Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
M
Maria3761 Asked August 2022

My 97 year old mother dribbles on her pants often when she sits to go to the bathroom. Anyone else experience this?

She never knows this happens, but I see it. I realized if she would just get her pants below the toilet first then pull down her pull up, that it doesn't happen. She just won't listen to me she's very stubborn. She says she does this, but then I see that her pants are wet. I have an idea of attaching some kind of disposable bib type thing to the back of her pants to catch that pee, then pull it off after? Any ideas? She's still fairly independent and goes to the bathroom by herself, unless she's having constipation and difficulty with bowel movements. I also insist that she cleans better after bowel movements because she doesn't do as good a job cleaning as I think she should. She doesn't like getting ideas from me, her daughter, even though my ideas do seem to solve some problems. I guess it's a pride thing!? Thanks!

Midkid58 Aug 2022
Have you tried putting a toilet seat 'lift' on the toilet? I had one when I had foot surgery last summer. I was OK to sit, but that last few inches--I'd kind of 'fall' onto the toilet seat and it really hurt my legs. This device added about 6" in height and made sitting down so much easier!!

You can buy them online or maybe at a pharmacy if they carry DME's. Just that little added height made such a difference in comfort.

Natasana Aug 2022
I understand how exasperating this is. You've got so much cleaning to do of her, her clothes, the floor and everything in between, every time she pees. It's must be so frustrating because she doesn't think she's doing it. Sounds like she is losing control of her bladder, and losing ability to tell she has peed some. My mom has dementia, and does exact same. I have a toilet frame mom uses to support herself on the way down. It helps her be able to lower herself steadier and quicker. Plus the thing that works for me is take her to toilet her every 2-3 hours so it's not a rush. And so you can guide her. At first my mom hated being told every step in the process, but I had to insist. Because I am not willing to do all the cleanup and clothes changes 5 times a day. It's a broken record that goes like "turn around, back up, back up more..., pull down pants, then as she begins to pull down pullups I have to say get ready to sit, sit straight down." If I dont guide her she dillydallies so long she starts peeing while she's still standing. This works about 95% of the time. It does take a commitment from you to be on a toilet schedule. May be worth a try.
Maria3761 Aug 2022
Your scenario is similar to mine, lol. There is a frame there for her too around her toilet, she has very bad arthritis in one knee and takes her a long time to sit down. She's just so stubborn about taking my suggestion to make sure the pants are out of the way since she dribbles on them on the outside. She prefers to pull them both down at once, the pull-ups and the pants, and that causes problems. But I've done the same thing as you, stand there and give the directions... pull this one down, then pull that one down then hurry up and sit down... She just gets grumpy with me. It's tough, she doesn't want to listen to me. But I like your idea of getting her to go more often because sometimes she waits too long!! Plus she's on lasix...

ADVERTISEMENT


lealonnie1 Aug 2022
What about putting a Poise pad in her undies? Would she go for that idea to catch the dribbles?

As far as cleaning herself properly after a BM, unless YOU do it FOR her, it ain't happening, sorry. Her idea of 'good enough' and your idea of 'good enough' are two entirely different opinions.

You can buy a bidet attachment for the toilet if you think she's amenable to using it. That's a quick & efficient way to really clean herself after a BM, but again, she'd have to be willing to actually USE it. Mention it and see what she says. They're pretty reasonably priced on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bidet+attachment+for+toilet+warm+water&crid=2NMCD4RS4BXCU&sprefix=bidet+attachm%2Caps%2C170&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_13

At 97, most people need help with toileting. My mother fought off wearing Depends until one day, on the elevator going up to her apartment in the AL where she lived, she let loose and peed FULLY on the rug! She about had a cow and I was just standing there thinking, "Oh dear God, I knew this was going to happen!" I tried to keep her calm and ushered her out of the elevator (thank God we were alone in there) and helped her get cleaned up in her bathroom. Right then & there she agreed to wearing pull up Depends, and that was the end of that subject once and for all!

I'm sure it's a pride thing with your mom b/c really, who wants 'help' cleaning their bums after taking a poop? :) Make light of it as best you can. But tell her that you can't have her sitting on the upholstered furniture in the house after she's wet herself, even a little, without a disposable chuck pad being put down on it first. Unless she's willing to wear a pull up or a Poise pad, then you'll have to lay down chuck's everywhere in the house. See what she thinks about that! Everything in life requires compromise; you compromised your entire LIFE to come take care of her. What is SHE going to compromise for YOU?

Best of luck!
Natasana Aug 2022
That elevator incident sounds mortifying! Good thing you were there.
againx100 Aug 2022
The same thing happens to my mom. She has mild dementia and never knows what happens. I think she starts peeing before she sits down so it gets on her pants and/or pullup. I wish I had a solution cuz it's a tough thing to deal with at home. I don't want pee on all the chairs in my house!

Good luck getting her to clean herself better. My mom has a lot of pain and mobility issues so I doubt she's doing a good job either. When she's been to the doc for incontinence issues, they've never said anything so I guess that means it's better than I would have guessed.
Maria3761 Aug 2022
Sounds like our mothers have some similarities. My mother is mostly pretty cognizant, but not 100%. When I'm in there helping her clean after a BM, I hand her cleaning stuff so that she cleans better and longer. I know she gets cleaner when I'm in there having her use wet wipes. Fortunately my mom sits in one chair all the time, her comfortable chair.. and one at the dining table. Both chairs have a vinyl pad that can be disinfected! But I have used those chucks, they definitely come in handy!
MACinCT Aug 2022
She needs incontinence pads. Maybe let her doctor know so that he recommends pads and tells her. If she still is obstinate then offer her pull ups and hide all of her undies. Try to have a conversation of either or, first to try to get her to agree with the pads...maybe a try it for a day. Remind her that you are sscrificing your life to care for her and that she needs to respect you as well.
Maria3761 Aug 2022
She does wear pull ups and pads! The problem is she is dribbling on the outside of her pants because she won't pull them down out of the way of the toilet seat and she starts to dribble because she has painful arthritis in her knee and can't sit down very fast...if that make sense. I've told her many times she needs to pull the underwear below the toilet bowl part. It's just not that important to her anymore! When I tell her I'm trying to help her and trying to reduce the amount of work to do it seems to just go over her head. Maybe I'd feel the same if I was her age! :D

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter