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Mom has been giving off a horrible smell lately. She is washed everyday and sometimes inbetween. This is a new smell. Her BM's are the same as always. Urine is clear of UTI( she has a foley cath.). She has no vaginal discharge. To be frank, she has an almost decaying smell down there!!! But at times I think its seeping from her pores on the rest of her body too? The smell is so strong that it soaks into her bed linens. So I wash them everyday blankets and all. Now with the furnance running the smell goes all thru the house upstairs and down. We can't get away from it. I have tried cracking open the windows, spraying febreeze, burning candles. The smell is soooo bad. I have a strong stomach but.... Its hard to keep from vomiting.

Hospice nurses suggested I tried to use a douche on mom. I tried but, with mom being bedbound I can't do it right. They are really stumped also with smell because they know that I keep my mom very clean. I told the hospice nurse yesterday that I am going give mom a febreeze emema/douche!!! I am losing my mind!! One nurse said its because mom is no longer able to absorb the food that she is taking in? Another suggested cancer? I was also told some women have a vaginal odor? If that is the case, then why hasn't she smelled like this prior to now?

With Thanksgiving coming, my in-laws will be here to eat. My mom's bed is now in the formal living room/ dining room area. No one will be able to sit at the dining table and eat, smelling this smell. Not to mention how embarrassing it is to have your house reek!!!

What do I do? Has anyone dealt with this? Any products I can use on her to help with odor? If I don't get relief soon, my hubby swears he's going to a motel.
Thanks JAMIE :)
P.S. mom is in last stage Dementia.

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Use a vinegar rinse when you wash the clothes. Wouldn't hurt to use it on her or the baking soda rinse as suggested above. Vinegar is an antiseptic and can be used for cleansing. You can also leave vinegar sitting out and it will absorb odors. Like Ruth1957 I wonder, has any answer worked for Greysfully?
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PS....I do the airing out "no matter what". I figure out a way to get it done without harming my patient, the elderly person. If the elder's home is smelly, people will not want to come to visit. And, I cannot work in a strong odor. You can also turn on ceiling fans, and that alone with an open window will work wonders. If no ceiling fans, use a standalone table or floor fan. I do this in my own home as well, and have for years.
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If the nurse suggested it might be an issue with no longer absorbing food, have you thought about digestive enzymes? They're readily available at a health supplement store. If she's been checked for a vaginal infection, and found to be free of it, the enzymes may help. A douche is rarely, if ever, a good idea. Not that you'd seriously put Febreeze in her body... I'm a huge fan of baking soda and might suggest a light baking soda bath on her bottom area to help prevent bacteria from growing. Just dissolve baking soda in the warm water you'll use to sponge her down - all over is fine. I'm sure you've carefully checked for developing bed sores. One of my former client's had such a bad one, that I had to throw away a shirt after one shift; the odor was in my shirt as well. It was like.... death. Does your mom have cancer? Wow, my "answer" is sure rambling.
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I learned that one of the reasons the elderly has different smell is nonenal. It's true that body changes with age, because your anti-oxidant on the skin gets weaker, resulting in the production of nonenal, odor phenomenon. I had the similar issue and tried bar soap called mirai clinical, and liked it a lot. It deodorizes all the body odor. It might be worth trying it. Hope this helps...
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How about eliminating odors in the house (in general!) ???
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My first thought was maybe she has a yeast infection. Also I was thinking of baking soda to absorb the odor, or maybe a vinegar water wash of some sort. Weird.
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Well, we are going to docs on Friday.I can mention my concerns to the nurse.......the direct avenue to the doc. Thanks Nance
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This is still going on?????????????????????????
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vineger & water will kill the smell, if not take her to a dr she probably has a infection.
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Another thought....open up the windows and let the fresh air in daily (in good weather, of course) and the stale air out. Use Febreeze on the furniture that has material on it. Every home has a smell, from cooking, etc. and the house needs to be aired out too.
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