Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
J
jjcares Asked March 2020

Mom hygiene; does anyone else have to explain to their bedridden loved one it is okay to relieve themselves in their diaper?

Okay, does anyone else have to explain to their bedridden LO it is okay to relieve themselves in their diaper over and over? Also, she says she wants to get up and go use the bathroom but when it comes to actually doing she says she can’t do it, because she can’t she is bedridden. I am going to lose it pretty soon if we go through this “routine” much longer. It’s a constant issue!

cwillie Mar 2020
We are socialized from a very young age to feel shame for not getting to the toilet in time, telling someone who is aware and would otherwise be continent to just go in their pants goes against every instinct. It grieves me when I hear about people who are bedridden because their caregivers are left with no better options - is your mother not able to bear weight at all, could she not pivot transfer to a bedside commode? No possibility of getting a lift, if not for toileting at least to get her out of bed for part of the day?

Countrymouse Mar 2020
The answer is yes, earlybird - it is possible to use the Hoyer for transfers to commode, wheelchair, or riser recliner - just about anything, really, I suppose.

If you weren't given the right manual with your Hoyer lift (sometimes the slings come from other suppliers and the manuals go astray), you should be able to:

find the exact make and model of the slings you're using on their labels
type that into Google
look in the results for instruction manuals or booklets or downloads

When you've located the right brand and type, you will be able to see diagrams which show you how to position the leg straps correctly for "dignity" or "toileting/toilet transfers." It's really just a matter of strategic positioning; plus in the toileting set-up you or the caregiver need to watch your mother's legs to make sure they don't waggle around and hit something while she's being hoisted and transferred. No physical strength required, you just lay your hand on them gently and keep them still.

If she will be sitting on the commode, you will also want to position her upright when she is being hoisted. Again, this is explained in the manual: depending on which loops the hooks go in, the person is more or less perpendicular once raised from the bed.

When lowering, as you have two people there, one person should lower while the other keeps watch on how your mother's body is settling into position. Have a key word - "stop" is good! - so that you can pause the operation to make minor adjustments, if necessary. A common problem, for example, is being a bit too far back so that the person's spine is pressed uncomfortably against the commode's back. Practice makes perfect, it's only a matter of a little tweak here and there.

I practised on myself! - could you and the assistant takes turns? :)

ADVERTISEMENT


Countrymouse Mar 2020
If somebody told you that would you be fine with it?

What prevents your mother from getting out of bed? (I'm not challenging, this is a genuine question - to which there may be a solution).

earlybird Mar 2020
My mother has very weak lower extremities. He legs buckle at times. I put her on the commode every two hours with my assistant. Three weeks ago I fell and broke three rubs unable to lift, extreme pain. I was glad I got a Hoyer in Oct, just in case I needed it. The Hoyer was ordered by the doctor in the summer and took a while to get it. My assistant used the Hoyer lift to get her up and put her back to bed. There were times when we just got her back to bed, and she said she had to pee. I did tell her to pee her pants it was ok, but when my assistant told her that she tells her to pee her own pants. It is kind of funny. Is it possible to use a Hoyer to get her on the commode and chair? It would be beneficial to prevent a possible UTI or pneumonia . My mother just sits and the Hoyer does the rest, not necessary to stand her. Love this equipment especially when only one caregiver is available to do the lifting.
KaleyBug Mar 2020
I finally requested a hoyer lift. What a Godsend. I do leg exercises with mom in bed. Mom can get up with help and take enough steps away from the bed to place a bed side commode behind her. (I use toilet bags in it). Then I use the lift to get mom in her recliner and back into bed at night. Mom is great at walking straight out with assistance but can no longer safely turn. The Hoyer lift was not scary like I thought. Mom loves it. We use the slings that put her in a seated position.
Grandma1954 Mar 2020
Can you get her to a commode that you can put by her bed? There is also equipment that you can use to help get her up to a chair or the commode. A Hoyer Lift would help you out a lot this way. And there is a sling that has a commode hole so it is easy to position her. Although I found the sling with the "split leg" straps to be easier.
If she bear a bit of weight and hold on a Sit to Stand might work but the Hoyer is easier.
KaleyBug Mar 2020
I agree with have a split leg sling and a solid one. We use whichever one is the best fit for the situation. I find the split leg is good for getting mom in her chair because I can pull the leg straps to the side then use the lift to pull the sling out and up over her head so she does not have to sit on it. I like the solid one for transfers to the bed. The handles on the sling are great to help position mom in bed when needed. We line it with a washable chuck. At night I remove it.
Ahmijoy Mar 2020
Ask her doctor if they can write and order for nurse visits through home health care. These nurses can assess yiur situation and your mom and suggest ways to help both of you. My husband uses a urinal and a bed pan. No, it’s not fun as it seems that some days I am constantly up and down from the chair helping him. But we’ve chosen to care for our loved ones at home and that’s just part of it.

Countrymouse Mar 2020
There are people who no longer experience 'urgency': they are unaware of needing to open their bowels or pass urine. There are people whose bladder or bowel is impaired and they are physically unable to retain waste. These people are incontinent.

People who can't get out of bed, or can't get out of bed quickly enough to get to the toilet/commode, or for someone to bring them a bedpan - these people are not incontinent. If they say they need to use the bathroom, they need help to "use the bathroom" by whatever method is best for them. Which won't be wetting or soiling themselves in a diaper.

Countrymouse Mar 2020
With a Hoyer lift the person doesn't need to be able to stand. There are toileting slings which allow the person to be transferred safely from lying on the bed to sitting on the commode; so as long as the person can sit, with upper body support if necessary, transfers are doable.

If the person can stand at all, transfers are doable.

If the person can sit and slide himself or herself, transfers are doable.

God bless occupational therapists!

LivingSouth Mar 2020
My mom was exactly like this - even in the hospital she would say she needed to get up and go to bathroom and they would say over and over ' you can go in the diaper we just put on you.' She did have a bedside commode, but when she got bedridden that was not an option. Yes a Hoyer Lift for anyone who could use it would be helpful if the person can stand safely. It's part of dementia I guess, although no one likes to think that they are back to a diaper like a baby, and I can empathize with that.
Grandma1954 Mar 2020
can not stand with the use of a Hoyer Lift.
A Sit to Stand requires the person be transferred be able to stand and support weight as well as hold on to the hand hold area.
earlybird Mar 2020
Correction from the last post. It is possible to get a patient out of bed to w/c , chair and commode. We have not tried the commode as of yet, but we have been using it for transfers to bed, chair and w/c. We are doing a pivot transfer to commode with assistant doing most of the lifting due to my injury. Thanks to Countrymouse she always has such good advice, we are going to try the Hoyer to commode.
Ricky6 Mar 2020
May I suggest that try Invacare GetU Up lift. It is less complicated that the Hoyer with a sling that goes around the patient’s back. Compare the two.
See All Answers

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter