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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
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There's a very easy and thorough way. Called "Go Bidet" it retrofits onto the toilet and tuck back in under the rim when not in use. It can be hooked up to both hot and/or cold water and had a handle on the side to control the temperature mix and velocity of water flow. Get the unit with the metal reinforced hose (better than the plastic tubing). Sit the patient down, when finished --remain seated, maneuver the handle from the outer side and the area of spray will be on target. Then turn on the water and adjust the temperature. The patient is immaculately clean -- just dry and done. I have this on all my toilets for hygienic purposes only.
For those of you who mentioned a sudsy washcloth, if you're cleaning off a significant mess, how do you "rinse" the washcloth between wipes, especially if you're not adjacent to a sink? Thank you!
The Go bidet is a great idea. IF you cannot afford a fancy gizmo though, an alternate might be, IF your sink is close to the toilet, hooking up a hand-held shower [the kind with a shut-off button on the side] on a similar tubing. If combined with: seat riser, so there is space between the toilet and the seat, the shower handle can be maneuvered under the targeted area after water temperature and pressure has been adjusted at the sink [you want to adjust water temp when the spigot is not on the skin of the person being washed, as that could be very uncomfortable].
A "Gait Belt" goes around the person's waist, fairly snug, but not too tight, which gives you a better grip to help hold them up/steady them, as they attempt to stand a bit for transfers and toileting.
For those caring for elders who are bed-bound most of the time: If someone is lying in bed, the easiest way to clean them up is rolling them onto one side, work on areas then exposed that you can reach, while rolling the mess into the protective pads under the person, [anyone bed-bound and potentially incontinent can really benefit from those disposable waterproof pads!]. When side one is cleaned and prepped, roll the person over that hump of rolled up materials, onto the clean side, then clean side 2, as you procede to keep rolling the mess into the wad of disposable pads and/or bedding, gradually replacing the dirty with the clean. Sometimes it can be tricky, with all the layers, but it is do-able. The goal is to use the least amount of effort on your part, and least amount of disruption to the patient; systematically rolling up the mess in the disposables, while unrolling clean materials under the patient. This is kinda of hard to describe; perhaps you can get a local nurses aid, LVN or an RN to show you how a bed-patient is most easily cleaned up.
There are various lifts that can help, but most of those do not fit into small spaces, or maneuver into the usual small-ish bathrooms.
Wet-wipes, of most kinds, are not flushable, do not degrade very well. They can also clog plumbing. So be sure to dispose of those in trash, along with whatever other disposable barriers are being disposed of.
Hi Billie, The best wipes are huggies, they are thick and wont cause them to be sore, then apply vaseline after you dry them. I transfer my Mom onto the toilet from the wheelchair, then lift her again, and drop her pants down. I put her on the front edge of he toilet with a log shape pillow behind her back. This gives me room to wash her lower back and reach down and do her bum area, I also use no rinse Bath Wipes on weekends to give myself a break, you put in the microwave( but they cost more). After I wash and dry and powder the back, I lift her again and sit her back on the toilet seat more. I soap up her frontal areas and then spray warm water all over her peri area down into the toilet. I have bath rugs all around the toilet when I wash her. I buy the peri bottles at the hair supply places, or anywhere, they are used to dye your hair, but make great peri bottles! If your loved one can do it, a nice strong bar across from the toilet is great to put their hands on to pull up their pants and then turn them slightly and lower them into their locked wheelchair again. Good luck.
I don't think there is any "easy" way but you might want to try baby wipes. They will clean and sanitize at the same time. Or try wet ones/antibacterial wipes if the elder does not want to use baby products.
If things get messy, shampoo on a wet wash cloth is great for cleaning up poo messes. My dad has had issues making it to the toilet in time, even though he wears protection. Many a time we've had to clean him, and the addition of regular shampoo suds-ed up on a wet wash cloth works wonders. Wet wipes are good for baby sized messes, but if it is anything bigger, I wouldn't mess with them except maybe for finishing up.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Eileen
IF you cannot afford a fancy gizmo though, an alternate might be,
IF your sink is close to the toilet, hooking up a hand-held shower [the kind with a shut-off button on the side] on a similar tubing.
If combined with: seat riser,
so there is space between the toilet and the seat, the shower handle can be maneuvered under the targeted area after water temperature and pressure has been adjusted at the sink
[you want to adjust water temp when the spigot is not on the skin of the person being washed, as that could be very uncomfortable].
A "Gait Belt" goes around the person's waist, fairly snug, but not too tight, which gives you a better grip to help hold them up/steady them, as they attempt to stand a bit for transfers and toileting.
For those caring for elders who are bed-bound most of the time:
If someone is lying in bed, the easiest way to clean them up is rolling them onto one side, work on areas then exposed that you can reach, while rolling the mess into the protective pads under the person, [anyone bed-bound and potentially incontinent can really benefit from those disposable waterproof pads!].
When side one is cleaned and prepped, roll the person over that hump of rolled up materials, onto the clean side, then clean side 2, as you procede to keep rolling the mess into the wad of disposable pads and/or bedding, gradually replacing the dirty with the clean.
Sometimes it can be tricky, with all the layers, but it is do-able.
The goal is to use the least amount of effort on your part,
and least amount of disruption to the patient;
systematically rolling up the mess in the disposables, while unrolling clean materials under the patient.
This is kinda of hard to describe; perhaps you can get a local nurses aid, LVN or an RN to show you how a bed-patient is most easily cleaned up.
There are various lifts that can help, but most of those do not fit into small spaces, or maneuver into the usual small-ish bathrooms.
Wet-wipes, of most kinds, are not flushable, do not degrade very well.
They can also clog plumbing.
So be sure to dispose of those in trash, along with whatever other disposable barriers are being disposed of.
If your loved one can do it, a nice strong bar across from the toilet is great to put their hands on to pull up their pants and then turn them slightly and lower them into their locked wheelchair again. Good luck.
Check out our Caregiver Bathing & Hygiene Section to find ways to help care for your elderly loved one. https://www.agingcare.com/Bathing-Hygiene
I don't think there is any "easy" way but you might want to try baby wipes. They will clean and sanitize at the same time. Or try wet ones/antibacterial wipes if the elder does not want to use baby products.
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