Paper and Plastic Supplies for Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities
Geriatric Medical supplies paper and plastic products in wholesale volumes to skilled nursing facilities, long-term care and assisted living communities, and other senior care providers nationwide. Our catalog includes toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels, napkins, and tray covers, disposable plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, and straws, clothing protectors and aprons, trash bags, zip-top bags, dispensers, and stock room essentials, so your housekeeping, dietary, and nursing departments can order everyday disposables from the same distributor as your clinical supplies.
Whether you're restocking resident rooms and restrooms, supplying your dining program, or matching refills to the dispensers already on your walls, our team can help you find the right products and sizes for your facility and order volume.
Paper and Plastic Supply Questions from Facilities
What paper and plastic products does Geriatric Medical carry?
We carry toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels, napkins, and tray covers, disposable plates and bowls, disposable cups and jars, disposable cutlery and straws, disposable bibs and aprons, trash bags, zip-top bags, dispensers, and stock room essentials. Products are available in case quantities for facility-level ordering.
Will any paper towel or toilet paper refill fit our dispensers?
Not always. Many paper towel and toilet tissue dispensers are designed for a specific manufacturer's refills, roll size, or core type, and a refill made for a different system may not fit or dispense correctly. Before switching products, check the dispenser's manufacturer and model and confirm the refill is compatible. When replacing or adding dispensers, standardizing on one dispenser system across the building simplifies ordering and helps control paper usage.
What type of toilet paper is best for a nursing home?
Facilities typically choose between standard rolls, which fit residential-style holders common in resident bathrooms, and jumbo or high-capacity rolls, which fit commercial dispensers in public restrooms and need changing less often. Two-ply tissue is softer and more comfortable for residents, while one-ply provides more sheets per roll. Septic-safe tissue is recommended for buildings on septic systems. Match the roll type to the holders and dispensers you already have.
What's the difference between roll towels and folded paper towels?
Hardwound roll towels are used in roll towel dispensers, hold more towels per unit, and require fewer refills, which makes them a good fit for high-traffic restrooms and hand washing stations. Folded towels, including multifold and C-fold styles, dispense one towel at a time and are common in resident rooms, nursing stations, and areas with folded towel dispensers. Both types should be matched to the dispensers installed in each area.
How do we choose the right trash bag size and strength?
Trash bags are sized by gallon capacity and should fit the can with enough material to fold over the rim. Strength depends on the material. High-density bags, measured in microns, are thinner but resist tearing well and work for paper and office waste. Low-density bags, measured in mils, stretch and resist punctures, which makes them better for heavy, wet, or sharp-edged waste such as dietary and incontinence waste. Regulated medical waste requires red biohazard bags that meet your state's requirements.
What's the difference between clothing protectors and bibs in senior care?
Adult clothing protectors, sometimes called adult bibs, are disposable coverings that protect residents' clothing during meals. Many senior care facilities use the term "clothing protector" and offer them to residents rather than applying them automatically, which supports resident dignity and choice during dining. Disposable aprons are also used by staff to protect their clothing during meal assistance, bathing, and other care tasks.
When do facilities use disposable plates, bowls, and cutlery?
Disposable dinnerware is commonly used for residents on isolation or transmission-based precautions, during outbreaks, when a dish machine is down, and for resident activities and events. Heavier-weight and compartment plates hold up better with hot foods and full meals. Disposable cutlery should be sturdy enough for the foods being served, and some facilities stock individually wrapped cutlery for isolation trays.
What disposable cups do facilities typically stock?
Facilities commonly stock cold cups for water and hydration rounds, hot cups for coffee and other hot beverages, graduated medicine cups for medication pass, and portion cups with lids for sauces, condiments, and small servings. Lidded cups help reduce spills for residents with limited hand control and when drinks are delivered to resident rooms.
Are drinking straws appropriate for every resident?
No. Flexible straws can make drinking easier for residents who are reclined, in bed, or have limited hand strength. However, straws aren't appropriate for some residents with swallowing difficulties, since they can change how quickly liquid reaches the throat. Straw use for residents with dysphagia or thickened liquid orders should follow the recommendations of a speech-language pathologist and the resident's care plan.
What are tray covers used for?
Tray covers are paper liners placed on meal trays before plates, cups, and utensils are set on them. They give each resident's tray a clean, presentable surface, absorb minor spills, and make trays faster to clean after meals. They're commonly used for room tray service and in dining rooms that use trays.
How do facilities use zip-top bags?
Zip-top bags are used throughout senior care facilities to store and label resident personal items, organize small supplies on carts and in stock rooms, portion and store food in dietary departments, and separate items for residents on isolation. Bags with a write-on label area make it easier for staff to mark names, room numbers, and dates.
Can we order paper and plastic supplies through EDI or a punchout catalog?
Yes. Geriatric Medical supports EDI ordering and punchout catalog integration for accounts that manage purchasing through their own procurement, EHR, or ERP systems, so paper and plastic supplies can be ordered the same way as the rest of your catalog without manual re-entry.