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I noticed that my grandma's aides often use nitrile gloves when helping my grandma in the bathroom. I never use gloves. Should I start wearing gloves? I'm especially concerned when I help my grandma on the toilet and when I cut the cuticles on her hands and feet during manicures and pedicures.


Can I get sick if I touch her urine or feces or, in the case of doing her cuticles, her blood?


I guess I hesitate to use gloves because not only are they expensive and bad for the environment, but because I don't want my grandma to think that I'm disgusted by her. Unlike her aides who are "strangers," I'm family and I don't want her to feel any distance from me, especially given her embarrassment during these very intimate, but necessary, interactions.


Thank you for reading my question! I look forward to hearing feedback!

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You can get sick, especially if you have any open cuts or open skin.
Please don't hesitate to use gloves - they are for your saftey and comfort. I'll admit I am quite girly but I still always used my latex gloves for any care requiring touch. It helps my peace of mind and its for my saftey.
No matter how urgent the procedure is, taking 30s to glove up is a necessary and if you become ill etc then its worse for both of you.
I'd recommend getting some latex gloves and masks for your tasks - once you use them once you definelty won't stop.
On a recent dentist visit, with my him, the nurse suggested I hold his head for the extraction to help with comfort etc. She looked at me expecting to jump right up but I just asked for a pair of gloves first and the nurse said "oh i forgot to ask if you wanted any. Good on you for asking"!
Let me know if this helps
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I have a nursing background. (Many years ago as an LVN). I currently wear gloves to clean my mother’s house (she’s a hoarder). On a recent trip to the denture place, she dropped her container and the teeth fell to the ground. She looked at me expecting me to pick them up. I grabbed some gloves out of my car and handled it.
I wear gloves to empty grandma in laws potty chair. Nobody seems upset.
my motto is “I can touch anything with gloves on”
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toribold156 May 2023
This is a great motto. Infact with your experience, I will probably start carrying some PPE - gloves and aprons - in my bag. Theres been a few cases where I have to beg/borrow/steal. Wondered how you find people react if you have to glove up in public etc please?
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When my Mama needed needed help I asked her if she would be offended if I used gloves. She said no. Just be open and up front with your LO. Thankfully we are past that stage and she is up walking again.
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Yes, it possible to pick up something. However, we are also protecting the client when we wear gloves. Toileting and any care that involves blood or other body fluids requires that you wear gloves. Maybe grandma can share in the cost of the gloves. Explain to her that you want to protect her as well as yourself. I think she will understand.
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Caring for my husband's toileting and even changing diapers or bed linens daily, I always used gloves. He was never offended, actually expressed admiration that I was willing to do the "yucky stuff" without complaining. And the wonderful people from Home Instead always used gloves. It never entered my mind that it would be embarassing or demeaning to the patient.
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There are a lot of pros and cons already shared why you should or not so I'm just sharing my two cents worth from my experience of caring for my husband. I agree, the ideal situation is wearing gloves anytime you care for any other person but my world is far from ideal. A lot of what I do now needs to be done immediately and allows very little time to put gloves on first. The proper way to use gloves is to wash or sanitize hands before putting them on and after removing them. Ideally the gloves should be changed between various tasks and avoid touching any other surfaces. I try to regularly use hand sanitizer and fully wash my hands when time allows. I am only caring for my husband and neither of us have any communicable issues. I figure we have exchanged body fluids for 53 years so it is not the same as caring for a stranger. The reason professional caregivers are required to use gloves is to protect themselves and to prevent cross contamination because they often have more than one client. If you have concerns, wear gloves and simply tell your grandma you are doing it for her protection. It probably would help to explain some of the ways it is protecting her and hopefully she will love you even more for caring so much.
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CareForGrandma: When coming in contact with bodily fluids, you should don gloves.
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You know what your mom's health is. Wear them or not. For wiping her after pottying, it would keep things off your hands. Or you could just wash your hands well. Nail trimming, probably not necessary. In general, it just comes down to cleaning your hands and using nail brush when you wash up.

Ooutsiders should always wear gloves. You certainly don't want them going from patient to patient and seeing they don't wear gloves at your house. If they don't at your house, they don't at other houses. You have no idea what they might have touched somewhere else or if infections were involved.

Separate note, if you have any home health involved - like phys therapy or nursing, ask them about home visits from podiatrists. Best thing I ever found out about - the dr came to the house and did an excellent job. Much better than the podiatrist I was taking my mom to outside the home.
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I always wear gloves and masks when cleaning her. The smell is horrible in addition to it being unsanitary to not.
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I always wear gloves when I clean my mother in the bathroom.

I never cut my mother's cuticles - not necessary to do anything that can make her bleed. However, I do trim her fingernails when they get too long and for that, I do not wear gloves.
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Gloves for anything that involves bodily fluids; and don't cut cuticles, just gently push them back with an orange stick (soften first in warm oil or cream if needed) If you mean the occasional 'hang nail' bit of skin, cut gently; use liquid bandage to seal until healed. Don't let nail techs cut cuticles either (at salons.)
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I always wore gloves with my mom, especially in the bathroom, cleaning feces, bedsheets and laundry (incontinence issues).

Most likely you're thinking about the possiblity of offending your grandmother more than you're grandmother is thinking about your use of gloves. I agree with the other replies, people before environment... safety first. Use your common sense. If you wouldn't touch someone else's bodily fluids etc. without gloves, then you should wear gloves with grandma.

If you're cutting nails it helps to soak hands or feet first to soften them. Instead of cutting cuticles, gently push them back. That's my two cents 😊.
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Healthcare workers are required to wear gloves whenever there is the possibility of coming in contact with bodily fluids, they are used to protect both the person providing care and the person receiving it and in facility care situations to protect the next patient the caregiver comes in contact with. Your Grandma simply based on her age is more susceptible to virus and bacteria because her body may not be able to fight it off as easily as yours or mine so wearing gloves during these intimate times is as much for her protection as yours. I would make sure she understands that is the only reason you have started wearing them, that way you know she isn’t thinking it’s because you are discussed by her or by what helping her in the bathroom entails.
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Yes…gloves!! Always with bathroom help….MRSA and such does not care if you are family! I buy mine on ebay…quite inexpensive.
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Beatty Feb 2023
Family member now has bowel issues after helping another clean up (without gloves). Very good handwashing should in theory be ok but why risk it?

Use gloves.
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Gloves are your grandmother's expense, with nothing from your funds. Do keep detailed track of her spending if it does and very likely comes to Medicaid eligibility.
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The last thing I want to think about when helping my LO stay safe and alive is the environment. People first, then the planet. Which is suffering from a lot more than used latex gloves.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Sad, but true, Fawnby. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for all of your comments.
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CareForGrandma...If it helps Gloves, incontinence supplies that would be the briefs, wipes, gloves, any lotions, creams....might be written off on taxes as Medical Supplies. Any other supplies might also be deducted so keep receipts and see if it helps when doing her taxes.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Thank you, Grandma1954! I'll ask about that when we do her taxes this year, but I'll start saving receipts in any case. I have gotten better at exploring benefits she already has, such as OTC benefits from her insurance company. That has already been helpful.
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@CareForGrandma

From reading your responses to everyone here, I really think you should take a CNA course if you're planning on continuing to care for your grandmother.
I don't mean to sound harsh to you. I'm saying this for your own good because I'm sure you love your grandmother and want to do right by her.
Your total ignorance and complete lack of basic common sense is posing a serious threat to your grandmother's health and safety. If you do not know that cutting her cuticles can cause infection or that you should not handle her pee and sh*t without gloves then most definitely you should not be taking care of her until you learn.
You're an adult and as an adult should have a basic understanding on appropriate hygiene practices. Also on how infections happen and how minimize risk.
I'm sure you do have some understanding. Please take the CNA course or attend the free class that public health departments offer as a community service that also teach about how infections spread and how to help prevent that.
In the meantime call the local senior center and ask about when they have a mobile podiatry clinic. Most of them offer this service. You have to pay for it though. If grandma can't get out there are podiatrists who make house calls for the elderly.
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Fawnby Feb 2023
I suspect there are lots of people who haven't been taught basic health in the schools these days. It was part of my 4th grade curriculum - how disease was spread, problems with drinking dirty water, learning to brush our teeth properly, etc. When my kids were in elementary school, the school cafeteria had an open dumpster for kitchen and lunchroom garbage right outside the cafeteria windows. The windows were open, no screens, and flies bred in the dumpster. The kids had flies competing for their lunch and didn't like it. When I visited the principal to ask that he get screens, he said, "I never knew that flies spread disease!" He told me that screens were expensive and he didn't want to ask the main office for them. The county health department was supposed to inspect school lunchrooms and had never cited them for this. Teachers were cowed by the principal because he controlled their job ratings, so they wouldn't stand up to him for what was right. The ignorance was shocking. This was 1980s.
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I never wore gloves because I can't stand them. 😊 I know, not an excuse especially after working for Nurses and going to those Blood borne pathogens classes every year for 7 yrs. I had deodorant soap in Moms bathroom that I washed before and after I cleaned her up. Dial is the best next to what Doctors use in their office. My daughter did a project on what soaps kill bacteria.

There are gloves made out of Latex that people are allergic to. There are those with powder inside and some without.

You cut her cuticles or do you mean nails. If you mean cuticles, you do not cut them. They get thicker. Also, because they bleed, infections can set in. Sometimes nail files are rounded at one end. This is for pushing the cuticle back. There is also a small tool that does this. Soak her hands first and then just push the cuticle back. This can be done after a bath. Just use the towel to push the cuticles back. Haven't used polish in years but there used to be a cuticle remover you could use. When it comes to her feet, a podiatrist should be cutting her toenails. They tend to thicken as we age. I actually broke a clipper on my DHs nails. No aide or Nurse should be doing toenails. Again, infection could set in.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Thank you! You've given me a lot of information I didn't know, JoAnn29! I have been cutting her nails and her cuticles. I didn't realize that cutting her cuticles could lead to infection. I'll follow your advice on how to maintain her cuticles more safely. Same with her feet. I have been doing her pedicures. I didn't realize that should be something for a podiatrist. Again, I didn't realize that could run the risk of infection. Thank you for sharing this information. Things I didn't know but will change going forward!
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Use gloves whenever you are potentially going to come in contact with any bodily fluid. (although if you help her blow her nose simply washing your hands should be enough)
Use gloves when applying a barrier cream or even a lotion. (I always used gloves when putting a lotion on my husband because it made my hands slide more easily over his thin skin. Also the lotion was absorbed into his skin not mine.)
Using gloves is not a substitute for handwashing. You still have to wash hands when you remove the gloves.
If grandma is on Hospice Hospice will provide gloves for your use and for the staff as well as any caregivers you have.
As far as cutting her cuticles and nails..I hope there is not any blood that you might con=me in contact with so using gloves then is up to you.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Thank you for your response, Grandma1954! Interesting how wearing gloves helps the lotion absorb into his skin, not yours. I hadn't thought of that. My grandma isn't on hospice, so I've been buying the gloves myself. I'm grateful that so many people have offered suggestions on where to buy gloves for the best price, in bulk. I'll have to start taking comparison shopping more seriously because the way I've been doing things just isn't sustainable.
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Some people are fanatical about germs. I am one of those. Others are not. Have you ever seen a mom pick up a baby’s pacifier after it dropped onto the floor or ground and licked it and stuck it back in her child’s mouth? I have! LOL 😆 So gross!

