Memory care asked we get MIL a lidded cup. She recently spilled her coffee and got blisters… Staff has been asked not to give her hot coffee. Is there something that works well?
babsjvd: This facility was in the wrong in serving coffee so hot that it gave the patient IN memory care blisters. The coffee will, from now on, have to be served to the individual so that it doesn't do bodily damage. This should be the protocol of any memory care facility.
Yes,… I’m not sure if a relative picked up coffee for a treat while visiting, or if the Memory care served it… memory care has instructions not yo serve her hot coffee now…
I use a package of store bought solo coffee cups with lids. I slide a straw in the small opening in the lid. I never heat the coffee to the point that she could burn her mouth. Just warm enough to taste good. I only fill the cup 2/3 full with coffee and her milk so it is not too heavy. I have never had an issue with her spilling the coffee or burning her mouth.
For her water, I use a 8 ounce size Deer Park water bottle with the cap screwed on. I made a slit in the cap with a knife that is just big enough to pass a straw through. I find the small bottle size is not too heavy for her or too big to hold. She hardly ever drops it, but when she has, it has hardly leaked any water. I refill the bottle with filtered water.
I periodically replace the straws, cups and bottles. I replace the straws every couple of days. I replace the coffee cup when it starts to have a stain on the seam. The water bottle does not need to be replaced as often. I refill the bottle with filtered water that I keep in my fridge.
The staff should be instructed to make sure her coffee is not too hot. That is a safety hazard. I hope you have pictures of the blisters. Save them for your attorney in the event they continue to be negligent and injure her again.
They shouldn't be serving anything in memory care that is hot enough to cause injury. Literally get her a toddler sippy cup. The kind with a screw-on lid with the two handles on the sides and a drinking slot on the lid. They make ones that can be used for cold and warm drinks. The kids' one will be easy for her to use and they are spill-proof even when they're dropped.
Tervis has a variety of microwave and dishwasher-safe plastic cups with no PFAS or toxic ingredients. Double-walled, so stays cool to the touch. They have different sizes, colors and patterns, and some have handles too. You can get a 16-oz. one with a lid on Amazon for about $20.
For me the Arrow Sip-A-Mug Translucent Plastic Bottle with Built in Straw Handle, 14oz on sale at Amazon has been a game changer. It has a lid and is lightweight for my Mom to handle. It can be used when lying down and because the straw is the handle and the straw is from the bottom every sip is easy. I tried everything and these work best for me.
Contigo Autoseal Travel Mugs are amazing. But they have to be able to coordinate pushing the button to drink so it would really depend on their fine motor skill capacity.
You can turn those over and they are sealed so they don't leak or spill. And there is a lock on it so that you can't even open the push button part if you need to (say they needed to ensure that she couldn't drink it at that time for some reason)
The one I have is a travel coffee mug but it holds 20 ounces and keep hot liquids "hot" for up to 7 hours and cold liquids cold for about twice as long. I say "hot" because their marketing says it will stay basically as hot as the temperature it was put into the cup - but I think that is if you basically prep the cup first (boil water and let it sit in the sealed cup for about 10 minutes to warm it up, pour the water out and then put in your hot liquid) and I don't do that so my coffee usually stays hot to warm enough to continue drinking for up to 8 hours (in other words it doesn't get so cool that I wouldn't want to drink it)
They have other varieties of cups though. The only other issue besides the ability to coordinate that button would be the fact that someone would have to handwash the cup (at least the cup part, the top is dishwasher safe/top rack) but I'm not sure how that works in a care setting.
As to hot coffee in a memory care setting - I would think that they would have to lower the concept of "hot" considerably to begin with. Not to be disrespectful, but I would think they would need to approach it a lot like ordering a Kid's hot chocolate at Starbucks - where they ensure that the temperature is most definitely far lower than they serve their regular hot chocolate. (Starbucks typically serves their kid's hot chocolate at 130 degrees as opposed to their regular hot chocolate at 160 degrees) That way they know that even if it is spilled it will not be injurious. AND that the resident is not going to go straight in for a big gulp and scald all the way down their throat. I can't begin to imagine why they are serving their coffee hot enough to blister!
I drink my coffee in the car and don't want it all over my clothes when I get to work. I have lidded coffee cups with pictures of my grandchildren on them. I love this! You can make then through Walmart, Shutterfly, Zazzle and many other websites. Just Google personalized travel mugs. They have many styles. You can even find them in stores if you are not inclined to personalize.
I wouldn't use these for hot coffee, but just FYI, Walmart has a variety of sippy cups of various shapes and sizes (in the baby section) for just a couple of dollars. We got my mother one that was wider at the bottom (shaped somewhat like an hourglass) to prevent tipping over, and added a straw. It has worked great for us since she tends to throw things when she gets in that mood.
Why did the staff serve your MIL hot liquids when they were told to not do that? It's no common sense for someone in memory care. Your MIL was placed there for one fact: her safety.
Mc Donalds was sued for serving a supposedly competent adult driver coffee hot enough to scald her ( in a sippy cup?) Whyever does the nursing home serve patients coffee hot enough to make blisters? i have gotten lidded cups at the dollar store even, but some cups ( even expensive) leak.
