Easier Ways For the Elderly to Clean Themselves After Toileting
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 чер 2024
- We know. No one likes to talk about it. But, there are ways to make wiping after a bowel movement easier for the elderly! In this video, we will share 10 tips and tricks to make wiping after a bowel movement easier for the elderly. We will also discuss creating a safer and more comfortable environment to handle this necessary task.
Read the full guide at: www.grayingwithgrace.com/elde...
-
Other important bathroom safety videos for seniors:
Bathroom Hazards for the Elderly: • Bathroom Hazards for t...
Non-Slip Bathroom Flooring For Seniors: • Non-Slip Bathroom Floo...
-
Learn more about:
Bidets for Seniors and the Elderly: www.grayingwithgrace.com/best...
Raised Toilet Seats for Seniors and the Elderly: www.grayingwithgrace.com/best...
Grab Bars for Toilets: www.grayingwithgrace.com/best...
-
See all our Bathroom Safety Guides here: www.grayingwithgrace.com/guid... =============================================================
🌐 Visit Our Website to discover products and solutions that enhance the lives of seniors and the elderly: www.grayingwithgrace.com
-----
👍 Follow Us on Social Media:
📘 Facebook - Get the latest tips and recommendations for senior living: / grayingwithgrace
📸 Instagram: Explore visual stories and highlights of products for seniors: / graywithgracesite
📌 Pinterest: Find inspiring boards and ideas for elderly care and lifestyle: / grayingwithgrace
-----
📺 Subscribe to Our Channel: Keep up with our newest videos on elderly care and senior living.
-----
👤 Learn More About Me:
🔗 LinkedIn: Connect with me and learn about my journey in improving the lives of seniors: / graying-with-grace
-----
🔔 Disclaimer: The recommendations and opinions expressed here are my own and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your doctor for health-related concerns. Some products featured may have been provided at no cost for review purposes. Please note that I use affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Read the full guide at: www.grayingwithgrace.com/elderly-clean-after-bowel-movement/
😅🎉
Retired nurse of 40 years. Worked in nursing homes 4 years. Skin on elderly is thin and prone to chafing or bleeding from wiping to remove feces. And the concentrated urine in the dehydrated is very difficult to remove the odor from diaper area. We used a non rinse spray cleanser
and I insisted on warm water ( in bath basin) with soft washcloths ( oh, how much resistance from nurse assistants!) but this technique was the best way ( and of course clean clothes and sheets/ protective pads under patient, every time. Long term care facilities are known for unpleasant odors. But, a great nurse manager or Director of facility won’t tolerate poor care. His/ Her pay depends on it
I’m so sorry you work with idiots! Bless yiu.. 😊
Thank you for caring for your people and training the others.❤
I’m glad to hear that! I remember visiting someone when I was a child, probably around the late 50’s or 60, and the smell made me gag!
@@Tinyteacher1111how old are you? I don't think most 50s 60s smell they usually shower every day and do laundry. Teenager Boys smell the most
@@alexandraday3685 69. I’m not sure what you mean, but I taught high school for 40 years, and the boys’ locker room smelled down the hall!
I think my mom and grandma took me to a hospital where my great-grandmother or someone like that, was. I’m not sure. I was too young, but I sure remember the smell.
An interesting and instructive video for elderly people. But why the background noise? Many old folks have hearing loss and the "music" makes understanding difficult.
I must be deaf. I can’t hear the background music.
@@PM-gx2bpyour deaf. Drove me to turn it off!
As an 80+ year old, I can attest that this advice is solid! I would also suggest getting a higher toilet which is much easier on hips and knees. They are not expensive, but need to be installed by a plumber. But SO worth it!
I didn't have to get a higher toilet. I simply went to Amazon and ordered a thicker seat, which was easily installed (no plumber).
For $45 I bought a thing that you put on top of your toilet bowl and added 4 1/2 inches in height. It’s absolutely wonderful. No plumber needed. There are many different kinds on the Internet.
