come out on a weekly basis that offer a $25 dollar gift card if one will transfer a prescription to their store.  I have used the gift card to buy other items that my family needs like eggs, toothpaste, soap, etc.

In our community there is an organization that collects unused medical equipment and lends it out to people for as long as it is needed.  We got a hoyer lift and a wheelchair.  In turn, we will donate our other supplies when we no longer need them.  There may be other such organizations where you live, too.  It's just a matter of finding them!  Try your local agency on aging.

A local medical supply store gives me discounts for buying in bulk.  For example, instead of buying 3 packs of Depends, I will buy the case which contains 4 packs thus saving me $1 on each pack.  I've tried online stores that advertise free shipping and have had problems such as an item was out of stock and they fail to communicate that even after receiving payment.

We dispose of the used Depends in plastic grocery bags  which depresses me when I think of additional landfill use for such items.  I recycle everything at home and work  to compensate for this abuse, and I pick up trash on the roadside.

I absolutely hate everything to do with the diapers.  The expense, the smell, and adding to the landfill......please just shoot me now.

8sugarbuns, I know what you mean about the diapers and the waste.  It is a balancing act.  The alternative would be endless laundry, all the hot water, bleach, also not .  We use the grocery bags the same way, yeah I know they can be recycled, but they ship them all the way to India or Malasia to be processed.  Not sure that is ecologically sound either.  In our state waste of that sort is supposed to be double baged so the grocery sack counts as one and before tying it shut I give it a squirt of Odo-Ban, then drop it in the larger bag for the days trash (that is the double bagging).  This keeps the odor to a minimum without smelling like disinfectants or masking agents.  People remark on the fact they don't notice any of the odors associated with the elder care problems in her home. 

I am a 67 year old (HEART PATCIANT) I am on 9 medications.1 of which is 80 mg of lipator.($13,27 per pill) I am on (QUOTE SOCIAL SECURITY).And my Doctor told me about the (MEDICANE PROGRAM).Maybe this is a program that make the adult pampers have too?Try calling them first!then try by asking you Doctor about such a program. Please let me know how things turn out? Doug Fleming:Dated 7/22/2009 At 9:10 A.M.-P.S.T.

Hi Doug,

Everything is expensive these days.  Lipator is one of those expensive meds.  Ask your doctor if there is a generic for any of the meds you are taking that will work as well.  You might ask the pharmacist as well. They have a lot of helpful information at their fingertips.....

At times the doctor will prescribe a larger dose if you ask and you can split the pills, thus saving half what you would be paying otherwise.

If you are a Vet, you might be able to get the meds and adult diapers for a very low co-payment through the VA Medical Center. It is necessary to apply for medical care at your local VA Center or the VA Hospital fefore you qualify for any benefits.

Hope this helps and that you feel better soon

Dear Sugar buns,

I hear you.  My mom wraps everything in plastic shopping bags. She uses so darn many of them I have had to start supplementing. I like your idea of roadside trash pickup. I may start doing that on my daily walks with my co worker. I too hate the whole diaper thing but... short of a catheter there's not many alternatives are there?  I buy Moms Serenity pads at Wal Mart and Target.  Looked online but none came close per pad in price as buying local.  Has anybody asked these stores if you could buy in bulk? Didn't know that Sams club carried them. I will have to look into that.

Prescription Assistance Programs can be of help incase you are in the US.

Example - TotalRxSavings

Hey West,

I know both Costco and Sam's Club will allow you to enter, look around and determine if they carry what you need before purchasing a membership.  Maybe there is some savings to be had in buying in bulk.  Hope that helps!

Missy