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I'm looking for a wireless incontinence monitoring system for my 94 yr old mother who lives in an ALF. Ideally, it would:
Be discreet since urinary and fecal incontinence without actually coming in contact with it
Send an alert when the incident occurs
Maintain a timestamp log of when an incident occurs and when it is addressed (adult garment changed)

Background:
My mother had occasional 'accidents' before suffering a fall a year ago which required surgery and a 3 month stay in rehab. While there, the nursing staff catheterized her (explaining that incontinence was to be expected in a woman of her age). When she transitioned to an ALF, the nursing manager recommended incontinence care (diapers and bed pads) before attempting to get her to use the bathroom as she did before the fall.

Walking is painful for my mother due to osteoarthritis in one knee, so she is wheelchair bound and steadfastly refuses to use call button to request ANY assistance (including toileting). She regularly rejects the care partners' offers to assist her to the bathroom (even when she NEEDS to have the adult undergarment changed). When she finally DOES acquiesce, there is usually leakage because she has produced more urine than even extra-absorbent garments can hold, requiring daily laundering of clothes and bed linens to minimize the associated odors. My mother seems quite content with this arrangement, but it puts an additional burden on the staff and also on me.

My mother ignores every attempt I've made to discuss the matter with her. In an ideal world I would be able to modify her behavior. Short of that, I need a way to work AROUND the behavior.

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Sorry SB - there is NO perfect world! Let her sit in her own mess. Staff should be toileting at least every 1 - 2 hrs. depending on what she has drunk, ate, and staffing ratios. If she is being this stubborn, then she can suffer the consequences. The more you harass her about this issue, the more she will dig in. She is a control person and I suspect she was always like this. No monitoring device has been invented to my knowledge and it boils down to just toileting often. She needs to be getting up walking, and she can get hyaluronic acid gel injections (which your body already makes) to help with her knee. It is great as I've had injections and Medicare pays for it. Tell her she can no longer refuse toileting from staff or she will sit it her own mess. Then do it!
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Moisture detection devices activate when they come in contact with a liquid. Since you want no contact, there is no such thing.
Your mother needs 2 hour diaper checks, since she is either not aware or reluctant to use the call button. Start looking at memory care facilities, just in case she needs it soon.
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A wireless incontinence monitoring system sounds interesting.... one draw back would be that when anyone wears a Depend type garment they are going to sweat, thus there could be false readings on the monitoring system. If there was a safe system, parents of young children could use that product.

Having someone help a person to the bathroom and to help them change their garments can be so embarrassing for the patient. It took awhile before my Dad was comfortable having his caregiver or an Aide help him.

Dad was lucky, my Dad's Memory Care center would wash and replace sheets/pillow covers, and all the towels daily. And his Aide [when his caregiver had left for the day] would come in hourly to ask if he needed to use the bathroom. If he said "no" apparently she had a way to get him in there :)
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I found a bed pad that was VERY absorbent and the company also has undergarments that are very absorbent as well. The undergarments are washable and they have a replaceable pad that can be washed. Maybe a garment like this might be better for your Mom than the disposable ones.
The company is Conni. I first found the bed pad product on Costco's website and did some other "research" and found they have many products.
The bed pad alone absorbs 68 fluid ounces, stays pretty dry to the touch and does not soak through.
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Ferris1.... Allowing her to "sit in her mess" is not healthy leaving her open to UTI and skin issues, not to mention additional problems for staff who if they were to follow your advice, would leave the facility open for law suit.
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sb23508: Here is one ----
Knowing a change is needed
makes all the difference –

to ensure that a patient’s skin stays dry and healthy. Wet skin contributes to urinary tract infections (UIs) and other maladies which greatly reduce patient quality of life. Many rating agencies monitor UIs as a leading indicator when assessing Long Term Care (LTC) facilities and nursing homes. This simple incontinence monitoring system delivers real-time guidance to staff and provides data that can lead to deeper insights that improve labor management and outcomes.


1p-PB013F10-RFM5105-A-Incontinence-Management-System-Brochure-720px
Download Brochure


1p-WP003F12-Incontinence Management With Dignity-White-Paper
Download White Paper

Wireless incontinence management system with portable reader and sensors



Wireless Incontinence Management System


Price: US $3,185.50
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Over $3000! I doubt that's covered by Medi-anything....Well, let's hope the laundry facilitiles at that ALF are up to snuff! Otherwise, the old darling should be escorted to sit on the throne every 2 hours, if there is sufficient personnel to move her along, whether she's content to sit in her own mess or not. A tube of diaper rash ointment a day should help with a rash, cheaper than a wireless system.
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Lassie: Anyone can Google search cheaper devices. I'm not feeling well right now.
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Your Mother's incontinence might not be willful although it seems that way to you. Do the devices to call Nurses Aids take cognitive skills that your Mother does not have? Is it a temporary loss or a permanent loss? Don't assume. Find out why she is unwilling. Prayers are a big help too. Try different approaches. Good Luck.
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