Buying mom a new lift chair. What’s the best way to protect it from occasional “accidents.” She’s in a nursing home. I know with my dad disposal pads didn’t really prevent problems. She wants an upholstered fabric on it. Is it practical to buy those waterproof chair covers and have backups for staff? I’d launder them. Looking to the experienced for ideas. Please share what’s worked for you.
He wouldn't keep diapers on, so i resorted to Poise pads and briefs, which certainly didn't begin to catch everything. He spent most of his days in his recliner, and it began to smell pretty bad, and subsequently the whole den. I got him up and changed pads, underwear, clothing several times a day, and to protect his chair,( upholstered fabric) I layered:
1. small rubber backed bath mat on the seat
2. heavy bath towel folded
3 plastic backed seat pad
4. heavy bath towel
5. plastic backed seat pad
This sounds like a lot, but easy to throw the whole wet thing into the washer, and replace with already stacked replacements kept handy nearby.
After he died, his chair was fine; no odors. I did a lighter version on his kitchen chair to protect it.
Also used Odo-Ban spray on leaks, accidents on carpet etc. and in laundry.
At nite, he would remove all his clothing, including his underwear and pads, and just soak and/ or soil his bedding. This required a complete bed change every morning, but never I found another solution.
All of this required 3-4 loads of laundry; pads, sheets, bedspreads, clothing etc. a day, but much easier than washing full chair covers. My goal was to keep him as clean and dry and comfortable as possible and the house not smelling like a nursing home. Worked pretty well.
Hope some of this is helpful, and God Bless !
Because despite the water proof covers being “waterproof”,.. after certain amount of washes, they wear out and can develop tiny holes / weak spots. I discovered this when I spilt a whole drink and it went through in part.
That works fine for seats as really it’s just a bit of side leakage with Mum. Even if there is no leakage she leaves a certain foul smell due to constant UTI’s so it’s nice to be able to launder them with nice smelling clothes softener (yes I have been trying to address the UTI with doc).
That being said, I’ve gone a bit overboard with puppy peed pads lately on carpet as well because Mum decides to “try” change her pull up at the most inconvenient times. Guaranteed she’ll attempt it while I’ve walked to the post box or having a shower myself or cooking etc. OR middle of night when I’m sleeping. This morning I found her again,.. she’d got dressed,.. removed her pull up on the carpet floor, she’d then got half way through putting on new ones (which were on her chair), she’d then got distracted and just put on her actual dress pants,.. sigh. So yet again I’m washing her pants and cleaning her floor.
I honestly wish the house was not carpet!! It’s not even mine, it’s a rental so hence my efforts / worry.
In the car I use a thicker waterproof pad made for elderly. But also I tend to take her out when she’s just freshly showered so there’s usually no problems. This also works in conjunction to convince her to shower ;) She goes the entire trip usually without needing a change.
I did this with their couch cushions too because the client would pee all over the furniture because she refused to wear a pull-up for a long time.
You could also leave the original plastic wrap on the chair cushion when they send it from the factory. Then put quilted bed pads on top.
https://odoban.com/
If you want even more added protection, you can use a towel right over the plastic covering so shield it further from any liquid (or anything else).
when she went in to the nursing home after a stroke, staff would not place the pads in the chair or removed them, or mil did .
We had to trash the chair in a short while, even though we were frequently there to locate and place the pads back in position.
the room smelled to heaven and I kept disinfecting it, but it was a losing battle since I was not there 24/40.
we replaced the chair with a “leather” chair that we could wash down daily with clorox wipes that we brought from home.
KateyG: Are you certain that the NH can accommodate a lift chair?
RMS Ultra Soft 4-Layer Washable and Reusable Incontinence Bed Pad - Waterproof Bed Pads, 34"X72" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0124XEV6Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_i_QE2KR20S7E49107JJ9MN?psc=1
I agree about the washable ones. I did my Moms laundry. I had a sign on the door of Moms closet "Family does laundry" but something always went to their laundry. I asked an aide what can I do to get aides to put Moms laundry in the basket provided. She took a piece of paper wrote "Family does laundry" on it and taped it above Moms bed.
You have more than one aide involved and they are used to a routine. At Moms when they take dirty clothes off they get thrown in a plastic bag and then put in the laundry bin to be washed. So, if Mom had a washable cover on her chair and it was soiled I would bet it would end up in the facilities laundry. Its just automatic for these aides. So if you go this route, you better make sure that her name is on the covers. Moms NH had a machine that did this and the only way to get that tag off was to reverse the process.
I had an old crib protector I used for Moms chair. It was flannel on both sides with rubber in the middle. I was able to tuck it. Not sure if they still make something like that.
"6 Pack Reusable Underpads, 30” x 34” Incontinence Bed Pads."
I just ordered them
Penny