Are you sure you want to exit? Your progress will be lost.
Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
✔
I acknowledge and authorize
✔
I consent to the collection of my consumer health data.*
✔
I consent to the sharing of my consumer health data with qualified home care agencies.*
*If I am consenting on behalf of someone else, I have the proper authorization to do so. By clicking Get My Results, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You also consent to receive calls and texts, which may be autodialed, from us and our customer communities. Your consent is not a condition to using our service. Please visit our Terms of Use. for information about our privacy practices.
Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
Share a few details and we will match you to trusted home care in your area:
I have a diaper pail for my mother's depends. It is a dekor mini that has a long plastic bag roll. You remove the bag of diapers when full, cut it off and knot the end., then pull down and knot the end inside the pail to restart. The pail has a double lid and does a good job of containing the odor. I got it originally because the dogs were getting into the bathroom trash (dogs are gross). They are not attracted to it now because the smell is contained and it's sturdy enough to keep them out. The mini holds about 3 to 4 days of her depends, so I collect the trash twice a week and add the diaper bag to the trash sack when I put it in the outside bin.
I've found that daily incontinence panty changes and disposal into outside trash is best. It's No way that I could tolerate that smell for hours/ overnight inside my home. All soiled incontinence panties go inside a small trash bag then doubled tied and disposed of ( outside trash can with a top) ASAP !!!
Momma is incontinent and she also wears depends. Everytime I go and see her in assisted living her bathroom smells funky. She just had a open trash can well it was some sort of trash can where she would throw her used depends into so I bought a medium sized trash pale that has a lid on it to try to help with the smell. The assisted living people line the trash pale and of course they empty it when necessary. It has helped some. Now if I can only get her to change her clothes more often and wear a clean depend instead of setting around all morning in dirty clothes. She has a uti right now. When she was living in her house it was horrible. She kept a uti and everytime I drove over there I had to pick up her dirty urine clothes off the bathroom floor mind you those were the same clothes she would put back on to wear to wash them. I would wash at least two loads everytime I went to see her. I don't know what to do about this continue problem. Is it the assisted living responsibiliy or do I need to find her other help? Memory Care which she would hate!
Someone sitting around in their pee or poop or both is bound to get infections. Women get UTIs more easily because the urethra is short, bladder is more vulnerable. She must change Depends and clothes often; if she can't herself you or a helper must see to that. Ask her doctor whether they'd approve her taking the very benign supplement D-Mannose: it flushes the urinary system better than cranberry juice. If mom has chronic UTIs her whole body will weaken, from the infection's strain on her immune system and from probably being given antibiotics for them all the time. The smell is only part of the problem, but I sympathize at how odor is so unpleasant. Your mom may not be aware of the odor; there is a phenomenon called 'olfactory fatigue' where our noses tune out bad smells after awhile, the reason some ladies over use their perfume and don't realize it's gagging other people!
A catalogue ( think it is called Collections, but Im not sure) advertised a largish container that opens from the bottom. (It has a lever to open it like some garbage cans). It gets lined with a plastic bag, and you open the top and throw the Depends in. The top and bottom parts are shut tight, and so no smell gets emitted at all. I keep it in the bathroom and every few days take the plastic garbage bag out containing the soiled Depends, put it in a second plastic kitchen bag and bring it out to the garbage "hut" of my Condo and throw it in the Dumpster. I then wash the container down and spray it with an aereol sanitizer. (The container cost about $40). Then I spray the bathroom with Febreze. So far, so good!
I used a diaper pail for my parents lined with a grocery store bag. Twice a day we tied it up and tossed the little bags into a large trash can in the garage lined with a heavy duty trash bag. When full it gets tied and goes out with the trash.
Your message sounds like you are reasonably exasperated. if you choose to keep her at home, get help. (Showering help makes everything better).
As others write here, take out each and every diaper immediately. Diaper Genies temporarily hide, but ultimately increase the problem which is only left to fester,
This was one of the hardest parts of caretaking for me (both with babies and adults).
Although it may seem endless, this time together won’t last forever.
I do remember as my grandmother aged and was in Assisted Living and then Memory Care, getting her to wear adult diapers or Depends was difficult even for the staff.
As we all gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday the staff tried to get her to wear a Depends or adult diaper. She refused. Never once did anyone suggest, "You don't want to embarrass yourself while you're out"? I finally stepped in and asked her the very question and if she would like me to help. She did. I took a few with us, and took the initiative to check her throughout the afternoon and she had a wonderful time. Have you made a suggestion to your MIL? Perhaps she's really not aware. Her sense of smell may be impaired. Talk with her doctor.
Blondie60: The malodor could be a sign of a U.T.I. She needs to be seen by a urologist for an antibiotic if that is the case after a complete urinalysis is performed.
You can obtain a diaper like container with a tight fitting lid.
A heavy lined 31-gallon trash can with a lid stay in my garage to hold any stuff that emits odor. On trash day all is removed and taken to the outside trash-bin for pick up.
That way there is no odor in the garage and no odor outside my garage door.
Elderly people on many medications, often dehydrated, can produce some of the most eye-watering urine smells. Mom had a habit of just re-using grocery bags and they did not hold the odor in well. We got her bags specificallt treated for the smell.
AND she didn't want the trash emptied every day, but she lost the battle of that. Once they were off her and bagged, someone took them out, immediately.
Still--she'd had enough accidents on her bed, recliner, couch and floors, the urine has completely saturated everything. After she passed & YB pulled up the flooring--he was aghast that the subflooring had been saturated too.
