I am not a healthcare worker or expert - just a daughter, mother, wife and full time worker to help pay bills. My mom is a widow ( lost my dad 2 years ago) and stays in a wheelchair or recliner most of the time due to fear of falling for severe neuropathy ( not feeling her feet or calves ). She sleeps from about 3 am to 1 pm and many nights does not even wake up and finds everything wet when she does. I think due to the fact it is hard for her to get up and down (weight) she waits until the last minute during waking hours to get to the bathroom but at least she does get to the bathroom. Question: we have washable pads on the bed at night but at least three nights a week these pads get soaked. ANY TIPS on handling this issue would be helpful. I have her put them in a plastic garbage bin with a lid in the garage until I (once a week) wash them and bleach them. Her doctor said most people just live with incontinence until it gets too unbearable because the meds have side effects and the surgery (for her age/weight) is not recommended - and I feel sure it is because the recovery would be too hard on her. What are people doing to make sure things stay clean enough (bed, linens, these pads etc) ?
Mattress pad(s) over the plastic sheet.
Several manufacturers make "night defense" incontinence underwear. We use the Depends brand, which seems to help. Sometimes if we notice there is a change in urination, we use these during the day. You can get coupons online for Depends brand if you decide to use them.
We have a portable "potty" in mom's room. Makes the trip to the bathroom shorter. Sometimes she uses it. Most times she feels independent and makes the trip (20 feet) to the bathroom outside her bedroom. A portable "potty" could help. The "potty" was part of a going home package after mom had been hospitalized.
There is a toilet seat attachment which raises a standard toilet seat about 10 inches. Perhaps your mom feels strained in the knees as she sits down to toilet. Getting this attachment, raising the seat, may make your mom more comfortable.
I found mom pulling her incontinence underwear up too high. Doing this the part around the legs opened and was loose. Mom has slim legs and a large stomach.
We sized down in the underwear. Better fit around the legs, snug around the stomach. We seems to have fewer leaks.
We found the longer mom has diabetes the neuropathy is worse, legs hurts lots and the stomach has grown disproportionally to what she eats. Home health twice a week comes in to show mom moving is better for her. Surprisingly mom will perform the movements while the therapist is working with her. After the therapist leaves the next day she refuses. So far have been successful only part of the time getting mom to practice the movements.
You may discuss with your mom's doctor. Test for a bladder infection, which may complicate things.
Good luck.
One possibility is a cathator bag too. She could still get infections. Very important to be aware of the "signs".
Hope this helped a bit. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
From dire necessity, I invented a simple $3 one piece device (solution) and haven't had to change her pull-ups in 3 years. It is now quick and easy for her to do it herself. There is nothing else on the internet made for this purpose.
If I can find enough demand for this device, I intend to have a non-profit disabled American manufacturer mass produce and market/sell/ship them.
Because I can not post easy make-one-yourself images/videos in these incontinence websites, I'm in the process of making my own Facebook site for this purpose. I haven't chosen a FB public site name yet but sure "incontinence" will be part of the name. Keep an eye out for it.
From dire necessity, I invented a simple $3 one piece device (solution) and haven't had to change her pull-ups in 3 years. It is now quick and easy for her to do it herself. There is nothing else on the internet made for this purpose.
If I can find enough demand for this device, I intend to have a non-profit disabled American manufacturer mass produce and market/sell/ship them.
Because I can not post easy make-one-yourself images/videos in these incontinence websites, I'm in the process of making my own Facebook site for this purpose. I haven't chosen a FB public site name yet but sure "incontinence" will be part of the name. Keep an eye out for it.