My mother has begun to have screaming tantrums when it is time to have her diaper changed. Any suggestions?

Turn her on her side quickly after opening diaper tabs, clean her while on her side... & hold her arm or put her hand to hold onto bar ...you can also play music while changing diaper...dim lights ...stick to routine of changing her same time...maybe a script for calming meds...HUGS 🤗

Went through the same thing. We stopped calling it a diaper (it was demoralizing for my mom, made her feel like an infant). We now call them briefs and undergarments and no problems!

Does you mom like hard candies or chewing gum? If so, try giving her one, so her mouth and mind are occupied with the treat, and maybe she won't think to scream.

Oh, and save your energy on explaining UTI to her. You're wasting your breath. My Alz. mother sometimes refuses to do things, and I tell her when she's done changing into a new clean diaper, or taking a shower, I'll take her out to go shopping. That usually gets her to cooperate.

What does you mother like? What incentive will work with her?

Is the change causing your mom pain? If so if she can be medicated prior that might help.
If it is anxiety again medication might help.
OR
this is just her having a tantrum like you say. If this is the case then the caregivers that back off need to be TOLD, INSTRUCTED that they are to carry on with the change no matter the screaming that is done.
If they are from an agency you could request other caregivers that will do what needs to be done.
BUT if you mom is doing more than screaming, if she is hitting, biting, scratching then she needs to be either medicated or since this is in your home you can put mitts on her to somewhat restrain her hands. Sometimes giving someone a towel or a soft toy will keep the hands occupied.
I probably would not give her anything to eat during one of these tantrums as she could easily aspirate whatever is in her mouth. But a child's teething toy might work.

When I worked in a Memory Care Assisted Living facility, I'd often hear the Alzheimer's and dementia folks screaming bloody murder when it was time for their adult brief to be changed. The care giver would just push THRU the tantrum, change the brief, and move on.

You need to hire people who can do just that: push past your mother's tantrums and change her soiled briefs. Otherwise, you're going to have a lot bigger problems to deal with than screaming fits!

Good luck!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, all of you kind people for responding to my problem! I'm dealing with a sudden influx of mice in her home at the moment, and that's why I haven't responded sooner... I will write more when I have this situation under control! Very, very best wishes to you all, xoxox

First off is there any possibility that someone abused her and that’s why she is started having the screaming tantrums. On to the changing, do they maintain her dignity in the process, putting a cover over her private area while in process of removing diaper (like you would for a baby boy). My grandma was embarrassed when hers was changed and we were in the room. She could be associating pain (uti) with diaper change and be fighting that. Lastly is there any part of the process that she could participate in that might make her feel somewhat in control of the process

Sometimes my mom, who has alzheimer's, isn't always cooperative when it come time to change her diapers or give her a bath. Used to be this only happened with the PSW's who she didn't know, but now it occassionally happens with me because she doesn't always remember who I am. At times, she'll scream, cry, hold on to the clothing/diaper or even squeeze her legs shut so you can't take off/put on the diaper much less clean her.

At first when this started with the PSW's I was alarmed and thought they were hurting her but then it started with me and I realized they, like me, weren't doing anything and the screaming/crying/difficult behaviour was just her way of expressing her displeasure. No abuse was happening but to anyone listening on, they would think she was being murdered (smile).

One PSW works through the tears and difficult behaviours - pushes through and gets the job done. The other PSW doesn't - she gives up at the slightest resistance. I think she is afraid of hurting her and also, she doesn't want anyone whose hearing the commotion to think she's hurting her. Remember their job is on the line and the last thing they want is to be accused of being abusive.

For my mom, I try to put myself in her shoes. She doesn't think anything is wrong with her, she things she can walk when she is bedridden and hasn't walked in over a year. She also doesn't always remember or recognize the PSW's, even though they are there everyday, or me for that matter.

Imagine you're sleeping/resting comfortably and some strange person comes into your room and immediately tries to take off your clothes/your diaper..... or tells you that you've had a bowel movement or pee'd and they have to clean you up......wouldn't you know if you did (and in your mind you haven't), further more why would you do that in bed when you can just get up and use the toilet like a normal person..........I'd be thinking what the hell, I'd be screaming and crying too (smile).

What works for me most times is the appoach..... I start with a little converstation, see where she's at mentally, begin with something not too intrusive like massaging her scalp or brushing her hair.... then I move in for the kill..... why don't I wash your hair with this soothing shampoo..... or instead of saying it's time to reposition you so you don't get pressure sores (what the hell is a pressure soar and why would I get them) I say why don't you turn over so you can see me and we can talk......in the midst of repositioning mention I notice the diaper needs changing and will do that for her quickly. I work my way up to diaper changes, maybe give her the diaper or wipes to hold and ask her to help me.....

I find the direct approach doesn't work sometime because she genuinely doesn't think there is a problem and what needs to be done, has to be done.

With medication, I stopped telling her I'm giving it to her because then she asks what it's for and I have to explain all the aliments she has that she doen't know she has. That confuses her because in her mind she is not sick. I just crush them up and put them in her juice or tell her they are vitamins.

It's hit or miss... some days this all works other days it's a no go. For me, what works best is never rush. Sometimes the PSW's just want to get in and get the job done, since they have other clients and are working with time. Work your way up to the tasks they find unpleasant or too intrusive, timing is everything. Make note of their mood and that will give you an idea of where to go. Be chirppy and pleasant always even when you're stressed - pretend. Talk....let them know what you're going to do, doing as you do it.

Hope this helps. Good luck and best always.

Surprisingly my mother wasn't too much of a problem with changing briefs (she was still able to let them know often when she had to go, so the briefs were more 'just in case'.) In the last year she's been in a wheelchair, refusing to stand/walk, but would work with the aides for changing or showering, etc (she's in MC.) More recently she's been having issues with having them changed and because she had a stroke early October, she requires 2 people to assist and now a Hoyer lift. She gets uptight, so they've decided to go with anti-anxiety meds. She's had them before, and the smallest dose was enough to calm her, but with stroke and weight loss, they're going with 1/2 of that (cutting it, full dose made her too sleepy.)

While it may be "okay" to struggle through it, screaming and all, it would be better if there was a way to calm her down. I don't know how staff handles this issue, as clearly sitting in soiled briefs isn't good - generally, so they tell me, they can't force someone to do what they refuse to do. They usually have to coax them, promise something good, get them to think it's their idea, etc. Hospice nurse said mom seems to be "shy" now about being changed. It may be that her dementia has progressed further, esp with the stroke. But, much as I dislike medications, I would try that before trying to change a whirling dervish! The nice thing about the one she took, worked first time, every time, usually in about 15 m or so, and no need to wean her off of it if it doesn't work out. If you can find one that she can take a little before the usual changing time and it goes smoothly, go for it!

Otherwise, they'll just have to suck it up and continue bulling through the process. If those aides can't do it, find others. You can't reason with dementia, so trying to explain why the change is needed really won't help.

Maybe losing control of everything in her life, your mom has the need to hold own to at least one thing she is in control of which is saying when her diapers get changed.

UTHIS can happen from many causes and one just not drinking enough water.

UTHIS can be cured easily enough.

Tell the Caregiver to try just letting your mom know ahead of time when she needs to have her diapers changed but tell the Caregiver to tell the mom to let her know when she's ready.

Just use a good night time brand of diapers to keep the urine away from the skin.

UTI's can also happen from too much moisture and diapers leave no breathing or airing out.

You should have your mom lay on pads and not have a diaper on for a few to several hours a day so her private area can air out.