I think she had problems long before YB dealt with them--and burning candles/having spritzing air fresheners going in every room just added to the funk.
OPEN THE WINDOWS every single day. My mom was so worried about wasting energy, she would have a fit if we opened windows--but it was completely necessary.
If YB could go back in time, he'd have put down wall to wall linoleum. Carpet got soaked and they could never get the smell out.
There is a spray called Poopfh available from Amazon and the manufacturer which when sprayed directly on the solid or liquid excrement neutralizes the odor. My aides like the old-fashioned room spray because it has a fragrance and says its disinfectant bur the poopfh really works. It is expensive about $26 for a large bottle but worth it
I meean, I use urine pads and the bacteria just feast on the moisture. They never go in my bathroom trash, always in the kitchen, which then gets emptied out at least every other day. Oh yes, it's an amazing smell. No thanks.
When I worked with a client that wore depends, the first thing I would when I would come in for my shift would be to empty her depends trash can and empty the potty chair. She would argue at first, but I told her your house is going to smell if I don't take this out.
There is no way I would want to work around someone with urine/feces soaked smelling household. No, you will not get used to smelling filth and the smell itself can cause nausea, and respiratory illnesses. We are hired to do a job.
Like another member said, you have to take charge of the situation.
My mom is in a wheelchair and can’t stand w/o assistance. She wears Depends undergarments and a portable potty in the bathroom. I have purchased liners on Amazon specifically for the potty along with pads that absorb the liquid. It gets changed every day and several times if she has a movement. I also have some powder that absorbs solid waste odors. I change the liner by tying it by the straps on the sides and double knot the bag. Then I put that bag into a clean, tall, deodorized trash bag and double knot it as well. It all goes into the outside garbage can. There is a cost associated with this. I tried the plastic bags from the grocery store and Walmart. But those bags are flimsy and tear easily, and they are not treated for odor control. I just can’t tolerate a manual cleanup dumping in the toilet. Maybe this will give you some ideas.
Foul urine odor is a sign of a urinary tract infection. She needs to be taken to the doctor for a urine sample to be sent out and cultured/tested. I agree with Fawnby that incontinence is often the straw that breaks the caregiving camel's back.
I recommend a plastic bag you securely close after placing each used underwear into it or even better is a trash can with a lid. Put something aromatic in (I used pine sol) with a fresh plastic liner and discard into the outside trash often. Frequently I would put pine sol in the trash can, fill it with water and let it set a few minutes when I changed the bag.
This is often the turning point when families can no longer care for a loved one at home. Time to find a care facility where she can be cared for 24/7 by professionals.
In my personal opinion, depends don't go in the house garbage. They get put in a grocery bag or other small plastic bag, tied up and put outside.
Keeping dirty diapers in a house trash is going to create gross smells.
I had to deal with my dads on a daily basis, he wouldn't and I was less put out with taking the trash out then having the environment smell. I always used a bag in the trash can and emptied it when he put a dirty in.
This is one of the less pleasant aspects of caregiving.
Isn't it nice they now make trash can liners with a deodorizer in them? No matter what's in the trash in the garage. I can now keep the trash can in the garage like the HOA's of the country want you to do, rather than having to schlep them weekly from the backyard. At one home, we do live in a hot climate after a few days the smell was emitting into the house. We finally got permission put a pad and walk outside the garage to deal with the smell. Those malodors are bacteria breeding.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
As others write here, take out each and every diaper immediately. Diaper Genies temporarily hide, but ultimately increase the problem which is only left to fester,
This was one of the hardest parts of caretaking for me (both with babies and adults).
Although it may seem endless, this time together won’t last forever.
As we all gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday the staff tried to get her to wear a Depends or adult diaper. She refused. Never once did anyone suggest, "You don't want to embarrass yourself while you're out"? I finally stepped in and asked her the very question and if she would like me to help. She did. I took a few with us, and took the initiative to check her throughout the afternoon and she had a wonderful time. Have you made a suggestion to your MIL? Perhaps she's really not aware. Her sense of smell may be impaired. Talk with her doctor.
You can obtain a diaper like container with a tight fitting lid.
That way there is no odor in the garage and no odor outside my garage door.
https://diapergenie.com/
you can spray that or use the dust
AND she didn't want the trash emptied every day, but she lost the battle of that. Once they were off her and bagged, someone took them out, immediately.
Still--she'd had enough accidents on her bed, recliner, couch and floors, the urine has completely saturated everything. After she passed & YB pulled up the flooring--he was aghast that the subflooring had been saturated too.
I think she had problems long before YB dealt with them--and burning candles/having spritzing air fresheners going in every room just added to the funk.
OPEN THE WINDOWS every single day. My mom was so worried about wasting energy, she would have a fit if we opened windows--but it was completely necessary.
If YB could go back in time, he'd have put down wall to wall linoleum. Carpet got soaked and they could never get the smell out.
$26 for a large bottle but worth it
I, personally, love Sniper, it is a disinfectant and removes odors. Roughly 45.00 a gallon and worth every penny.
There is no way I would want to work around someone with urine/feces soaked smelling household. No, you will not get used to smelling filth and the smell itself can cause nausea, and respiratory illnesses. We are hired to do a job.
Like another member said, you have to take charge of the situation.
Keeping dirty diapers in a house trash is going to create gross smells.
I had to deal with my dads on a daily basis, he wouldn't and I was less put out with taking the trash out then having the environment smell. I always used a bag in the trash can and emptied it when he put a dirty in.
This is one of the less pleasant aspects of caregiving.