My 90 year old mom showers daily with assistance. She wears disposable underware. She has some incontinence and will often pee in her "diaper" and change later on. She does not have a UTI but when I help her get into her PJs or clothing after a shower, I can smell urine on her even though she will wash that area with water via hand held shower head. She doesn't have a tub to soak in so I'm hoping for practical suggestions to keep her smelling fresh and clean like the rest of her body after a shower. Product suggestions? Cleaning suggestion?
The odor of urine gets into your nose, and later you think you are still smelling it.
Another possibility is that it is a lingering smell from her clothing, sometimes the smell is hard to eliminate completely and will reappear after body temperature warms the clothing.
Using baby wipes is a great way to clean between showers, just be sure they are put in the trash and not flushed.
Lastly, does anyone else mention the odor? Perhaps you are being overly sensitive.
If that is not it, then I might sprinkle a little baby powder on her clothes, but NOT on her bottom, Maybe just a little on her legs. They also make feminine hygiene spray, but I would only use a little on the outside of her pants. I'd be careful of putting anything with chemicals, alcohol, fragrance directly on her skin. I would imagine it's very delicate and sensitive.
Some meds cause a pretty unpleasant body odor.
So do some foods.
So do infections.
Without an internal exam, who can know? But you have to decide if the information is worth what might be traumatic to her.
I will say that once you're past menopause, a lot of doctors just assume there are no more gynecological aspects to health care. My mom was told she no longer needed a pelvic exam after the age of 65. That seems kind of odd to me, without more conditions around it.
If you have tried all the laundry/bathing suggestions and there is still a strong odor, I would take her in to the doctor for an exam because something like what you describe is not typical or "just old age".