The mother doesn’t wear a mask so I’m nervous to ask if I can... but it’s extremely difficult and I’m afraid I might gag. I don’t want to embarrass anyone. Also, isn’t it more hygienic to wear a mask? Bowel movements have air born bacteria...
Any advice?
There is a spay they used in the ER for really gaseous bm's. It would neutralize the offending odor and didnt smell too bad. Sort of like glade. But you do have to watch the elderly person isnt breathing a heavy dose of that. You can leave the area they might be bed bound and cant.
For those who can still use the toilet but need help, there is the spray like pooperie you put on the surface of the water. Traps the smell. They are pretty cheap. Pinterest has cheap home made versions.
I think you need to watch experts do it- are other family members experts? My sister and I learned from highly skilled CNAs. Talk to them about it...
RE masks, I am not sure if they help. If there are particles in the air, you inhale them too when you have your own BM. Do you wear a mask each time you poop? In any case, it is a personal decision. There is no right or wrong answer here.
They dont even offer masks to cnas, so I dont know where you are getting your info from. Never seen it. Worked in numerous hospitals and nursing homes. Never happened. They change numerous briefs all day long.
Wearing gloves that is the norm.
The vicks trick is better. Or someone needs to evaluate what the person is eating, or what the medication is doing to their bms.
You can use the vicks and over time loose that gag reflex the more you change them.
To be blunt, poop particles not visible to the human eye are actually in the air.
Many people dont wear masks for emotional reasons but their is a legitimate reason to do so.
What you smell in a bowl movement are gasses. Those won't infect you and a mask won't stop those either. If it's the smell or airborne pathogens you are worried about, you need to wear a respiratory and not a mask,
I see no problem in using a mask and putting a little Vicks inside sounds like a good idea.
I read your profile. Call around to ur local ALs and NHs. See if they offer seminars on ALZ/Dementia. Check with Office of Aging, Health Dept and Hospitals too. Then recommend the family sign up for one. They need to be educated to make their lives and his life better.
What the mother chooses to do is not really a consideration. It's your nose.
If you don't make a big deal out of it, he probably won't either. Get in and get it done, go clean up and act like nothing unusual just took place.
Best of luck.
Just be careful to not wince or show disgust. I think the adult diaper situation is harder on them than us. They never wanted this.
Focus on protecting your loved one’s skin-and-emotional well being. Then you’ll be okay.
It’s not the same at all. big difference between a baby diaper and an adult diaper, just saying. VERY Big difference between changing YOUR baby’s diaper and the adult diaper of your client, patient, even parent.
Smear under your nose and on your lips.
I'd say it's to protect you from airborne fecal matter that can really make you sick. Put a smear of Vicks in the face mask, or a few drops of lemon oil--something to help with the gag factor.
Someone on here has quite a lengthy post about changing adult diapers and there were some great ideas. Somebody else will remember the title--