They keep throwing her pants away if she has diarrhea. Saying it is Georgia law that they can't wash anything with feces on it. I can't find this law anywhere and they throw out one pair a week..any suggestions??
No, I spoke with facility. They called me to tell me that I needed to get her more pants. They said it was Georgia law that they cannot wash clothes with feces on them. I can't find this law anywhere and I have been trying for two swells now.
Google Georgia Department of Public Health. Division of community Health. It does NOT say that these items must be discarded. It Does say that they much be washed sseparately. Go to the director of sw and ask to be shown the regulation. Then work with them to make this better. I understand that they are trying to prevent outbreaks, but there has to be a better wsy. Is mom in Depends? Are they the correct size? Is she being changed often enough?
I spoke with director but, she could not show me law. She just told me it is a washing problem.. I bought five more pants and she is wearing right sized depends.
Maybe you can tackle the diarrhea problem with her doctor.
In the meantime, see if the nursing home will segregate these clothes. Put a separate and closed hamper in her room filled with kitchen-container-sized plastic bags with pull ties on them and wash them at home. One bag for each pair.
My Mom would be running around buck naked! I cannot imagine having to buy new pants when she has had an accident! My Mom has had chronic diarrhea for as long as I can remember. About 6 months ago her doctor suggested that we add a probiotic to her daily regimen, and this has reduced the accidents significantly!
I will have to ponder these suggestions when I get home. I am currently in fla since first week in August as my son is critically ill. I, too, hope that I can just put a second hamper in her room. Also speak with her primary care about what to do. Thanks everyone.
See Dr about trying to control this. I understand why the NH won't deal with them. I do not think they will hamper and hold them for you either...that is a health concern into itself....not to speak of a real mess for you.
Try better bigger diapers to lessen the mess. Shop at Goodwill for cheap pants or house dresses.
I am a private caregiver, (at this time), previous my mother and father lived with us for two plus years (Alzheimer's).
My client is in a Long Term Facility, and I take her laundry home and do it myself for a reason.
I am there seven days a week 6 hours a day.
I noticed a smell where the laundry is to go. There is a sign (Caregiver will do laundry).
They put the soiled clothing in the laundry bin, and when I walked in, I immediately opened it up, and it was soiled beyond belief. I immediately went and rinsed this out and used their laundry soap to soak the garment, just so I could put it in a plastic bag. My client is 78, but not in good condition, but still has her sense of smell and was very embarrassed.
My question: No there is not a law, clothes are either lost by patient's or they are misplaced in other patient's rooms and of course you have to wait for the employees to find them.
It is beyond me, why, when they see clothing that is real bad, that they just put it in an open container, and my client was very embarrassed, and she is very sick.
Question the Facility. Realize, there are many that are low staffed, (by upper management, or medicare, or something), and I know many of them are doing the very best they can.
Good Luck, as I have spent hours looking for things. I would advise that a sign go up to do the laundry yourself. Works like a charm.
As I am in another state my husband goes over on weekends to visit with her. Her facility is a ways away from out home. My husband works even farther I plan to do her laundry when I get back from caring for my son but that may be another month or two.
Live life has a good idea check in to some sort of service that would check for her laundry daily. Or maybe the facility would work with you on this. You cannot be the only one in this facility with this problem! There must be an answer.
You may already be doing this, but you could stock up on clothes from a thrift shop or Goodwill. The sweat pants are comfortable and easy to get up and down in a hurry. Accidents happen, but if it is a consistent problem, talk to the facility nutritionist or her doctor about the root of the problem. A container of yogurt on each tray may help considerably!
My mother-in-law (MIL) just started having fecal incontinence and my FIL washed the clothes in the sink of their apartment, which I thought was unsanitary as feces carries bacteria, viruses and parasites. I also wanted to just throw out the clothes so as not to contaminate the washer. I think the director is referring to the OSHA guidelines for dealing with contaminated laundry. It is true that contaminated laundry must be handled differently. OSHA is "the law" for institutions and cover a broad range of things like laundry that is a biohazard. I wouldn't wash those clothes in my washer. You are not dealing with baby poop. Adult feces is a biohazard. Hospitals are equipped to handle contaminated laundry. The average household washer is not. The water temperature is unlikely to be hot enough and you may need special detergents or enzymatic cleaners to prevent contamination of your machine.
