Most likely a hygiene issue as stated earlier. I have to make sure mom brushes her teeth and change depends every day. If forget she will just use the same poop encrusted underwear until I make her change. I send her to adult day care (part of a hospital) everyday where they bath her twice a week since I know she does not do that well. At the day care they noticed a smell from her urine and it was cloudy. So I took her to the Dr. and got THAT cleaned up.I installed a bio-bidet so it will "clean" her if you will. That was a great idea! I also take her to get a mani-pedi every 2 weeks or so. Why? because her toe nails need cleaning and a year ago I found that she has an infection there too and smelled (more dr visits) plus the mani-pedi for 90 minutes on a Saturday is cheap day care too! I am free to do some things. Anyway...there are a lot of things that can cause an odor an you just have to eliminate possibilities. Good luck.
Is she on any meds? Meds can sometimes cause a strange body odor. You could ask her doctor about it. Is she bathing frequently and thoroughly? If she's obese, bacteria could be growing between rolls of fat. Even if she's not obese, she may have a yeast infection that's causing the odor. Sometimes older people have a hard time bending down to scrub their feet and an odor results. Gross, I know, but it happens. Is it her breath? Maybe she's not brushing her teeth or cleaning her dentures properly. Maybe it's food that's gone bad. Could she have put some kind of food in one of the drawers and forgotten it was there? Urine has a distinctive odor. It doesn't sound like that's what you're describing, but then again, meds and certain foods (asparagus, for one) can cause urine to smell weird.
It could possibly be urine if she has problems in that area. Especially if she drips unknowingly with the dementia and does not wear Depends. I found this to be true with my MIL....take care.
Is it her breath? Maybe she's not brushing her teeth or cleaning her dentures properly. Maybe it's food that's gone bad. Could she have put some kind of food in one of the drawers and forgotten it was there?
Urine has a distinctive odor. It doesn't sound like that's what you're describing, but then again, meds and certain foods (asparagus, for one) can cause urine to smell weird.