How do I keep the commode chair clean and sanitized?
My 76-year-old mom is moving in with me and my husband soon. We have a small house that has one bathroom so we'll have to move her commode chair out of the way when we need to use the toilet. Mom is an amputee, but is able to transfer herself from her wheelchair to the commode chair. Occasionally, something will leak. (Sorry for the TMI.)
Right now, she's in assisted living and over time, I have noticed that the legs, wheels and bars at the base of her commode chair is a bit filthy. I mention it to the caregivers and I clean it off myself, but it's tedious. When I try to encourage Mom to be careful, she insists shes not making a mess or claims, "There's nothing there. I don't see it!" (Arrghhh...)
I'm at a loss on how to keep this under control. I don't want to put towels down because she could slip. I was thinking maybe covering the legs and bars in some sort of plastic or cover that can be washed and replaced. Any advice from the pros out there?
It's just an icky situation. When she moves in, I plan to hire a part-time care giver to give me some relief. I work alot, day and night. So constant cleaning and care will wear me thin.
Thanks for the support and looking for tips and advice!
I saw on your other thread that others have suggested getting her on Medicaid and into assisted living and have to say I agree with spending down her assets. Sometimes the facility will take all she has and then when that is exhausted, she goes on Medicaid. When you are responsible for her, your life will change. Expect physical and mental exhaustion, and if you do this, please please hire as much help as you can. A lot of the time you have with her will be with the endless chores like cleaning up for her, get her this, get her that. They seem to get more demanding as they become more incapacitated, and often the caregiver's physical and mental health suffers. I'm not saying don't, just know and respect your limits, and get help.
Maybe?
Good luck!
My mother used three commodes. One as a bedside for Lasix nights. This one had to be emptied each morning. She didn't use it during the day. It was washed and cleaned along with arm railings, seat etc with Clorox wipes or in the shower stall along with shower. Sprayed with Lysol and a small amount of water and a lavender cleaner was in the pot and in a small bottle near her bedside commode.
During the day she used an elevated toilet with grab bars on either side. She used a walker. She could turn around with her walked and sit on the toilet and then use the grab bars to help herself back up. She also took ongoing pt to keep her arms and legs strong. This commode was cleaned each day also but easier to do. As she got older she had a bedside commode seat (without pot) over the toilet. This had to be moved when others used the toilet. Clorox wipes were handy to move it and clean it.
The third commode chair she used as a shower chair. No bucket. It was easier for her to get up and down with the side arms than the traditional shower bench and she could use the shower wand. Of course if someone else is using the shower you would have to take the chair out after her shower. She had a bath aid who came three times a week. She would put the chair in and out of the shower and dry it off after use.
When my mom first started using her walker, she wanted to leave her commode chair near her recliner so she wouldn't have to walk as far. I rejected that idea as she needed the exercise and she didn't have someone to empty it during the day. She agreed that she needed the walking. It made the idea of wearing pads and then pull ups easier for her to accept because she didn't want to fall by rushing to the commode. Your mom in a wheelchair you don't have the problem of her falling on the way. But I really encourage you not to handicap her further by taking care of the cleaning that she can do for herself. All the stretching and bending and pulling necessary to keep clean is mostly beneficial exercise. Each person sharing a home needs to feel they are contributing. I too question your decision to move her into your home. I would suspect she has grown accustomed to others handling her needs and will have to adjust to not having those folks. I remember when my mom was in rehab I would say to myself. I am grateful someone else is mopping the floor. I an grateful someone else is changing the bed, is cleaning the bathroom, is cooking the meals, is distributing the meds, is doing the shopping, giving the bath, cleaning the pot, helping her dress. you get the drill. Of course I was busy making sure they did and was teased about my zealous use of handi wipes on every surface either of us touched.
You can also spray or pour a couple of drops of essential oil (your favorite smell-I like lemongrass) and it will leave a nice presence in the room where the commode is kept.
Of course bleach is the best sanitizer but many times it erodes the metal and plastic surfaces over time. I would only use it occasionally. IF she was sharing the commode with someone else, I would definitely say a bleach solution should be used. But this is private home use and only she will be sitting on it.
'Bleach wipes' are really a disinfectant disposable cloth and have no actual bleach in them. Most use ammonium chloride for disinfecting, sufficient for what you would need them for. They are fairly inexpensive (Costco, Sam's), come in different scents and are disposable.
If you were to cover the legs, there is a chance that drops (or worse) would get trapped between the leg and the cover, creating an even bigger mess.
Check that your commode is made out of aluminum and can 'take a bath' in the shower once in awhile. The one I had, when my hubby was sick, looked liked aluminum (which doesn't rust) but when I took it apart to clean it, the inside of the leg was rusting. (?)
It takes me less than 5 minutes to empty and refill the potty chair bowl and wipe down the whole commode of my patient. You'll be a pro in no time.
P.S.-A lot of caregivers feel better cleaning other's intimate parts and furniture with gloves on. Some folks are allergic to latex or can become allergic after repeated exposure, so be sure to buy or order NON latex gloves like Nitrille.
I realize bleach does that but Rainman has some nice things I don't really want to use bleach on but the thought of just throwing a garment hit by human waste into the washer makes me a bit queasy- this product sanitized without bleach. At least that's what the label says. Lol!
