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??
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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. )
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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
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!!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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...
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.
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.
My sister let her help wash them when my dad's had an accident, but she throws out anything she thinks affordably replaceable.
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.
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.