I am obsessed with hand washing. I use warm water and soap. I’m not much on hand sanitizers. I prefer soap and water.

I think about the Asian and Arab cultures that take off their shoes. Our streets are absolutely filthy.

Look at how many people follow the ‘5 second’ rule. Some people think if they drop something and pick it up off the floor because it’s only been there a a few seconds it’s okay to eat. Nope, for me it goes straight into the trash! My floors are clean but I don’t eat food if I drop it on the floor.

I do take off my shoes in my home. It’s comfy to be barefoot.
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NeedHelpWithMom Feb 2023
Bandy,

Please don’t laugh but I rinse off the top of cans before opening them! I read there are rats in warehouses and they leave poop droppings on the cans!

So, I rinse them. I’m super fanatical!

My daughters laugh at me. Here’s what I have told them? Have you ever been sick from my cooking? They say no. So, I think that our neurotic behavior is justified! LOL 😆
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Amazon has an overabundance of gloves at the moment. I used the Basics or Medpride gloves. Box of 100 is about 7 or 8 bucks.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Great, Catskie62! Thank you, I'll check it out!
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Always wear gloves! Since more than one person is caring for grandma, that's a lot of hands in possibly contaminated body fluids. Your hands are on privates, you rub your eyes, they serve grandma food, you eat some of the food, someone goes to the bathroom and fails to wash hands completely, someone gets diarrhea but doesn't mention it, you cut her cuticles and she picks her nose. It's an ideal environment for someone to become ill with something that could be passed to grandma, and I'm sure you don't want her getting sicker.

About your grandma feeling distance from you, or that she's thinking she's repulsive, or that you don't like her well enough to wipe her with your bare hands - please don't think about that. Being family doesn't mean you have to put yourself in danger. Your goal should be to provide best patient care for your loved one, not worrying that you're going to hurt her feelings. Explain to yourself - and her if necessary - that you are following approved health protocol for home nursing care. Then do it. You're a caregiver. You must protect yourself in order to keep taking care of grandma.

She's lucky to have such a caring granddaughter.
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NeedHelpWithMom Feb 2023
It’s so gross if a person doesn’t wash their hands before cooking, including under our nails.

I can’t imagine cooking, serving or eating food without washing my hands.

I like how Japanese restaurants serve hot towels to guests before eating.
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I get the resistance to wearing gloves due to the expense and the environment... when I first started using them I tried to cut back by just putting one on my dominant hand, reasoning that I wasn't really using the other hand anyway 🙄. But you need to put it all into perspective, the gloves you are using are less than a drop in the bucket of the medical waste generated across the health care spectrum. And everything about caring for someone at home is a new unwelcome expense from the gloves to incontinence supplies to medications to nutritional supplements and beyond, but unless you are so poor that you are living hand to mouth the expenses are the cost of caring for someone at home and are infinitely less than the cost of a facility.
And while nitrile gloves are nice the cheapest vinyl gloves are really just as functional, Walmart was my go to for inexpensive gloves or costco when I could get them, but I often found good deals on gloves from hardware stores... there was no difference.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
I'm amazed at how expensive caring for my grandma at home has been. But you're right, cwillie, no doubt way less then the cost of a facility. Using vinyl gloves is a great suggestion. As this process of helping my grandma goes on, I'm slowly, bit by bit finding more economical alternatives to almost everything. In the beginning, however, I was buying the most expensive everything since I just didn't know any better. It has certainly been a learning curve. I'll also be sure to check out the hardware store! Thank you for the tips!
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Sometimes people get lucky and have no after effects, then there are the others.

Me, I'd wear gloves, my father got hep c from his MIL, she wiped her butt, didn't do a thorough wash job, cooked and gave it to him.

