Follow
Share

Our mother of 92 doesn't seem to know what her feces is. She has a bowel movement anywhere in the room. Last night it was in my sewing basket. I had to throw away all my sewing and spools of thread. It was also all over the floor and she had picked it up with her hands and spread it on another bed, all over her own bed, on the furniture, on the floor (everywhere).
It was difficult to walk in to clean it all up without stepping in it. When I asked her why she did that, she just put her hand on it again and said "this? this is nothing..."
It was 2 am and I had to clean everything with bleach and put her in the shower. I'm not sure what to do. She seems to have all her bowel movements in the middle of the night. So we would have to stay up all night watching her if we don't want this to happen again. This was the worst I've had to deal with, but she does this every night on her bed and spreads it all over and on the floor.
I'm sorry to be so descriptive, but it was just something I had never seen before. I have had 6 children, but never gone through anything of the sort. The smell is what woke me up. My whole house smelled.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
Buy the one piece "onesies" pajamas that button up the back, so she can't remove the pajama or the depends. Stock up on Febreze.
Helpful Answer (10)
Report

Talking scheduled bathroom breaks during the day and just before bed might also help her have fewer bowel movements at night. Does she get out of bed frequently at night? If she typically only gets up to go to the bathroom then an alert/alarm device might be helpful so that you would know she was up.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

Hepi, on the contrary, *thank you* for being so descriptive. Truly, it is far, far more helpful when people explain exactly what is going on. Forewarned is forearmed, and none of us knows what we might one day have to deal with. Thank you.
Helpful Answer (8)
Report

Do you have her in an adult diaper?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Look at Abena Abri form 4 series diapers. (Amazon) My husband can hold his urine all day then pee while he is sleeping. I've found these diapers to be the most absorbent, however they are expensive and a little difficult to put on. I think they are designed for fecal incontinence.
Helpful Answer (5)
Report

Mittens.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Is the stool what wakes your mom up in the middle of the night?

Talk to the nurse at your mom's Dr.'s office about getting your mom on a different bowel routine. It can be done but she might need some medication initially.

I can't imagine awakening to such a thing. What a mess! Just reading your post I felt so bad for you!
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

Hopefully you have your mom in adult diapers ALL THe time. If she doesn't know what she is doing at night, she does not know what she is doing during the day. Keep diapers on all the time. Secondly, try and have her last meal earlier, walk her and try and get her moving around if possible in the evening.. Get her to walk around during the day, if she is sedentary. NEXT, you cannot continue cleaning up messes during the night. So, do whatever it takes, whether it is getting an aid a few nights a week so that you can have a break. Secondly, you can buy from Poses.com hand/arm wraps (it is that just keeps mom from being able to bend her elbow so that she may have difficulty pulling off her pants, and diapers that she is wearing . I would put on the diapers with strong adhesive tabs, not the pullups. This problem will be resolved. Also, there are hand mitts you can purchase that put mom's hand in a round sleeve that makes it difficult for her to grab, and slide her diaper off. These are used for people who pull out their IV.s, This all works. My mom sometimes became very agitated and we used these hand/arm sleeves at times so she would not be able to pull out her feeding tube. They were not restraining aids, they were just to prevent mom from being able to grab. Of course mom will need to be check on at night, and if possible, make sure mom has lots of desitin and A&D ointment on if she has a bowel movement in the diapers. Changing a diaper is much easier than what you have been facing.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report

*Sigh*

Is there no end to the problem-solving? That seems to be the life of family caregivers. And, Lordy, you've got a doozy.

Great ideas here . . . the onesies combined with mittens (specially made, they're more like big soft boxing gloves. Links often get deleted here, so Google "Posey Mitts". You can get then for under $40. And Google "Senior Onsies" -- an Alzheimer's site will probably come up that will show adaptive clothing that'd work like a charm. (Removes from the back...) Combine the mittens with the onesies, and I think you have your problem solved. Well...except for laundering the onsies. Lordy.

Also, consider a bed alarm that will alert you to her getting UP in the middle of the night. And/or a door mat alarm that will alert you when she's left her room.

Depending on how agile she is, a hospital bed might help. When you raise the head and feet, it takes a great deal of work to get out of bed. Mom sure can't do it, but . . .

I'd also consider putting a lock on her bedroom door so at least the mess would be confined to one room. Put a potty chair in her room; start her using it to pee during the day and JUST MAYBE she'll remember to use it at night.

God love ya'. Sometimes I think I'm starring in a horror movie of sorts. Maybe you do, too.

*Hugs*
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

First, she has either dementia or something else going on that she does not recognize feces. Second, she needs protective underwear like Depends, and she shouldn't be eating after about 5 p.m. Start the day with lots of fiber so she be going during the daylight hours and you all can get some sleep and if you give her some melatonin, she will sleep at night too. Try that.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

My mother and I share a house. Seemed like a good idea when she was 73. She is now 96, hard of hearing and nearly blind. She is becoming forgetful. I sometimes think I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. A quick read of others problems makes me realize how lucky I am. I am of no help to you, other than to tell you, you must be one fantastic person!
Helpful Answer (6)
Report

God bless you. What a situation. My heart goes out to you. I cannot even imagine. I also cannot speak to your ordeal but can offer prayers. Thank goodness others, especially Helensw, have solid sounding, helpful ideas. I hope they help with your problem. You qualify for Sainthood!!!
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

I bought anti-strip jumpsuit - zips from top to bottom on back of suit - Vitality medical - from Amazon. Washed it umpteen times. Problem solved. Search transitional clothing.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

hepi, this would be a game changer to me and I would have to look at placing my mother in a nursing facility. You can't stay up all night to watch her. I don't know if there is anything you can do to deal with the confusion she is feeling about the nighttime "gifts" she is making. I know many of us want to keep our loved ones at home, but sometimes it becomes too much to handle. This would be that point for me.
Helpful Answer (7)
Report

You have a good number of solutions. i would add with the taped depends theat you reinforce with duct tape if the jumpsuit/ mittens agitate her too much.
A lock on the door is a nice idea but probably illegal. how could the fire dept get to her? Use an alarm that sounds loudly in your room if she opens the door at night. Striip the room down to bare essentials so there is less to clean up. remove carpet and put down vinyl or ceramic. Anything on walls should be out of reach. Strip wallpaper and paint with heavy duty washable. You can do a few stencils just to break up the monotomy, but don't make it busy if she has dementia. Keep all the bedding easy care and have 2 -3 sets available. Having a comode is good but you probably need to use it all the time. if you think her medications may be adding to her confusion discuss with Dr and give early in the evening. get he up to the comode before you go to bed and if she takes a sleeping pill give her that after the last potty. Leave a light on in the room. My sympathies go out to you.
Helpful Answer (6)
Report

Just wanted to say that this is a string of very nice and helpful suggestions.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

My brother did this in the assisted living he was in, and they changed his medications, and this behavior stopped. Without knowing your situation it's hard to say, but at this point, I'd be looking into placement where they have professionals to deal with dementia behavior.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

This is what I am dreading in the future. Also I agree with JessieBell. This might be the time to consider a nursing home! I don't know if I will be able to handle that all by myself. But only the future will tell!
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

mty mom 78 years old just got diagnosed a mth ago with begining dem, things have been good up to this last week all of a sudden she is sleeping alot in the day and night worries me hardly wants to eat , really worried anyone go thru this or advice
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

And definitely report this behavior to the doctor, as it's a change in mental status.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter