So hard to clean an elder's bathroom
I don't like cleaning my mother's bathroom. I don't really like doing housework to start with, but I know it is a necessary evil. My mother's bathroom is absolutely the worst. First, there is a big walk in shower that gets red and black mildew that has to be tackled. Then there's the shower chair that grows mildew on all the joint. By the time I clean the shower, I am worn out. But it is time to move on to the toilet.
The toilet has a safety frame with feet touching the floor and an elevated vinyl seat. Many times she doesn't quite make it to the toilet, so pees all over it. To clean the toilet, I have to take off the safety frame (peeeuuuu) and squirt the cleaner into the bowl. I let it set while I clean the sink -- no problem usually. Then I have to clean the toilet and clean all the yuck off the safety frame seat and bucket. Yuck yuck yuck.
Now it that isn't enough, there is the garbage can that she puts used potty tissue in. That can gag me, but it has to be done. Finally, there is the mopping of the floor with vinegar water. All done... Then I hear her moving down the hall to the bathroom and want to cry. Elders' bathrooms are just too hard to keep clean.
OK, maybe that is not an option. Better living through chemistry. I find that concentrated peroxide (Oxyclean type stuff) works better than plain bleach and is not as risky to my skin and lungs. Liquid dishwasher soap works best on mold and grout. I get mine at Costco. Clorox makes a great product for urine smell and stain, sometimes you can find it in the pet aisle if not the cleaning aisle of the grocery store. Also, spraying everything down then waiting 5-10 min helps tremendously.
The reason some places smell better is that both the housekeeping staff is good at what they do and management has wisely chosen to pay for plenty of the right chemicals, which can be expensive.
I replace the toilet seat about once a year, all the scrubbing I have to do pretty much ruins them.
Oh, and OPEN THE WINDOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For your safety. That bleach is amazing, of course, but will knock you out.
If I clean Mother's- I open the windows, put the shower chair in the shower, spray it all with a strong cleaner and shut the shower. Take out the wet depends, either spray the garbage can or put a layer of kitty litter in with the new bag. Spray down everything and wipe and scrub. End up with spraying the shower and chair down (I don't scrub her shower, it's beyond my abilities to get the limescale off at this point). I do NOT close the window for hours, if I can get away with it.
This is a tiny, tiny bathroom. It still takes an hour.
Sadly, all of mother's clothing and belongings now smell like sick, old urine. Carpet, everything. I will take absolutely nothing if she dies, as the smell makes me so sick, and is just too reminiscent of cleaning for someone who hates me for doing so.
I don't know why some "old folks" places stink to high heaven and some places (like both of my grandmother's homes) smelled pleasantly fresh and clean. I guess mother was a slipshod housekeeper in the best of times.
Bathrooms are just the worst to clean...after that, birdcages. Ugh.
I always disliked those raised toilet seats they look like trouble. When the medical folding potty finally broke, I purchased regular toilet seats. That has helped a lot.
I'm too wimpy for private part cleaning matters. Reason I left working in nursing home. When it is shower time, mom says I will bathe myself. I tell her yes you will but first let me get you all setup. Then I set nearby in case she calls for me or I hear something. My stomach is just weak.
When that time comes, I will have to re-evaluate things. But right now they can still shower and handle toilet duty by themselves.
Bless You JoAnn29
I’m smiling at this post and feel ya.
I don't think many of us are enabling. In my case I know my mother would try to continue to live in her house alone if I weren't here. She wouldn't go into a facility because she doesn't like people. She wants to live on her own terms -- staying in her pajamas and watching TV all day, eating when she wants. It would have been disastrous, with my brother and me having to drop by every few hours to check on her and pretty much doing the things I do now. We would have had to do that because she would not have left this house. The law would have had to force her to leave.
Me being here makes the most sense for everyone, but my own life has been pretty much exhausted. I really dislike watching the spoiled politicians wobbling their jaws about things. They have no clue. Even if they talk to someone who has it rough, they just use them for political talking points. Most in the US could care less about ordinary people. It's kind of sad when you get to the point you realize neither family nor community cares. That just leaves one person or couple when there are parents who won't leave their home. Sometimes it isn't enabling. It's just family working through a difficult situation.
Tonight she told me she needs some more lancet tips for her blood sugar readings. I went to the drugstore today and yesterday. I am flipping going bonkers because it's not like she could think to tell me. I'm thinking of a little cabin in the woods by a peaceful stream with birds and frogs calling.
At least the doctor saw the hitch and didn't give you any snottiness about it, that's something.
If it's any consolation (those less fortunate than ourselves?) my SIL's MIL had a colostomy she wasn't very reliable about dealing with. I was very glad I wasn't there the weekend it went nuclear in my SIL's bathroom, but I think everyone else in the family got roped in to, er, swab the decks.
This was an awful day. We had a doctor appointment. My mother has been confused and needy all day. Words are not registering with her, so I'm exhausted. My mother's doctor wanted to start her on a new thing that would require taking sugar readings 4 times a day. I told her that we couldn't do it like that because it would be like putting me in prison all day. She understood. I don't think doctors stop to think about the impact their ideas would have on a caregiver for someone with dementia.
My mother's bathroom is little. That makes it sound easier, but it just makes it hard to get to things. Maybe one day they'll make one with a self-clean button. Wouldn't it be cool to just lock it shut, push a button, and it heats up to burn off all the yuck -- like a self-cleaning oven?
Maybe I should design elder bathroom furniture. I don't think the designers of those frames and chairs ever cleaned a bathroom.
Now that I am in my 70's, it's everyone's bathroom for themselves. It's been a couple of years since I cleaned that bathroom, but now that the plumber is coming over I had to clean as I didn't want the plumber is say "I'm not going in there".
Oh I wish there were things to make that cleaning job more pleasant, as I dislike housework with a passion. One time when I didn't have much energy I just took a whole container of Lysol Wipes to clean the bathroom :P
Where's the Tidy Bowl Man when you need him ???
I think another thing is that I'm 65 now and just don't have the energy and drive I once did. It would be easier to just crawl under the bed and hide.
Something that would make it easier is if they designed shower chairs and safety frames so they were easy to clean.
I'm sorry, I know this isn't the most pleasant task on top of caring for your mom daily. I know it takes a toll.
Are you able to hiring a cleaning service? Or is there another family member or friend that could help you?