Whether it be family or others, safety first is my motto.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Wow, that's terrible! I'm sorry that happened to your father, MeDolly! I'm still new to these abbreviations... What's an MIL?
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Yes, wear gloves especially when toileting or bathing! Gloves prevent those germs from getting into all the nooks, crannies, creases, and cuts on your hands and nails. Hospice provides gloves for me to use when caring for mom. The gloves happen to be "clear." I will say that I like the "clear" ones, rather than the blue color because they seem less clinical. That said, I would wear any color as long as it provides protection.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Very interesting, Natasana! Using clear gloves is a great idea as it would seem less clinical, and appearing "clinical" is the one thing I'm trying to avoid when helping my grandma. Thank you for the suggestion!
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I cared for my mom and did the same as you. I washed my hands thoroughly. I didn’t wear gloves. I didn’t have to change mom though. She only wore Depends at night. She was able to use the bathroom and didn’t need any assistance with wiping.

I think you’re fine not wearing gloves, since you wash your hands well. I did appreciate others wearing gloves around mom.

I am meticulous about washing my hands. It was engrained in me as a child, from my grandmother to my mother and the nuns at my school!

If I see someone in a restaurant not wearing gloves, I gross out.

I am also a bit obsessive about cross contamination in my kitchen. I am constantly washing my hands and I have separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables. My kids say that I have a touch of OCD! LOL
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Thank you, NeedHelpWithMom! I do wash my hands constantly! That's actually part of my worry because I wash my hands so much they're often cracked open and I'm afraid more at risk for bacteria and infection.
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There should never be a time that you do any personal care without gloves on.
You put gloves on every time you help grandma in the bathroom. Or when you help her wash up. Or if you're applying any medications to her body. ALWAYS wear gloves.
The not wanting her to feel any distance between the two of you. Take a minute and think about that statement and what it sounds like.
If the aides 'often' wear gloves when helping grandma, that 'often' has to become an 'ALWAYS' as in today.
People can get sick when they don't take the proper precautions when doing personal hygiene care for another. Please start wearing gloves.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Thank you, BurntCaregiver! I just recently started noticing that the aides wear gloves. I'll have to notice if it's just "often" and, if so, make it "always". This is just another aspect of caregiving I never considered and am realizing is very important.
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I never wore gloves while I was caring for my husband, and I had to wipe his butt every day the last 22 months of his life, cut both his finger and toe nails, and empty his catheter bag twice a day.
I always just washed my hands really well when I was done with his care.
But I don't have a germ phobia either and never have. It takes a whole lot to gross me out.
Of course when the hospice nurses or aides came to the house they always wore gloves and they should.
Bottom line is that you should do whatever you're comfortable doing.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Thank you, funkygrandma59! The idea of wearing gloves is another of the many aspects of caregiving I never realized. I've never been a germaphobe, but now I'm wondering if I should be less naive and more realistic with my approach. I appreciate all the feedback and will consider what feels comfortable going forward.
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Gloves are required when you are dealing with the bodily fluids of another person whether sputum, urine, feces, or blood. They are not required for cutting nails, but if they showed you a blowup of what's under our nails happily thriving you would know good handwashing is a requirement.
For those living together and exposed daily to others, good hand washing suffices for many things, as in GOOD hand washing. Rubbing is what kills germs, bacteria and etc.
Glad you are thinking of the environment, but wow, I fear it is too late. When I look at daily garbage days on our street I pretty much know it is over for mankind, sooner than we think. So protect yourself.
As to RNs and visiting medical, if they aren't gloving they are being negligent. So imagine the numbers of gloves for them. Wish there was a better answer. Pretty much isn't.
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CareForGrandma Feb 2023
Thank you, AlvaDeer! Sadly, you made me laugh, thinking of our poor planet. I know. I too see the garbage collected every week just on my block and sigh. Also, you taught me a new word, "sputum". I'll have to be more aware of if her aides are always wearing gloves. I only recently noticed and gave it a second thought. I've never lived with my grandma and still don't, so in some ways, I do feel like an outsider when I come to help, which is why I all of a sudden started considering wearing gloves. Thank you for your thoughts!
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