caregiving: incontinence trumps

Incontinence may be intellectualized by doctors but from a caregiver’s perspective incontinence trumps.

With progression of Patti’s Multiple Sclerosis she is totally incontinent both for bladder and bowels. Add into the mix a wheel chair, a non-ambulatory patient with cognitive impairment and you have more than a challenge.

I think it is safe to assume that most people have changed a diaper on an infant. An adult’s diaper is the same concept just on a grander scale.

Incontinence also means whenever. Anything and everything else planned has to accommodate the need to change Depends and usually clothing.

Yes, all manufacturers promote their product does not leak. If your faith is based in US advertising, then bless you. However, I will say after a decade of caregiving for incontinence that Kimberly Clark DEPEND® brand leaks less.

Picking Patti up on Saturday for her parent’s holiday party my nose told me something was not right. Patti claimed that she had just been changed and just wanted a cigarette. I wasn’t buying.

Preparing to change her myself I found myself shortly assisted by 5 aides and a lift. I think operating rooms have less people.

Later driving back she experienced more bowel incontinence. Changing alone was not going to be adequate, a shower was needed.

Timing was bad as aides were all busy getting other residents to bed so I charged forward.

First, dead lifting Patti from wheelchair into bed so I could get her clothing and Depend off, then dead lifting her into a shower chair to roll into the shower.

Soiled clothing and bed linen I quickly tossed in hamper Depends and wipes in trash.

Observing me, the LPN put meds on hold and pitched in finding me extra wash cloths and towels, rounding up fresh linens, and making the bed.

After shower I dead lifted Patti back into bed, whipped on new Depend, nightgown, and rolled her regular wheelchair into the shower as it too needed a cleaning.

All's well that ends well, as Patti was falling into sleep as I turned out the light and sloshed out in soaking wet shoes.

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer
web site: http://caregivinglyyours.com/
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