My mom has recently become Incontinent with bowel and bladder. What advice/suggestions are out there for not only mom, but my husband and I as caregivers? What kind of clean up and skin care are the best? Mom is the most cheery person, but this is really starting to get her down. Any ideas to help her emotionally? She is on Hospice and I will ask the nurse as well, but thought it best to go right to the trenches and learn from those who have been here.
With gratitude,
M
If she is having "accidents" then a toileting schedule can help: make sure she goes to the bathroom on a regular schedule, especially before and after meals. This won't catch every accident but I always figured even one success was one less clean up.
Many people love their bidet toilet seats - this isn't a solution for bowel clean ups but I think it would be an option for urinary incontinence. Something that worked for me in cleaning up big messes was having mom seated on the toilet and using the hand held shower to wash everything into the toilet bowl, of course this depends on having the toilet and shower close enough to reach.
Use barrier creams to protect her skin (from the diaper rash section in the baby department). Pick up some baby wipes too. And get gloves. Lots and lots of gloves. I hope you already have some washable bed pads and a moisture proof mattress pad?
Oh, and click/tap the "incontinence" bubble below your question to see articles and questions posted on AgingCare.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Colleen