Rice is a common food recommended during an episode of diarrhea.... my mother-in-law tried rice a couple of months ago after having a constant battle with diarrhea that her doctor wasn't able to control, and she was so glad it had helped her. Two tablespoons of regular cooked rice [not instant rice] prior to dinner is all she takes. I know it won't work for everybody, and I realize that might be difficult for a nursing home to do.
You first rinse the feces out then wash separately in hot water. they r just too lazy and dont want to do the work involved. Speak to them about throwing out pants , they COST MONEY, if dont stop , get someone else, that is theor JOB!!
Yes disposable diapers r Great. but every now and again it goes through also check what foods she is eating that may be causing the diarrahea,I use for mom IMODIUM AD it works in a matter of minutes
First of all, it would concern me if management is quoting a law that is not a law, as I would start to wonder what else they might tell me that is not true. But that may just be the nurse in me. I want it straight, and without any 'games' all the time. That's how I had to treat pts and family when I worked. Secondly, if she is in depends, then you must be saying her outside pants are getting soiled and thrown out?? THAT would really concern me, due to the expense of replacing. My dad is placed in a facility in AZ. No one throws out his clothes when they are soiled. I don't know the procedures re: laundry, but I've not run into this one. If you are in the same town, as some have suggested, if you aren't going to solve the issue of them doing the pants in their laundry....you could ask them to be bagged and you wash them and return them. One of the facilities my dad was in actually had machines for family to use, so they could do laundry while visiting. Is that available? And considering adding probiotics IS a really good one to ask about too, because solving the issue of the diarrhea also solves the problem and it's actually good for the rest of your Mom's GI tract too.
Recently while Mom was at residential rehab, I opted to do her laundry myself. They posted a sign on her closet that said "Family will do laundry." The aides put Mom's clothing in plastic bags and every 24 hours I picked them up to take home. By this time, some of it got quite ripe and normal washing wouldn't take out the smells. I tried soaking overnight in Borax solution and that helped but finally had to use enzymatic cleaners.
A word of caution: Posting the laundry sign did not stop clothing items and hangers from disappearing, even though each item was clearly marked with our name. I did find out from the laundry where to look for missing things but not all was retrieved.
If your loved one has been on IV antibiotics lately she may have CDiff or Colitis Difficultis. A probiotic and yogurt works well to replace the good bacteria. My mother also got diarrhea with a recent UTI and you may wish to have her checked for that. I would be reluctant to expect anyone to wash and rewash pants from extreme fecal accidents. I have thrown out clothing myself and have reverted to purchasing pants at the resale shops for $3.
In the meantime, see if the nursing home will segregate these clothes. Put a separate and closed hamper in her room filled with kitchen-container-sized plastic bags with pull ties on them and wash them at home. One bag for each pair.
Try better bigger diapers to lessen the mess.
Shop at Goodwill for cheap pants or house dresses.
My client is in a Long Term Facility, and I take her laundry home and do it myself for a reason.
I am there seven days a week 6 hours a day.
I noticed a smell where the laundry is to go. There is a sign (Caregiver will do laundry).
They put the soiled clothing in the laundry bin, and when I walked in, I immediately opened it up, and it was soiled beyond belief. I immediately went and rinsed this out and used their laundry soap to soak the garment, just so I could put it in a plastic bag. My client is 78, but not in good condition, but still has her sense of smell and was very embarrassed.
My question: No there is not a law, clothes are either lost by patient's or they are misplaced in other patient's rooms and of course you have to wait for the employees to find them.
It is beyond me, why, when they see clothing that is real bad, that they just put it in an open container, and my client was very embarrassed, and she is very sick.
Question the Facility. Realize, there are many that are low staffed, (by upper management, or medicare, or something), and I know many of them are doing the very best they can.
Good Luck, as I have spent hours looking for things. I would advise that a sign go up to do the laundry yourself. Works like a charm.
A word of caution: Posting the laundry sign did not stop clothing items and hangers from disappearing, even though each item was clearly marked with our name. I did find out from the laundry where to look for missing things but not all was retrieved.
Good luck.
My mother also got diarrhea with a recent UTI and you may wish to have her checked for that.
I would be reluctant to expect anyone to wash and rewash pants from extreme fecal accidents. I have thrown out clothing myself and have reverted to purchasing pants at the resale shops for $3.