Instead of changing my whole toilet, I got an extended height sewt, makes a big difference.
Or a riser seat
You can get a plastic elevated seat that you just screw on. It's great, safe and covered by insurance.
Seven years ago I fell down some stairs and broke both ankles. I remembered back when I had a caesarean section and the hospital sent me home with a " Personal Spray Bottle", and was thankful to have one, and a donated commode. Since my home was built in 1927 and doorway to the bathroom was to narrow for my wheelchair. I'm healed now and still use a personal spray bottle
that's an awesome idea Mary! Works like a bidet for those, like me, who can't afford that bathroom commode attachment.
Is that like toilet paper spray?
A little off topic: Fell & Broke both ankles? Ohmygosh. 7 years ago or now: You get Respect. That you thought of your C-section & Spray Bottle---mmm-hmm, THAT pretty much says it all. Thanks for info.
Right across from the toilet is my bathtub which has a wide sill and a vertical grab bar attached to it.
This enables me to use the tub as a bidet. I place a washcloth on the wide sill (for comfort) then sit on the cloth with my "exit" hanging into the tub area.
I use the handheld shower device to clean the area. I pat myself dry then rinse the tub thoroughly.
This arrangement works well for me, takes only a minute... and costs nothing.
PS - another plus is that I can use WARM water if I wish.
Wow! Thank you for this advice. Beats having to get undressed all the way, just to clean one area! Anxious to try that out.
@@oldegoatee8450
I'm able to set my handheld shower to a single stream as well as control the power of that stream. This is an extremely comfortable way to clean my butt without a lot of hassle.
PS - To dry thoroughly I use a small hairdryer on warm setting. Towels only get me "damp dry."
Im 65, have severe full body osteoarthritis.. I had moved in with a friend a couple years ago and discovered she had a simple budet attachment on the toilet. Thats when O discovered the utter joy if bidetsand the cleansing ability. I eventually moved out a couple years later . I bought a portable bidet. I niw live in my mini van and depend on wet wipes,that bidet, And fast food bathrooms for alot of my hygiene.
Yes!! Good for you😄
Sad
Susan, it's got to be difficult ambulating in that mini van in your condition. And fast food restaurant bathrooms are nasty with germs. I'm 61, have OA bone/on/bone hips w/severe muscle atrophy, so I can empathize. I wish you all the best girlfriend🥹🙏🏼
Wow! You’re brave!
I wish they had an agency where they could hook up single older people with each other to share houses!
I'm 59 and I don't think I could survive living in my van. If you really don't have any assets but your van perhaps this channel can refer you to some place that can help you.
This is an embarrassing subject for a lot of people at any age. As a nurse, I've seen this over & over. Thank you for sharing this information! 😊
Install a Bidet - you will thank yourself. Best thing as you age for helping you stay clean and fresh. It has been a major blessing for me as I take care of my 94 year old FIL.
The answer, won't go without ever again best thing I've bought!! Mine has a dryer too
We have one in our en suite and also a bum gun in the other toilet which my husband uses. We had an Asian lady own the unit before we bought it and she installed the hygiene devices.
@@tamkid70 yes, mine has a dryer as well, heated seat and temperature from hot to cold. All the bells and whistles!
That’s what one of my boyfriends says. I’m 69, and he’s 67.
@@amyboleszny543I have to look up bum gun!
I think softer is harder to clean than harder! Anyway I’m so glad I have a bidet.
Yeah, I think he got that backwards. 🥴
Bidets and shower heads don't wipe, so some mess will still be left behind. They are also hard to aim accurately, more so if you have health issues. They will also get you and your immediate surroundings wet. I've tried the toilet paper wands, and the paper comes out before you can do a good job of wiping yourself. They also didn't reduce the strain on my bad back and bad knees. I use baby wipes, which work great! Although I haven't tried it, a moistened washcloth with just a little bit of very mild soap will also work. Baby soap or a natural type of adult soap would be best. The washcloths will need a container for dirty ones until they can be washed, and it will take a couple of minutes to prep it for use. Baby wipes can be used right out of the pack, and can be thrown away when you are done using them. Just remember, never flush them, even if the package says you can. Those ones don't really fall apart well enough in the toilet to avoid clogging the plumbing., so better safe than sorry.
