Well I learned on this forum it could be done. Wow! But!!! It takes 2 hands to tear (or cut) one side at a time. Therefore the first side lobs down while working the other side and the contents may get deposited on the lower legs. Right? One more hand might be convenient. One solution that I can think of is to hold the offending depends up with suspenders during the tearing process - naw that wouldn’t work. Maybe tear and clamp the first side, tear the second side, then grab the first side and release the clamp simultaneously - tricky & risky - but it might work with practice.
Now thinking it out how about this: I’m right handed so tear the left side first (both hands) then lower it down a bit and fold the torn sections over the middle between the legs and hold that with my left hand. Now take my wife’s nursing bandage cutting scissors in my right hand and cut the right side. Now that side will fall aside but since I’ve already secured the mid section no contents can get deposited in unwanted areas. Can't wait to try this.
So maybe I’ve solved my own problem but if there’s a better way what might it be? How do you it?
Lots of clever ideas in this thread. Thank you.
The only facility that could even consider accepting Christy is associated with our university hospital, that forbids incontinence briefs.
They take all incontinent residents to toilet every 2 hours and deal with whatever else happens. The scheduled toileting minimizes accidents.
The nurse said, a BM on the floor doesn't stink any more than leaking from a diaper, and we watch our residents. Briefs would be for our convenience and detrimental to the health of the residents.
Our local hospitals do not allow them. They provide bedpads instead.
Christy goes commando. Cotton long skirts and night shirts.
Washable 'cotton' one side bedpads covered with soft cotton sheet. Polyester is an irritant, holds heat and pools liquid.
It is much cheaper than depends, much more comfortable, and better for the environment.
It is easier to clean up. Ripping the undies can be very messy. Christy has not had a UTI since 2015.
1) Have the person sit. Take the pad and put it over ONE foot. do this with socks on before trying it with sneakers or shoes. (she is already dressed with pants and socks on)
2) Once you have the pad over the right foot, pull the whole pad up into the inside of the foot/leg. Now the pad is up at the top of her right thigh. Now comes the harder part.
3) You are going to take the left part of the pad and push it down the inside of the left thigh and the inside of the left leg's clothes and coming out the bottom of the left leg. At this point you are going to wrap it under the left foot. The MOST important thing to to make sure you tuck it from back to front so the pad doesn't twist and come up wrong as you pull it up where it belongs on her bottom and then pull up her pants. This way of doing things is especially helpful in a public bathroom where the floor is dirty.
At night when she is going to be especially wet during the night, I cut a depend away from the water part (meaning take off the water proof slip so the urine can go through to the last pad that will catch it all.)
She is doing very well with these ways of doing things, since she is incontinent. (she has been since she was about 60 years old and is now almost 96.
the drug store brands from CVS or Walgreens are better but mom would still use a Kotex pad in them to help soak up the overflow when she could handle herself
also, if bedridden, don't use pull ups - use the briefs with side tabs
even though immobile, mom can still help roll over making clean up much easier
KEEP the scissors away from your LO. You could wind up finding them with a pretty crazy haircut.
After a wash rag devouring clean up I walked her back to the bedroom, carefully negotiating the precipice between the vinyl and carpet flooring and getting her med into her while standing up, coaxed her into bed and before she lay down she gave me a big smile. Ample pay.