When I use vinegar I buy pickling vinegar as it double strength - we use for all sorts of things - my favourite is put it in a watering can & 'water' the weeds in front pathway then come back 3 days later to weep all the brown dried up 'bodies' away - so much easier on the knees & back - but then I crave French fries [here we sprinkle them with vinegar]
go. Reline bottom, of plastic recepticle, with toilet paper again. Ready for next use. I find there is no need to wash every time plastic recepticle is used as the routine listed above does it all. Only when sides are contacted, usually by very loose stool, do I than disinfect with straight bleach. Have used this method for over a year and have found it is a great way to control alot of problems that arise from the use of a pottie chair. Hope this helps.
My worst problem is really the shower chair that grows black mold on all the crevices. I soak the feet of the chair in cups of a dilute Clorox solution and use a bleach spray, e.g. Tilex or a Clorox solution to kill the mold elsewhere and rinse thoroughly. Still I have to scrub at the stain left behind. I don't do this often, since bleach can corrode the materials with repeat use.
Don't you wish there was an elder supply service that would trade out appliances once a month? It would be wonderful to get fresh ones, instead of having to deep clean them repeatedly. I've often wished they would make them so they were totally smooth, with no where to collect salts and grow fungi. I'm sure they could do that, but they don't.
We have a toilet surround in DH's bathroom. I use Lysol with Peroxide Toilet Bowl Cleaner (cheap enough @Walmart) and I just use some of the cleaned bowl water and a washcloth and just wipe the front of the bowl and the frame of the toilet surround at the same time. Ditto on the rim of the toilet and check the seat and back of commode at the same time.
It smells nice, takes just an extra minute or two and then the washrag goes into the laundry.
Just an added note - men "dribble" which is why the front of the commode gets soiled. So does the rug I keep in front of the commode. It too goes into the laundry and we're all "happy campers" after that.
If she is just using a commode to get the proper height you could do one of two things.
Replace the toilet with one that is a Tall, Elongated one that will make it easier for her and everyone for that matter. Just get a set of the arms that can be place on the toilet as well so that she can easily get up.
OR
You could get a riser for the toilet you have. It can be used by everyone but it could be removed if you do not wish to use it. And it can be removed for cleaning.
Now I have to ask....and this is totally off your subject....
Do you HAVE to move your Mom in with you?
I am sure if you have read many of the other posts her it is not easy. Going from a Daughter that visits her in her Assisted Living home to being a full time caregiver will be a HUGE change for her, you and your entire family. It will require a lot of time, effort, patience and all the minor problems will be magnified. And keep in mind she will need more care as time goes on.
Later, when I got more involved in the detail myself, sorting out his drawers and putting labels on the front of each, I came to realize that he needed that basic organization, for any memory or comprehension approaches were beyond his ability. And he never did learn to leave his clothes in the dryer long enough to be fully dry, let alone notice when clothes needed changing.
But I later worked with elders, and got used to handling hygiene with them, bathing particularly, and that changed my ability to deal with my brother. I learned to address issues simply, directly and promptly, with cheer and matter of factness, either doing the care myself if they could not, or being there and handing them the facecloth. I learned to speak in terms of things THEY could feel, not the impact on others which they could not remember. Like, "we need to get all the soap off, you don't want to have any itching later, if we leave any." And just move through the process. Fact is, when someone is clean and you can count on that, your attitude towards them changes. So much better than resentments and hints.
Empty the commode bucket, then rinse it daily with hot water and a smidgeon of bleach, keeps everything fresh, and more promptly with after bowel use. And use the wipes as Rainmom says.
And - just replace any over-worn equipment. The Councils on Aging have many pieces of healthcare equipment for free, when people don't need them any longer. All sterilized, in good condition, wheelchairs, rollators.
I think once you get involved and not shy about making sure the situation meets your standards, stating it upfront and doing what is needed, not keep expecting your mother to notice, you'll find life more cheerful - it's a pleasure to deal with a clean person, and a misery to keep noticing smells and feeling defeated.
By now, my brother is living in a nursing home, and they do all the laundry and care, and if I take him out, his clothes and person are clean. He has always taken pride in dressing, he just didn't have the awareness, memory or skills to handle cleanliness himself. I have him stay in a hotel sometimes, and there, I am glad to have my elder care experience, to just check and if any difficulties, handle issues right away, with good cheer, move right in, not expect permission and understanding - I learned to pause if there's an objection, don't move too far away, then give my cheerful reason again and assume they will be glad, then move back into the task and do it well. Without resentments, works well,
Someone else also recommended "Tap-A-Drop" to nullify smells. I bought a bottle to test it out too. Short of lighting matches and candles which could be hazardous and just masks bad smells, I hope this tip helps too.
At worst, there's an occasional diarrhea problem and that was usually due to a family member giving her food she shouldn't eat. By moving her in, I suppose I'll be able to cut that problem out right away.
Thanks!!!
Best of luck to us!!
Between the two of them I find myself complaining a lot that my toilet smells like a toilet.
The only solution I've found is continual cleaning. It's not as bad as it sounds. I have a jumbo canister of Clorox wipes on the back of the toilet and I wipe the back, sides and floor of and around the toilet after every use. I have successfully trained hubby to do the same.
It really only takes a minute and then when it's time for the regularly scheduled bathroom cleaning, the problem of stink and stains is minimal.
But I've thought a lot about this as well and would love to have a better way to keep my bathroom from looking and smelling like a bathroom at a highway rest stop.