Very helpful information for anyone that has a sudden on set of disability. Some of these options can benefit women during pregnancy. I am a care giver, and one of my clients is morbidly obese and struggled with cleaning himself after a bowl movement. We opted for the shower wand. Had grab bars mounted in his shower, and purchased a bariatric shower chair. Hi uses the chair to stabilize himself while rinsing off. As to the first comment about ‘water alone isn’t good enough’ there is some truth to it, but not to that degree. The difficulty in removing feces because it’s stuck to their skin, comes not with people that defecate in the toilet, then use water alone, but this pertains mostly to patients that are wearing adult diapers. If the feces is stuck to the skin, it’s because it’s been there, most likely while the patient is in bed, laying on it, or sitting in it. If it’s there for a little while, just like a baby, it’s going to take wiping and cleansers.
I am grateful videos like this exist. Sometimes when trying to convince a patient to try something different, and they are skeptical, I validate the idea by sharing UA-cam videos, this one will be very helpful. I find it helps them realize that this isn’t weird, they aren’t the only one experiencing this issue, it’s normal, and nothing to be embarrassed about.
Thanks for your validation and kind words. This is an unfortunate but necessary part of life for many disabled people and older adults. So, the best thing to do is find a viable, workable solution like you and your client did!
I never thought there would be videos on this, but now I find it interesting what people do, and the care they take.
I'm a couple of month past the age of 75, and have had converstation with other slightly older and slightly younger. Whom have the same issue most elder have when it comes to cleaning themselves after going potty, which mean's more directly, going number two. Going number two, envolve's muscle's in which the elderly and sometime considerably younger have less control over. Even when their own body and not their mind is in control of the muscle. Such as the sphinter muscel's and there more than one envolved in the release of waste other than urine.
After getting ones self as clean as possible while sitting on the John. An elderly sphinter doesn't operate as sufficent as a considerably younger person or as it did when I was younger. Thus after a few minutes of standing and going about one's other bussiness they may get or be envolved in. The sphinter not operating as it did when one was younger, cause what is referred to as skid mark's in one's underwear; Sometime more than other's.
The only remedy was taught to me by one who had been doing it for more than a decade. I started doing as he instructed me, and to this day, which is some 5 year's since the first time. Have no more issue's with skid marks in my underware. Unlike when I was young, were as I could simply sit, get it done, wipe sufficently and get back up and carry on as if nothing happened in just a few minute's. It generally take a elderly person a bit to several bit's longer. Thus in the additional time I have now when using the John for the purpose of releasing number two. I simply take two sheet's of toilet paper still stuck together thus making one longer piece, fold it at the crease in two. Take the bottom 1/4 and fold it upward's towards the middle, and then the top 1/4 and folding it down to the middle, basically touching the other 1/4 in the center; Than folding at the center both in half again ending up with basicall what would appear to be that simular to a tampon, without the string. Placeing it directly over my annus while my butt cheek's are slightly apart, allow;s it to stay as long as I need it to. Sometime hour's go by before I rememeber it's ok now to remove it. And after such, need to wipe the area again of any residual's and there will alway's be residual's. that happened to leak from my old antiquatied sphinter muscle, which then cause's no more skid mark's.
Though I do think of when the time come's and I'm declared dead, there are going to be those that wonder, what the hell is that covering his rectum. But then I'll be dead, and thus no way to be embarassed as do the skid mark's do if and when not doing what I've been doing to avoid them.
Some may think this is TMI, but I love it! Whatever it takes, right? A little secret...I do basically the same thing (although much less exacting) in the summertime. I CANNOT stand the feeling of sweat running into my backside 😅
A few folds of toilet paper or approx 2" of paper towel does the trick every time.
