Questions regarding adult diapers & using pads & “pods” as well.
My Mom who’s 71 takes care of my 93yr old Grandmother. She has been living w/my folks for over 6yrs, despite the fact she’s become extremely debilitated. My Mom underwent carpal tunnel surgery Monday & I was asked to come & assist w/Grandma. I hadn’t seen her since mid March due to Covid. And over those past months her weakness & mobility issues have greatly increased. My Grandma spends her days as well as sleeps in a mechanical recliner parked in my Mom's formal living room. She is unable to walk by herself, & uses a walker, which she insists you must slowly pull. She has severe incontinence, & is walked to her plastic commode where her special routine takes place. Currently she is wearing a Depends like diaper, which then a thick pad is adhered, then a medium thickness pad is laid on top. Lastly another pad which she calls the “pod” is also placed inside the Depends. Basically it’s another pad which is rolled up, & is inserted directly under what she calls, her “pee hole”. I am extremely concerned about the entire Depends/pad #1/pad #2/pad #3(pod) situation. To me it just looks like a huge germ jungle, & I’m clueless how to address my Grandma about it. We’re already arguing about the fact that I believe once there’s any urine on the pads, that the entire Depends & pads must be tossed & replaced w/clean supplies. Instead she insists that only the top pad & pod be replaced. I completely understand she’s extremely “old school”, went through the Great Depression, & does not waste anything. But to me when you’re dealing w/your health, there are things which must be done, & done correctly. She does not have any financial difficulties, & all of her incontinence supplies are purchased by my folks. She has had numerous UTI’s over the past 10+yrs, & has taken many antibiotics & tried hormone creams. Her water consumption has increased, & I’ve also supplied her w/cranberry pills. I am questioning the entire Depends/pads situation. Once there’s any urine leaked shouldn’t all 3-pads as well as the Depends be removed even if the Depends itself is not soaked? Also am I correct to believe that it’s nothing more then a huge germ jungle/Petri dish of bacteria? I just extremely worry that she’s going to get another horrible infection-which could also impact her current pressure sore she has on her buttocks from living in her recliner. Thank you so much for reading this very long post...I’m just at my wits end!
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