I use a plastic soup spoon to give mom hot coffee, one spoon at a time. I would imagine hot coffee in sippy cups would taste like plastic and get microplastics in the beverage.
We got both my parents Yeti cups, the sliding magnet is easy for them to move back and forth, it keeps their drinks hot (or cold) and has prevented a lot of spills. It lets my mom place her coffee into her walker basket without worrying that it will spill and leaves her hands free. We had the Yetis engraved with their names in LARGE letters that can be seen from across the room, it makes them much easier to keep track of. The only problem we have had is that my dad keeps trying to microwave his Yeti and we've had to replace the lid but he seems to have finally recognized it cannot be microwaved. Hope this helps.
Interesting take Lealonnie - it seems a no brainer that they wouldn't be serving scalding hot coffee but then common sense is a scarce commodity. I initially thought an ordinary travel mug might suffice until I thought about it having to go through the dishwasher.
Sippy cups are not good for hot coffee either! Hot comes off the table entirely in Memory Care for reasons you described. My mother wanted her hot coffee microwaved.....boiling, in other words, which was nixed. Sippy cups made her feel like a toddler and only work to slow down flow for elders w swallowing issues. Mom needs to get used to being served cooler temp coffee and this memory care should KNOW THAT and serve all their residents temperature appropriate beverages in general. Common sense 101.
Usually a facility knows what has worked best for their residents and staff and what kind of cup will safely go through their dishwasher, did they not give you any guidance on this?? If not you should ask for an OT consult, they will be able to assess her needs and know what is available...
19 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
For her water, I use a 8 ounce size Deer Park water bottle with the cap screwed on. I made a slit in the cap with a knife that is just big enough to pass a straw through. I find the small bottle size is not too heavy for her or too big to hold. She hardly ever drops it, but when she has, it has hardly leaked any water. I refill the bottle with filtered water.
I periodically replace the straws, cups and bottles. I replace the straws every couple of days. I replace the coffee cup when it starts to have a stain on the seam. The water bottle does not need to be replaced as often. I refill the bottle with filtered water that I keep in my fridge.
The staff should be instructed to make sure her coffee is not too hot. That is a safety hazard. I hope you have pictures of the blisters. Save them for your attorney in the event they continue to be negligent and injure her again.
ADVERTISEMENT
Literally get her a toddler sippy cup. The kind with a screw-on lid with the two handles on the sides and a drinking slot on the lid.
They make ones that can be used for cold and warm drinks. The kids' one will be easy for her to use and they are spill-proof even when they're dropped.
You can turn those over and they are sealed so they don't leak or spill. And there is a lock on it so that you can't even open the push button part if you need to (say they needed to ensure that she couldn't drink it at that time for some reason)
The one I have is a travel coffee mug but it holds 20 ounces and keep hot liquids "hot" for up to 7 hours and cold liquids cold for about twice as long. I say "hot" because their marketing says it will stay basically as hot as the temperature it was put into the cup - but I think that is if you basically prep the cup first (boil water and let it sit in the sealed cup for about 10 minutes to warm it up, pour the water out and then put in your hot liquid) and I don't do that so my coffee usually stays hot to warm enough to continue drinking for up to 8 hours (in other words it doesn't get so cool that I wouldn't want to drink it)
They have other varieties of cups though. The only other issue besides the ability to coordinate that button would be the fact that someone would have to handwash the cup (at least the cup part, the top is dishwasher safe/top rack) but I'm not sure how that works in a care setting.
As to hot coffee in a memory care setting - I would think that they would have to lower the concept of "hot" considerably to begin with. Not to be disrespectful, but I would think they would need to approach it a lot like ordering a Kid's hot chocolate at Starbucks - where they ensure that the temperature is most definitely far lower than they serve their regular hot chocolate. (Starbucks typically serves their kid's hot chocolate at 130 degrees as opposed to their regular hot chocolate at 160 degrees) That way they know that even if it is spilled it will not be injurious. AND that the resident is not going to go straight in for a big gulp and scald all the way down their throat. I can't begin to imagine why they are serving their coffee hot enough to blister!
https://www.amazon.com/Tervis-1260648-Japanese-Cherry-Blossom/dp/B075DHQCD7/ref=sr_1_16?content-id=amzn1.sym.9575273b-ecd8-4648-9bf0-15f20c657e0a&keywords=adaptive%2Bmugs&pd_rd_r=91b1dcbc-96ce-41f6-b600-88e5785813aa&pd_rd_w=E3SG7&pd_rd_wg=cMp3C&pf_rd_p=9575273b-ecd8-4648-9bf0-15f20c657e0a&pf_rd_r=HW12CT88VM8Y9Q5BX9T0&qid=1679833598&sr=8-16&th=1
I like that it is pretty and looks like an ordinary mug - dishwasher safe too
Whyever does the nursing home serve patients coffee hot enough to make blisters?
i have gotten lidded cups at the dollar store even, but some cups ( even expensive) leak.
I initially thought an ordinary travel mug might suffice until I thought about it having to go through the dishwasher.
Good luck!
If not you should ask for an OT consult, they will be able to assess her needs and know what is available...