My grandmother has Alzheimer's disease (diagnosed a little over 2 years ago) and during her most recent check-up with her Neurologist, he informed us that she is in the moderate to severe classification. She is an otherwise quite healthy 87 year old who absolutely LOVES to walk so she definitely gets around pretty good for her age. She is not at the point where she doesn't know who folks are but she can no longer dress or bathe herself properly and she requires that someone is with her constantly. The biggest challenge at the moment is toileting. She is quite cognizant of when she needs to go, however, she doesn't always go into the bathroom to do it. It's not so much that she waits until the last minute; it's a matter of her simply not going into the bathroom. She has relieved herself in the hallway of her home, in a living room chair at my brother's home and most recently in a kitchen chair in her kitchen. The first time we were made aware that she was relieving herself in places other than the bathroom, we immediately purchased the pull-up Depends for her. The problem with that is because she is cognizant of when she has to go, she pulls them down and proceeds to do her "business" and when she is done, she simply pulls them up. She is not the least incontinent so the Depends proved to be pretty useless in this endeavor. And of course with the Alzheimer's she totally denies having done anything wrong even when the evidence is quite apparent. We are beside ourselves trying to figure out ways to deter her from toileting in places where she is not supposed to. Any ideas/suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
This is a temporary stage and can be helped by renting or borrowing a couple of commodes to place around her house and hiding trash cans, chairs, etc that can be construed as a toilet.
You will have smell and cleanliness issues r/t her resistance to cares, which can be helped a bit by barrier creams to protect her skin and no-rinse lotions you can place on her bottom to make cleanup fast and easier and provide freshness. Some families work on getting into the habit of daily bathing. Even with Alzheimers, you can work them into some sort of a routine which will train their bowels. For instance, I had a gentleman who got into a routine of sitting on the toilet after every meal, then going to his recliner for a nap. This got his bowels into a routine so greatly reduced accidents. (He still enjoyed voiding in heat vents, however, which was a challenge till the end.)
Hang in there!
jean
If the tables were turned and it was you, how would you feel. Add any level of confusion to this and you may understand more how she feels.
God Bless... and Happy New Year!!
Talk to the agency... talk to the 'aide' about your concerns AFTER you have talked to their supervisor. Perhaps they need to revamp how she is 'handled'.
There are 'bidet'' type aparatus that can be added to the toilet to help in cleansing. But something needs to be done to change how she feels.
My mother was the same way when she was in rehab. SHE would strike out when someone 'put their hands down there' and why SHOULDN'T SHE!!! They told me she was combative, but she wasn't with the right 'aide' helping her.
I don't know what agency you are using, but talk to someone about their procedures. The training, the people, everything. Let them know the problem your mother is having, and how they handle this. If their answer is VAGUE...look for another agency. People that are familar with working with ALZ patient/ even just the elderly have to understand their concerns and how to GENTLY handle them.
The aide should be explaing what they are doing BEFORE they do it, explaining that they are there to help, and they are not 'peeking' so not to worry. Also, THEIR demeanor is paramont!! If they are laughing or talking to much.. this will be construed as 'laughing at me' I heard this all the time. CALM slow motions are best around our elders!
How did I learn all this? Well a right upper cut (boom) from my mother helped drive it home.... LOL and of course her displeasure with my actions. With help from the aides, she was agreeable, even thankful for their help!
It makes a difference and I am proud of you that you are being her advocate!!! Keep working on it! God Bless..
"cleaned up" after she goes-to the bathroom-in the toilet-
my concern is that the aides fron the agency seem to think
it is asolutely neessary,after every visit to the b room,to lean her up by the sink,wipe her-etc.she gets very upset-she screams somtimes.and as a result she tried to hold it in to because she knows-well she feels she will be attacked again-
thats how she interprets it- she complains they are too rough,but it is a very tender area, and that they touch her everywhere-its a big problem-she feels she is laughed at when she has a bm in her pullups(diaper undies
)i dont think they are trying to hurt her,but it does,
and i know they have to,but she wants to do it herself,and we know that it wont be a very good job-cant she have some privacy,try and clean herself,sometimes,but before bed-and in the morning, could that be when the aides help clean her?
does anyone else have this problem?or know how to deal wit it
so that she can keep some dignity?at lest while she knows whats going on?
God Bless..