I don't want to diminish his dignity. He has been resistant to gentle prodding about trying to keep clean after a b.m. : so he doesn't get a rash, etc. He makes up stories about how others in the family aren't cleaning themself. Should I just deal with the situation the way it is, and wash the sheets daily, and the toilet seat and sink each time he leaves "soiled " marks ?
the poop left in his crack will get sore and infections will set in .
good luck ...
It may be a matter of memory loss, but it can also be a diminished ability to reach around behind oneself. This is not laziness or obstinance -- it is a physical limitation. Doing extra laundry and cleaning might be worth it to preserve Dad's dignity, but that doesn't solve the very real issue of Dad's health, as Linda points out. Somehow he needs to get clean.
get a nice supply of those and yes, someone needs to get in there and make a shiny hiney.
This is the single hardest thing with caregiving and if you approach it right and don't make a big deal out of it you have a shot of making this work.
He's going to say anything and do anything but if you can get it across that he will feel better and be healthier maybe he'll let you.
tell him, hey if you broke your arm I'd feed you some dinner.... this is the same thing. You need help and I'm here to give it!
My mom went through an adjustment period with this issue just like everybody's mom and dad did.
Big change.
Good luck,
lovbob
Be sure to try it out. Water is this best cleanser, and there is no installation. I leave it in her bathroom for her convenience. I also discovered that a lemon smelling soap so far works magically for eliminating the odor of the bm. I know my mom is the freshest smelling elderly in world hands down! Tricks in trade.
Even so with a foley and a colostomy bag, I use a bottle bidet for daily cleansing her nether areas. I only use warm water in the bottle. No soap. And then I blot dry. (er.. I do this when she's at home. At the moment, the CNA's at the hospital are doing the nether area cleansing and the whole body cleaning. I still do the colostomy changes in the hospital. CNA's are poorly trained in this area it seems).
BB in Houston
Today, I finally started researching bidets and came across this site. (Incidentally, my mom asked for one several years back when her mobility and cognitive functioning was better, but nobody took her seriously.) Because of the hygiene issues she has been having recently, I now take her seriously. I have been reading about the Luxe Bidet This one is designed for females. The slightly less expensive Luxe Bidet Neo 120 is not designed for females and appears to work fine for men (according to the reviews.) These models are not electrical and are less expensive, but should still "do the trick". I would read the reviews and research more bidets to determine if you think you or your loved one might want the additional, nice-to-have features of an electric bidet (e.g., heated water, heated seats, dryer, etc.)
I'll post again after we've used the bidet above for awhile.