All I can say is don't knock before you've tried it 😀
I use 3 sheets of toilet paper hooked together and folded. I usually have a large stack of the folded ones right next to me. Since I am in an older condo, and cognizant of the older plumbing, I typically flush after 4 wipes.
😊
Accident or debilitating illness can make this you, too. Thank you. 🙏
This is a really informative and caring video to put out. Nice.
I bought a bidet for $100 and installed it myself. BTW, I’m a 76 yo female.
You go, girl!
Thank you for discussing this subject
There are inexpensive bidet attachments without all the bells and whistles such as BioBidet’s, some for less than 50 bucks. No electricity nor warm water. Can be installed without plumber, but we hired one anyway. They get the job done. Have been using one since before the pandemic when a big warehouse store had them online for $39. I can recommend. * In the past I used toileting tongs (simply like the old fashioned all metal hot dog tongs but the handles of mine were coated with yellow). If going this route be sure household members and attendants know what these are and not to put them in the kitchen.
I have a strange question. How did you hook up the water? Is it hooked up or the water back of the toilet?
I keep a bottle of witch hazel next to the toilet to moisten folded toilet paper before wiping. Clean, cool, soft, flushable.
Good idea and helpful with hemorrhoids as well.
@@oldegoatee8450 Exactly🤭
Very good idea!!
We have 2 bidets. They spray warm water-and temperature is adjustable. We spray soap water in a plastic bottle . They are awesome.
I wish my bidet had warm water. My bathroom isn’t installation friendly. But, I’ve gotten use to the cold water. I still love it especially after back surgery.
@@letabranch7459 It's kinda amazing how quickly one can get used to the cold water. That was a concern of mine but it didn't take long at all.
My bidet was only about $60, and i installed it myself with a broken thumb. It fits right on the rim, under the seat. It has temperature control and cleans the "undercarriage' so thoroughly! I dry with baby washcloths, which go into their own dedicated waste bin for weekly washing.
Thanks for sharing how beneficial and easy bidets can be!
Thank you, I love the baby washcloths to dry with - totally eliminate toilet paper!
What brand did you get? I would like one for my elderly mom. Thanks.
Having Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I long ago learned to use washcloths after toilet. This came in handy during the 2020 Toilet Paper Shortage. I don't find it necessary to have an airtight receptacle. In fact. leaving them open to the air lets the cloths dry somewhat, making the preventing stink from developing.
Great tips, but I would add that the open front toilet seat allows for better access of certain hygiene tasks, too. 👍
Never thought of that, but I have both! Thanks!
Especially if you use an elevated portable seat for height! Having more open in front and back is a game changer!
We got an Omega toilet seat. Actually you keep your old toilet seat and the Omega is a thin hose that fits underneath the seat. It hooks into the shutoff valve by the toilet. It comes with a dial to squirt the water. We can use it in the apartment, no plumbing issues.
You buy an add on bidet for less than $100 called “Tushy”. I love ours as it does the job for disabled folks. It’s worth every penny and easy to install.
I have the Luxe 320 bidet. So easy to install! I can't believe how clean it leaves you!
thanks for the tip! I'll look into it😊
How do you dry yourself?
@@virginiacheuvront2766 mine has a blow dry function.
You do not have to be old or disabled to use possibly a cleaner way to clean after toileting. The use of water helps ensure all soiling is removed.
Indeed. It simply makes sense.
Hi I have some tips. As I have suffered with IBS for almost 40 years I tried everything to help and yes wet wipes do help but are phenomenally bad for the environment.
I just wet my toilet paper initially so it is semi saturated. I use 2-3 sheets each time until I can see the paper becoming less dirty with faeces. Sometimes it takes many attempts to clean myself up adequately but this is far easier than having a huge pile of dirty wet wipes or cotton cloths to deal with. You can flush the toilet paper regularly whilst you’re cleaning yourself so you don’t clog up the plumbing!
