When mom's regular aide went off duty after being with mom for a few weeks and our fill in aide checked on mom immediately after the regular aide left the house for the weekend, she found mom with extremely foul smelling & very cloudy/darkish urine. Mom had been put to bed by the regular aide about 5 hours earlier. The regular aide claims that she saw no signs of a UTI when mom was put to bed or earlier that day/week. I am wondering how likely or possible is it that a UTI would progress to such a degree without any signs prior? The regular aide has had some issues lately in her personal life and I am concerned about mom's care and now this...Would these symptoms typically come on slowly? Mom is now on antibiotics but I am concerned over this situation and what it may indicate....
It makes me sad when I see how some elderly are not cared for. I had an aunt and uncle in an assisted living facility (had to be placed somewhere by DSS) and it was so subpar that I can't believe it is still open. We managed to press until DSS worked to get them moved to a much, much better facility.
The common sense which you spoke of, may sometimes come with a little bit of age and living life. I noticed that the older care givers were more aware of things: such as possible UTI's than some of the younger ones. But I also know that most people can learn, if they are willing. I did a lot of research and reading books to teach me more about my mom's Parkinson's disease. When my dad was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, I read every test results, images, etc. If I didn't know a term or a unit of measure (since they're usually not given in inches), I learned what each one meant. I did the same when it came to legal matters, because I owed it to my parents to be as knowledgeable as possible to best meet their needs. Granted I had two wonderful parents (not perfect, but kind and loving). Caring for them was an honor and a gift of God—even in the most difficult decision-making times all the way through planning and executing their funerals.
Thanks for taking care of your dad. You certainly went much further than most of us by taking the CNA classes. I applaud you!
However - they would be things that your mother would be feeling physically such as pain in the very lower tummy area and pain/burning when urinating. Is your mother able to recognize these symptoms and communicate then to her caregiver?
As well, I had a UTI once myself that was unlike the other few I had over the years. I had no symptoms at all - then suddenly was in a great deal of lower tummy pain and when I went to pee - it looked like I was peeing straight blood. It literally went from zero to sixty in about ten minutes. It was bad enough that I went straight to the ER and when they saw - just saw - my urine sample in the little clear cup - hooked me up to IV antibiotics immediately. Fastest action I’ve experienced in an ER - ever!
So, yes. In my experience it can happen just that fast - but it also seems to be nontypical.
I learned to keep antibiotics on hand and not"wait it out".
I imagine that when mother has yet another UTI. I have never had one and so I cannot relate, but I imagine it's similar to the BF infections. Awful.
Mother always has a 'low grade' UTI. She catheterized now, but cannot clean her own cath bags and so keeps getting infections. Frustrating is not even the word to use here.
(Don't tell me to get outside help, as much as 3xs a weeks in home care would be--brother will NOT allow it)