How do you plan outings with someone who is in diapers?

OK, apologies Pam. I'm kind of thin-skinned right now.

Xina, I took Pam's post to be an observation about something that you need to consider in terms of outings. If your mother's qualification for 24/7 care is based on her being "Housebound" then your taking her for longer outings to gardens, theater etc. might jeopardize that. Pam provided info from VNA that she got for you to take into consideration or check out. So it actually is quite relevant to your question about outings if your mother going on them might jeopardize her eligibility.
Second, if you are taking an incontinent person out in diapers, you are involved. If it's an ordeal to clean her without professional help and you take her out of her home where the professional help and lift are located, the care burden will fall on you. I remember you being quite upset about the length of time that your mother was sitting in soiled diaper at SNF. How long are you willing to have her sit in a soiled diaper on the outing with you because she cannot control when she goes and you don't have the option without help of cleaning her? These are things to include in your planning for outings with incontinent person - can they reasonably occur if she cannot control her bladder and bowels and you don't want her sitting in the results for extended periods of time. I know that you are trying to maintain a quality of life but it may be something that you have to put on hold while you figure out just what her "new normal" is. All of this relates to your being unable to clean and change her away from her apartment, that is. A very complicated situation to make your mother's quality of life better as you have stated.

Thanks. I'm not getting involved in the diaper situation at all. She can't stand up, so it's really not an option to try to clean her without professional help. It's an ordeal.

Also, Pamstegma, did I ask about her qualifying for home care? She is getting 24/7 care in her home and it will be covered by Medicaid once she spends down. How is your post relevant to my question about outings?

I almost forgot - antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer. And, depending on your loved ones cognative level - the sentence "No touching" as most public restrooms can be a little, umm - germ-y.

"Trip Training" is a method often used with children with disabilities and I imagine the same technique could be applied to an adult - although meds such as Lasix might make it much more difficult. The end result of being successfully trip trained is that the individual will become accustomed to going at specific times. It's not perfect as diet and illness can throw things off in addition to medications but it has been the only thing that has worked for my adult disabled son. Try googleing it - it may be helpful to add "autism" in the search for "trip training". Also, my son wears a backpack fully stocked with two extra pull-ups, wipes, gloves, a tie off garbage bag for appropiate disposal and a full change of clothes. Best of luck to you.

If she is not housebound, meaning no outside trips, she will not qualify for home care. That's what the Visiting Nurses Ass'n. told us.

With incontinence and wheelchair bound patients, travel is risky. You really have to plan and carry lots of supplies. Even with my cousin being able to stand up from her wheelchair to be cleaned and changed, it's a huge ordeal in a public place. You have to go in advance and check out the facilities, plan in case of car trouble, illness, etc. Of course, if she is mentally alert and can communicate with you, that will help. I'd try to keep the trips short and not far from home.

Xina, there are a bunch of articles under Health Conditions, Incontinence - some refer to traveling, some to outings with warm weather. Biggest question will be the type of incontinence, if she has an episode how long are you willing to wait to change her without the Hoyer lift? My son had a bad habit of having a poopy blowout just as we started the car....