Do nursing homes use wipes or washcloths?

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Do nursing homes use wipes or washcloths?

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I'm curious because my dad is in a nursing home for respite. Do nursing homes use wipes or washcloths to clean patients after a bowel movement? If the latter, what do they do with the washcloths afterward?

What about disinfectant spray or air fresheners?

Hygiene Skilled Nursing Facility Toileting

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You'd be best off asking the nursing home directly as they're all different, I'd imagine. I also can't imagine they'd use washcloths for the sheer volume of wash they'd be doing on an ongoing basis! My mother's Memory Care always uses disposable wipes for all clean ups after a bm. There's also a can of disinfectant air freshener in her room at all times.

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You use what the client is used to, unless there is a good reason not to (which you explain to the client and gain agreement).

Good reasons would include: upset bowel habit, deterioration in skin integrity.

Particularly if skin integrity is a concern, wash cloths are frowned on because they:
tend to be rough on fragile, older skin;
aren't as good as soft wipes (not baby wipes, soft disposable wipes designed for the purpose) for getting into crevices;
and - so the skin integrity nurses will tell you - can harbour pathogenic microbes.

Not my wash cloths [hoity-toity!] which are changed at each use, boil-washed and disinfected; but then again I wouldn't use them for personal care anyway.

What about disinfectant spray and air fresheners? Not on the person, I don't suppose you mean? Bathroom fittings I would expect to be cleaned and disinfected daily, if that's the question; air fresheners according to the resident's preference. Gentlemen often prefer an open window; and air fresheners (most scented products, come to that) should be avoided for people with respiratory issues because they can irritate.

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When my grandmother was in a SNF, they used washcloths. Every hospital I've been in also used washclothes. In all cases, they were single use. They threw them away when they were done. Having wiped a lot of poop, it's more efficient to use washcloths than wipes. It takes a lot of wipes to get someone clean if they BM in a diaper. A lot of wipes and a lot of time. For a nursing home, time is worth more than the cost of washclothes. Those are remarkably cheap when bought in bulk.

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I pray to God they are single use only. I'm used to wipes although as you say takes a lot but is worth every penny especially since they come in large size.

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Wipes, and they had airtight, plastic-lined trash cans that were frequently emptied. Usually the wipes would be rolled up in the old diaper just like we'd do when our kids were babies.

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Well, the aid didn’t wrap a thing. The aid tossed the dirty diaper to the floor and when finished wiping with the washcloth, tossed it on top of the diaper and out the door. I told the aid I would finish dressing him because I wanted to remove the clothes they had on him. They were not his.

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My mom's NH used green coloured washcloths, white ones were used for washing the face and hands (and probably in the bath, but I never observed that). I have to admit I was surprised at first, but given the amount of soiled laundry of all kinds I figured they knew how to deal with it (diaper services do it after all).🤷

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Thank you for responding. I feared others would think this was a prank question.

I couldn’t imagine that either but there it was today the aid using a washcloth to clean dad’s bm. I asked the aid, don’t you have wipes. The aid says no we don’t. Now I’m like asking myself will this washcloth become trash or is it practice to wash and reuse. (I don’t like that idea at all – not for anyone).

Then my daughter asked because the room was no longer fresh and we had brought him dinner if there was some disinfectant or air freshener available (forgot ours) and yet again the answer was no.

When dad lived with us he could tell us and use the potty. Was not using it on himself like he is now and he is only five days in.

The second issue I’m having with this nursing home is that they are allowing my dad to wander too much. He wanders but we use to redirect. The nursing home said they could handle this. I don't see this happening (seen with my own eyes.)

Meals times are always running late or I just missed.

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Needtowashhair has your answer re the single use washcloths. Makes sense they do not wash them, too, thank God. 😮
I Googled about SNFs and air fresheners and apparently they're not used because they don't eliminate the source of odor, first of all, and secondly, they can be a source of irritation to asthmatics and create other health issues due to the chemical components! Makes sense too, doesn't it?

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My mother is in a NH and bedridden. I often see a large pack of wipes left in her room. I suppose it might be both but I would think for brief changing it would be wipes.

Why don't you ask the staff? I bring an air freshner for her room. I also leave a diffuser there. These are easy to obtain at Target. They have reasonable prices for them and are a decent quality. At Bed Bath and Beyond you can buy plug in odor products that work likely for at least a month.

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Do nursing homes use wipes or washcloths?

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