Why does my 52 year old mother not shower and pees on her bedroom floor in the middle of the night?

Cookies25, the fact that your Mom lays bath towels down on the floor tells me she understands she needs those towels to keep the floor from getting damage. Sounds like she just can't make it to the bathroom on time. I know those urges with just split seconds to spare.

Have you tried Depend type panties? I know they would take some getting use to.

As to not showering, when one gets older showering is like a day at the gym, it can become so very exhausting. One only needs to shower once a week if Mom isn't doing any type of hard labor. In-between times, she can use baby wipes in those areas that need to be freshen daily.

Unfortunately, your mother is not 'too young' for early onset dementia or Alzheimer's. When I worked in a Memory Care AL awhile ago, we had 2 women who were residing there, both in their 50's, with ADVANCED dementia and in need of facility care. People younger & younger are being diagnosed with one of the dementias these days, sadly, and your mother could fall into that category. Urinating on the floor and refusing to shower are two behaviors that fall into the symptoms of dementia category.

Of course, nobody can tell you what is wrong with your mother; only a doctor can evaluate her and say what's going on, mentally, psychologically or physically (or a combination of all 3). She needs a full medical work up by her PCP, so I suggest you get her in for one asap. Perhaps you can call ahead to the doctor's office and inform them of what's been going on, giving them a head's up and ask that a cognitive evaluation be given to her along with the physical exam.

Lastly, have you asked your mother why she's peeing on the floor in the middle of the night? What is her answer? Why is she knowingly laying towels down on the floor in anticipation of using them as a toilet?? And why is she refusing to shower? Maybe she has some sort of logical explanation, but God knows what it may be.

Here is a link to an article discussing the 10 warning signs/symptoms of dementia:

https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/do-i-have-dementia/10-warning-signs-dementia

She also could have had a stroke or be suffering from a brain tumor or something else organic that's contributing to her odd behavior, which is why a full physical exam is warranted here.

Best of luck.

If your mother at only 52 is peeing on the floors and won't shower, there's something seriously wrong with her mentally or physically.
Maybe both.
Please take her to a doctor.

Is the age of 52 correct for Mom? If so, this should have been dealt with months ago. She has the sense to put towels down, why not put a commode in her room? She needs to wear depends if she is having problems.

If she is older, than Dementia could be the cause but you say nothing in ur profile about her having any health problems. If Dementia, she definitely needs to wear Depends.

You need to get her to a Dr to see if there is a physical problem causing this. This is not normal for someone not suffering from a Dementia.

One ‘experiment’ would be to put a commode by her bed. If she won’t use it and still pees on the floor, you have eliminated the possibility that she doesn’t feel confident about walking to the bathroom in the dark. It’s one useful piece of information about what’s going on.

She's a little young for a UTI that causes confusion, but anything is possible and it's the easier thing to discount. Get her in for an exam that will explore all possibilities if there's no UTI.

FYI there are other medical conditions that can cause dementia-like symptoms. Is she currently on any medications, like for thyroid or pain or sleep? If she is over- or under-medicating herself, this may be an explanation. Thyroid meds dosages are based on weight, so if she's recently gained or lost weight, this would throw things off and cause her symptoms. She could be dehydrated, have a vitamin deficiency, brain tumor, etc. A specialist will help work through to a diagnosis.

She could have early onset ALZ... she's "too young" for most other types of dementia. A very vital, active and healthy woman I knew got it in her late 50s. Some people can get it even younger. Discounting other problems is how this will be figured out.

It will take a medical evaluation to know why this is happening. And if there’s no medical cause, then it will take a psychological evaluation. Acting like it’s not happening is not an answer. I hope she’ll cooperate with seeing a doctor soon

Have her checked for a UTI and she may have dementia. She may need professional carers to look after her now because this is definitely not normal behavior. Have you ever asked her why she does it?