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Took Grandma to the doctor and was asked to collect a urine sample. There were two of us helping her. One was helping to balance her and the other was supposed to clean her with those little wet wipes. Didn't work, couldn't do it. She was in there fussing and carrying on. She said she couldn't stand and had to pee. Also, everything's so saggy we can't tell what we're wiping anyway.


The urinalysis showed signs of a UTI, we're just not sure if it's accurate. Her behavior has been "off" and her diapers have been extra bad kind of smelly, so we think she probably does have a UTI. It would just be nice to know for sure if the sample was contaminated.


How do you all handle collecting a urine sample from an elderly female with dementia and mobility issues?


We have collected samples immediately after a bath, but there are issues with that too, but at least it's a clean sample. It's just that everything else involved is a huge pain.

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My mom was bedfast her last 18 months. Getting a traditional standing up or sitting on potty clean catch was pretty well not gonna happen. What nursing staff did was a “Wee Catch”. It’s actual real technique used for little ones & bedfast adults (if not too big & you can get to the ahem.... lady parts). Make a couple of bundles of gauze (or those thick pressed cotton makeup pads or a tampon) & soak in ice water. Have her drink like 2 glasses of water and wait an hr or so. Then have her laying on the bed but not totally flat or upright, Butt atop absorbing mat, you have a container open & ready; you rub a wrung out but still super cold bundle on lower abdomen.... & she should pee. Cold blast should trigger her voiding reflex. & yeah you’ll be giggling. Who knew!

remember sample needs to be refrigerated & freezer grade ziplock it.
If this might be a reoccurring issue, get her doctors staff to give you a few sample jars.
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KateH2 Oct 2019
Fascinating! Thank you. I'll keep this in mind for next time. Although, it's still problematic, mostly because Grandma moans/groans, vocalizes, etc. at anything that's not routine and/or difficult. All that noise gives me a headache, but it's still better than hearing a baby cry.
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We ended up needing to have a catheter put in at the dr office for collecting. For a while, we struggled with clean catches, but after a while, the catheter, put in by a nurse, was actually less stressful than us trying to do it the “easy” way, lol.
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If she can sit on the toilet get what nurses call a “hat” which fits under the toilet seat across the bowl. That’s how my mom’s SNF used to catch her’s.
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2nd "the hat". Google *specimen collector pan* to see. Would have thought Doctor's office would provide... but could probably buy in chemist/drugstore.
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Sit her on the loo and hold a wide necked jar under her whilst she pees. Why are you trying to make her stand up to do a pee?
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The Hat is great.
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Catheter urine test.
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The "Hat". Looks like a hat and you turn it upside down so grandma can sit on toilet and catch sample into the hat. Doctor's office should have it. My mom uses it.
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My mother has chronic UTI'S and if suspect one, I either take her to her urologist, if appointment is available, or the ER. The nurse or doctor does a straight cath,,collects the urine, and sends it off to the lab. Depending on her WBC CT she usually gets an antibiotic, IV or oral. I have tried your routine, does not work, can not get a clean specimen. Doctors always straight catharize my mother. Your poor Grandma. Difficult situation! Hope you find a workable solution.
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The hat is best and least traumatic for an older person. Medical/Hospital supply stores have them and the plastic urine cup with lid to put it in. FYI- Urine needs to be kept refrigerated or in ice to save the cultures. Found this out the hard way and had to make a 2nd trip for testing.
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There are various companies that will come to the house to do blood work and take urine samples. Best way to do this is with patient flat on back. The urine sample can be taken via a catheter into a urine cup used for testing. It works as this was used for my wife who can neither walk or stand.
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My mom has this issue. I once took her to a urologist that required a sample before he could do a cystoscope. I spent 2 hours in the public rest room and then it was a contaminated sample. After the test he handed me a cup and ask for another sample. I all but hit him. I took her to a different urologist. He said with elderly dementia females he always just has the nurse do a quick cath specimen. So much easier and it is just a tiny tube that isn’t painful in the least.
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Hi, I am delighted to report that a VNA RN left me a kit. It was a “hat” that you put on toilet under the seat & a plastic jar for the urine collection. I put the hat on toilet & just watched to ensure I didn’t use it by mistake! Overnight she visited the toilet. Worked well, tho I did NOT use the sanitary wipes. I poured the catch into the jar & held it in fridge until I delivered it to the testing agent, within 48 hrs of collection. Easy peasy. I’m not even sure she realized what I had done.
Lahey Clinic no longer does the cath method. I forget what Problems they said it caused.
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Some urologists and hospitals will only accept the catheter method as accurate and clean.
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They should have put a 'hat' in the toilet so she could sit and pee. I haven't had much luck in finding one to purchase for home, but an urgent care clinic recently offered me one of those and some of the sterile cups/plastic bags (and gloves) to take home. My mom is close enough to doctor and the urgent care to collect sample at home and take it (with her) immediately to the office for the testing. They prefer immediate test, but have allowed to bring it in several times. -- Also, note, if a home health provider takes the sample to their lab, it's not immediate from pot to lab, so guess the lapse in time must not be that critical.
Ask for these items the next time you visit a provider.
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I have given up trying to get urine sample that way. My mother can’t stand...only with machine & forget about getting urine sample. The only way is with a catheter. If you take her to ER they will get it . Otherwise, ask dr to give antibiotics if you believe she already has it. Good luck & hugs 🤗
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Typically the "hat" system is used.
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Sstraight cath
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Lets see if I can explain this right.....  My mom was in the ER and they wanted a urine sample (she's advanced ALZ), instead of inserting a cath tube they laid a device shaped like a small banana, with a tube at the end of it, in her vagina and the front of the device was like a sponge, they put it real snug up against her, when she peed a suction turned on and collected the urine through the sponge, when through the tube and into a container.  Greatest Medical Item ever!   Definitely ask for this if you have to go to the ER.
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Geta bonnet collection unit from your doctor. Put it on your toilet. Makes your life and your loved ones life soooooo much better. FYI Can use for stool collection also.
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