Mom (78 y/o and generally healthy/active) may have dementia, while not formally diagnosed, after recovering from a life threatening UTI last Spring her short term memory is nearly gone (but not long term) and all the emergency room doctors, out of nowhere began asking us if she had ever been diagnosed with Dementia which shocked us! I think we have been in denial because she was always the healthy parent. After she was released she has been staying with my sibling with the goal of eventually taking her back home. She has paid caregivers 32 hours per week and they said she has been pooping on the bathroom floor ( 3 times total over the past 7 months). We are worried about new UTIs and are looking for ways to prevent them. I have 2 questions:
1- my Mom is a “germaphobe” and would never use the bathroom on the floor! Ever! In fact it’s so small in there we can’t figure out how she physically did it on the floor as it’s much easier to sit on the toilet. Is this an indication of dementia? Can it be treated?
2- we are terrified of her getting another UTI especially from hygiene issues. Are there daily anti bacterial wipes we can use to aid in prevention in between bathing?


