Re: Personal care, UTI and a catheter

[Guest guest]

,

They have pans that fit on the toilet so she doesn't have to go in a cup.  And

they need to slow down with her so she isn't so frightened. Can she clean

herself somewhat herself or can you talk her through it  ?  She isn't being

given the time she needs to do whatever she is doing and I saw that as staff's

responsiblity.  She is paying to be taken care of.  If she could take care of

herself, she wouldn't be there.  You may need to help staff slow down.  They

need to warn her before they come at her as I have seen some staff do.  Staff

defeats themselves.  And I am well aware of all they have to do, but they will

do much better with LBD patients by going slower, not at their pace.

This is my opinion.  But they don't tell you about all the things they could

use, like the pans for the toilet, unless you know and ask for them.  But that

is also their job, not yours.

Hugs,

Donna R

Personal care, UTI and a catheter

 

Hi all. My mom is VERY combative with any personal care from the staff at the

home - she screams for her mom and is terrified and yells out that they are

trying to kill her. The doctor wants to get a urine sample from my mom to check

for a UTI, but she is so combative around personal care there is no way to get

her to swipe and then urinate in a cup (I don't think she even understands the

concept anymore anyway). They want to put a catheter in for a short time to

collect the sample, which I know will be very terrifying for her. Are there any

alternatives to the catheter or any suggestions you can give me on how to make

the personal care issue easier for her in general?

Thanks so much.

[Guest guest]

,

I was also told that I made my mom nervous at first when she entered the

NH. I was so concerned about her care that I was on top of everything and

too often asking her if she was OK. Learning to calm down myself helped

Mom be calm around me and let me help her - when she *needed* help.

There were any number of patients, especially women, at Mom's NH that went

through a period in which they believed that staff was trying to do them

harm. There was one woman who, every 3 months or so, would go through a

couple of weeks insisting that everyone was trying to poison her. Others

would kick and scream when the staff tried to do something or get them to

do something that they didn't want to do (sometimes because they couldn't

remember how to do it). This was where the doctor was called in. Paranoia

is part of dementia in most of its forms. There are medications that can

help, but it takes some trial and error. Different medications are needed

for different people. I also noticed that different staff members

interacted with each patient in different ways. Some staff members, just

by being there, would terrify patients. Others were very close to their

patients and trusted by them. Sometimes, it is important to find the right

aide for the right patient.

For your own part, try to let go of worries before you go in to see your

mom. I would sit in the parking lot for several minutes just doing

breathing exercises before going in, to try to be calmer by the time Mom

saw me. I also needed to learn to worry less about Mom's happiness and

every little sniffle. No matter where your mom is, things will never be

perfect with Lewy around. Try to settle for what my grandpa called " good

enough. "

Take care of yourself.

Kate

> **

>

>

> Hi everyone. Thanks for your help. My mom and I used to be quite close,

> but now I only seem to agitate her more. The nursing home does have the

> " hats " and did in fact manage to get a clean speciman yesterday (I think).

> She is so afraid of personal care (she things they are trying to kill her)

> that all if this is almost impossible.

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > > Hi all. My mom is VERY combative with any personal care from the staff

> at the home - she screams for her mom and is terrified and yells out that

> they are trying to kill her. The doctor wants to get a urine sample from my

> mom to check for a UTI, but she is so combative around personal care there

> is no way to get her to swipe and then urinate in a cup (I don't think she

> even understands the concept anymore anyway). They want to put a catheter

> in for a short time to collect the sample, which I know will be very

> terrifying for her. Are there any alternatives to the catheter or any

> suggestions you can give me on how to make the personal care issue easier

> for her in general?

> > >

> > > Thanks so much.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >