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??
If your mom is in Depends, plus a pad and still overflowing to the extent that her pants are destroyed, it is really time to talk to her doctor. Also check the food she is eating and see if there is a particular meal that sets her off. I give my dad Danon light and fit with active cultures and no sugar. That settled his guts. Also coconut meat (avoid sugar, and not coconut water) will normalize the bowels. (Coconut water makes you go)
Difficult one, if they haven't discussed it with you first. My sister let her help wash them when my dad's had an accident, but she throws out anything she thinks affordably replaceable.
Yes, (1) you should be speaking with NH doctor to find out what can be done to resolve the issue, (2) I would make sure she is in adult "underwear" so that accidents can be thrown out, (3) if you let them know YOU will take care of them, then get a diaper pail like for babies and have them put them in there (4) IF you don't want to do it, then I surely would not want to have my parents clothes washed in with feces either and maybe that is why they are not wanting to wash them. Yes stuff does go out in the drain but honestly I just wouldn't feel comfortable knowing that I washed clothes with feces (poop) on them in with other clothes. they are thinking about the other residents. Sorry but IF your mothers conditioned cannot be controlled with medicine or probiotics, then she should definitely be in an adult underwear. I am not trying to be mean or sarcastic but my dad is also in a NH and I wouldn't want to know that the pants he is wearing is being washed with "feces" from someone else. there are just some things that cannot be sterilized enough. I wish you good luck
You might check with the local Ombudsman Supervisor (by law his/her contact information should be publicly posted at the facility) and ask for this issue to be checked into. If the staff is throwing away your mom's clothing, then the facility is responsible for replacing them.
Might I suggest: instead of Depends, which we have found unreliable in a diarrhea situation, switch to Tranquility brand Premium Overnight Pull-On Diapers. They are the BEST, at least they have been for us! We buy them off of Amazon.
It is unlikely that the facility is responsible for replacing personal items. Someone signed a contract with the nursing home and you need to read that contract to determine what the facility is responsible for. I would check out your local thrift stores to purchase clothing that has been gently used. I would also ask the director about the CMS guidelines for laundry and infection control that were updated in consultation with the CDC. The guidelines are clear about acceptable methods and water temperatures but only for linens. You may find those guidelines helpful: The memo and revised guidance for 42 CFR §483.65(c) Infection Control, Linens. If your mother continues to soil herself and her clothing you do need to talk with her doctor about why it's happening. Good luck.
Depends are not "Dependable"! There needs to be something like babies' rubber pants for adults to wear over depends, because none of them fit, as in "FIT" anybody. Also if you can put a container holding soaking prewash, it would make your job much easier. All they have to do is drop it in the right can.
I have to admit I would not want to deal with laundering these things! And saving them for someone to come in to take home to launder, I wouldn't want to be the launderess either.
My mother went through that a few years ago. Long story short , after taking back the care for mom and got her in hospital, we found she had 4 big ulcers in her tummy and she had to be treated with medication and even still on it. From there, there is not much a problem, unless she does it for spite. ( I can see this going on now, with what my dad has done. She will keep doing things for spite, until she realize I won't be back) So maybe something is wrong with your mom or a allergy that is causing it. If her dr. can figure it out, then maybe she won't have this happen again. Oh yea, if they are using their type of diapers, it is like a bed flat pad that they tape. Make sure she has the Pullups, they contain accidents better. Good Luck
Oh yea, did everyone forget that you can reason things out in the toilet like they did back in the days of cloth diapers, and then wash them. (glad I don't have to do that any longer. Now the others in the family can. )
I would check the rules in your state. Is your mom incontinent? In NC, you can stay in an Assisted Living facility if you are bladder incontinent, but not if bowel incontinent. Maybe they are trying to avoid moving her to Nursing home due to this. You said it happens every week. I would try to determine if it's actual stomach upset or if it's incontinence.
my dad has poop problems about once a week too, but in his case, it is weakness or mobility---he simply can't get himself TO the toilet, in time, and if it is poop that is runny, there ain't any adult diaper that will hold it. So there is a double whammy---they can't get from their chair, or bed, in time, and then their diaper won't hold it (especially if they're sitting, it will smoosh out). if the senior is eating a lot, or hasn't had a BM in awhile, then after 2 days finally goes....there will be 6 or 7 meals worth of waste materials coming out. best is if they go every day, and as others have said, yogurt with active cultures is sometimes a help, but for others, dairy (or sugared yogurt) cause diarrhea.
If that's their policy, it doesn't really matter if it's law. They're entitled to have procedures to prevent infection that exceed the dictates of the law. If you otherwise like the community, work with them. Maybe they'll bag them and set them aside, maybe not. I agree with the other poster – around here, a pair of pants at Goodwill are about $4. Well worth it to maintain a good relationship with the AL staff. If they don't launder anyone else's poopy clothes and you succeed in forcing them to launder your mom's, how is that going to impact your relationship with them? Meanwhile, address the diarrhea if you haven't already. Is your mom drinking lots of fruit juice, experiencing a side effect of a med that could be eliminated or changed...
When my Dad had this problem I just bought him pants as Salvation Army. You do not want to wash clothes that have diarrhea even yourself. As you could possibly get something from cleaning them even if done properly. Our Salvation Army here has 1/2 price on clothes on Wed every week.
Are you sure the reason they give for the pants missing is the real reason they are missing? Since beginning my encounters, research and conversations with others who use Assisted Living facilities, I have learned that almost all of them lose the residents clothing and other personal items on a regular basis. It doesn't matter how upscale the place is, things disappear. I find it shocking, but I don't think I've talked to one person who hasn't had this as an issue.
If soiling the clothes is an issue, then I would think the nursing staff would be on top of this. Whether it's an allergy or medication issue, it should be addressed. They can get dehydrated very quickly.
My sister let her help wash them when my dad's had an accident, but she throws out anything she thinks affordably replaceable.
pants for adults to wear over depends, because none of them fit, as in "FIT"
anybody. Also if you can put a container holding soaking prewash, it would make
your job much easier. All they have to do is drop it in the right can.
So there is a double whammy---they can't get from their chair, or bed, in time, and then their diaper won't hold it (especially if they're sitting, it will smoosh out).
if the senior is eating a lot, or hasn't had a BM in awhile, then after 2 days finally goes....there will be 6 or 7 meals worth of waste materials coming out.
best is if they go every day, and as others have said, yogurt with active cultures is sometimes a help, but for others, dairy (or sugared yogurt) cause diarrhea.
If you otherwise like the community, work with them. Maybe they'll bag them and set them aside, maybe not. I agree with the other poster – around here, a pair of pants at Goodwill are about $4. Well worth it to maintain a good relationship with the AL staff.
If they don't launder anyone else's poopy clothes and you succeed in forcing them to launder your mom's, how is that going to impact your relationship with them?
Meanwhile, address the diarrhea if you haven't already. Is your mom drinking lots of fruit juice, experiencing a side effect of a med that could be eliminated or changed...
If soiling the clothes is an issue, then I would think the nursing staff would be on top of this. Whether it's an allergy or medication issue, it should be addressed. They can get dehydrated very quickly.