My mom once ago only needed help with bathing, changing her clothes, and combing her hair. Now she also needs help with the potty (well pretty much all now). But poor thing once forgot to leave the tissue behind. Unpleasant for me when I went to put her pull-up in the trash. So yes, I too have taken that part over or at the least do a final wipe. I come in with a can of 4in1 air freshener, a can of disinfectant spray, open a window if need be, flush before I start cleaning with the wipes that are already in the bathroom, and flush again, apply the skin protectant. And yes, if she is forgetting, you will have to remind or do the hand washing. If mom is having a strong day, she washes in the sink. Weak days, I wash with a wipe and then use the disinfectant gels.
I do consider myself an expert on this subject - adult diapers and baby wipes. I’ve stated my qualifications many times - “yeah, yeah Rainmom - we know” I’m sure some are rolling their eyes, lol! But I have changed over 16,000 diapers ranging from a baby to a hairy, full grown man.
So, okay. I highly recommend Costco’s Kirkland brand baby wipes. You get a case of nine packages, each holding 100 wipes. 900 wipes for $20 and they do go on sale fairly often for less.
These wipes are at least one inch larger than your standard baby wipe - 7.1 in x 8 in - and are made of a material that makes them feel almost like cloth - 100% plant based fiber and 99% natural, if that type of thing matters to you - it does me. Unscented. They are incredibly strong.
As others have said - you’re gonna have to start accompanying your mom to the bathroom and take over the cleaning up. The risk of disease and infection - to your mother and everyone else in the home is just to great. Nothing to fool around with.
It’s definitely no fun to have to do this task. Pretty gross, in fact. In my vast experience - yeah, yeah, you know - lol - the only way to make this tolerable is to have the best tools for the job possible. An absolute must - surgical type gloves and good baby wipes. Lots and lots of wipes.
Costco also sells gloves. Two boxes of 200 each - so 400 gloves for $20. They are non-latex - something called Nitrile and come in three sizes.
Let's hope she's not "washing" herself with toilet water. :0 I've seen that happen.
You MUST accompany her to the bathroom EACH time!! Your mom has crossed the line of rational thought and needs to be supervised in toiling matters. I, too, found Huggies wipes to be a wonderful cleansing product (best brand and I've tried many). Remember to wipe front to back and never UP. Make sure she washes her hands with soap after finishing. If you don't think that's satisfactory, have a pump bottle of disinfectant gel in the bathroom too. I would not keep 'disinfectant' wipes visible in the bathroom as she could get confused with which wipe is for what job. But I would definitely wipe off door knobs or anything else she may have touched with the disinfectant wipes.
You can even get a very simple spray bottle, fill with warm water and spray from front to back before wiping, if necessary. That's what we did on the maternity floor for the new mommies.
Good luck and God bless. Been there, done that with 94 year old mother. Not easy.
You don't give much background info--but if your mom is using her hands to "wipe herself" after using the toilet--she has some serious decompensation.
We need a little more information than you've provided. Does she live with you? Are you caring for her 24/7. Is this s sudden change of behavior or has she always been kind of fixated on bladder and bowels?
If this is dementia and she has forgotten 'how' to properly clean herself after toileting, she is going to need some real help.
This is a situation that's pretty dire--fecal matter spread through the whole house off dirty hands....ugh. Even if she washes her hands after using them..still wouldn't be clean enough.
I'm sure someone with more knowledge can chime in. In the meantime, give us a better overall picture of what exactly is going on.
You need to now be there when she goes and hand her the toilet paper. I doubt if she has been left on her own she is cleaning herself well. I used Huggies baby wipes, they are bigger and thicker than the "lady" ones. If Mom is not in Depends, you may consider starting her.
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I do consider myself an expert on this subject - adult diapers and baby wipes. I’ve stated my qualifications many times - “yeah, yeah Rainmom - we know” I’m sure some are rolling their eyes, lol! But I have changed over 16,000 diapers ranging from a baby to a hairy, full grown man.
So, okay. I highly recommend Costco’s Kirkland brand baby wipes. You get a case of nine packages, each holding 100 wipes. 900 wipes for $20 and they do go on sale fairly often for less.
These wipes are at least one inch larger than your standard baby wipe - 7.1 in x 8 in - and are made of a material that makes them feel almost like cloth - 100% plant based fiber and 99% natural, if that type of thing matters to you - it does me. Unscented. They are incredibly strong.
As others have said - you’re gonna have to start accompanying your mom to the bathroom and take over the cleaning up. The risk of disease and infection - to your mother and everyone else in the home is just to great. Nothing to fool around with.
It’s definitely no fun to have to do this task. Pretty gross, in fact. In my vast experience - yeah, yeah, you know - lol - the only way to make this tolerable is to have the best tools for the job possible. An absolute must - surgical type gloves and good baby wipes. Lots and lots of wipes.
Costco also sells gloves. Two boxes of 200 each - so 400 gloves for $20. They are non-latex - something called Nitrile and come in three sizes.
And no, I don’t work for Costco.
You MUST accompany her to the bathroom EACH time!! Your mom has crossed the line of rational thought and needs to be supervised in toiling matters.
I, too, found Huggies wipes to be a wonderful cleansing product (best brand and I've tried many). Remember to wipe front to back and never UP. Make sure she washes her hands with soap after finishing. If you don't think that's satisfactory, have a pump bottle of disinfectant gel in the bathroom too. I would not keep 'disinfectant' wipes visible in the bathroom as she could get confused with which wipe is for what job. But I would definitely wipe off door knobs or anything else she may have touched with the disinfectant wipes.
You can even get a very simple spray bottle, fill with warm water and spray from front to back before wiping, if necessary. That's what we did on the maternity floor for the new mommies.
Good luck and God bless. Been there, done that with 94 year old mother. Not easy.
We need a little more information than you've provided. Does she live with you? Are you caring for her 24/7. Is this s sudden change of behavior or has she always been kind of fixated on bladder and bowels?
If this is dementia and she has forgotten 'how' to properly clean herself after toileting, she is going to need some real help.
This is a situation that's pretty dire--fecal matter spread through the whole house off dirty hands....ugh. Even if she washes her hands after using them..still wouldn't be clean enough.
I'm sure someone with more knowledge can chime in. In the meantime, give us a better overall picture of what exactly is going on.