Also I find if I have a particularly sore anus then I use some sudocrem on the toilet paper as it soothes the butt hole from the rubbing to get it clean.
Please try these simple and cheap alternatives to using wet wipes if you can. It helps save the planet and also won’t cost you as much.
I do exactly the same. My toilet is right next door to my bath so it's easy to moisten the tissue without having to get up.
I do the same with the addition of a couple pumps (foaming dispenser) of water diluted with a few drops (Just a FEW in the dispenser) of feminine wash soap on a damp bit of toilet paper. I then gently pat dry with a few squares of dry tissue. I find this really helps prevent musty smells as well.
You're a genious!!! This is such a great and practicle idea. Thank you so much. I can even do this when away from home.
I said in an earlier comment that I make toilet paper sprays and put them on the backs of my toilets.
@@Tinyteacher1111 Can you give instructions, or the source of the recipe to make? Thank you.
Mu tip....fill an old washing up liquid bottle with water and use to help wash clean after wiping. I keep a small bar of soap handy and a stack of flannels to dry, my toilet is next to sink so can easily fill my bottle.
I stopped getting fissures when I got bidet. $70 bidet toilet seat with soft close for the win.
I have a My Buddy toilet Tissue wand works well for me. I have short arms and have 4 lowest vertebrae are fused together. I have learned how to use My Buddy. It took a bit to learn just how much to use and I am getting better at it and it uses less toilet paper too.
I bought a Bidet from Amazon cost £26 and it is the best thing ever and it as come down to £16 pounds I saw recently called happy Bums easy to install my Builder said as I was having my bath room renovated I love it
Is it cold water ? I don’t think I could use one unless it has hot & cold to blend to warm.
Blazefairchild, the hand held bidets are great, they hook to the sink faucet so it can be warm water, and it can be switched off so the sink can still be used.
For water conscious folks: It takes 37 gallons of water to make one roll of toilet paper.
Bidets are better hygiene and less water. Also.... butt sweat is the smelliest part of your body. You get to clean all with a bidet. Much better.
Personally, I used 'TP until covid hit. I had one roll of TP. Went to 3 stores, NO TP anywhere. So I bought a simple squirt bottle with a tilted spout as I refused to be forced to pay the price that scalpers wanted. Now I have a rechargeable battery one, its wonderful.
4 years (?) later and the only TP I have is for company. I am glad to know I'm much cleaner without it.
No way! That much water?! Now I feel like I need to get one!
Lume deodorant really works extremely well on all sorts of odors. Wash well then apply. A little goes a long way, so it's not as expensive as it first seems. The cream tube lasts longer than the stick forms in my experience. Mando is the more 'manly' scents, lume has florals, tangerine, coconut, cucumber mint, and unscented.
@@roxiaugustine415 If you have a healthy diet and detox regularly, you do not smell at all
When covid hit and not much toilet paper tone had, I went to the dollar store where there was tons of white serviette napkins. Whole pkg for $1.25. I bought lots! And I always have a dinner napkin as well!
Bidets DO NOT cost $500.00. A Bidet attachment for your existing toilet cost about $30.00. It is easy to install and use
Well, in this case it is not a bidet.
Bidets are life changing. They do such an amazing job. Just had spinal fusion and this thing saved me. Easy peasy and only paid $15 on Amazon. Caught it on sale but normally only like $22
Thanks so much for sharing your personal experience!
I came to say the same thing. Bidets can cost a lot less than $500 and are indeed life changing.
Luv2bbq, good luck on your recovery, I had spinal surgery in Jan.
May I ask what brand you got for that price? I desperately need one but want the cheapest one possible that gets the job done.
Bidet was my answer. It works for me.
I bought a Tushy bidet for under $100. I love it❤
A lidded container with a little bleach in water is the better way for storing used cloths to clean/dry . Storing dry could cause bacteria to spread and permanent stains. I use this method and wash the cloths every 2nd or 3rd day. They are sanitised clean and never have stains
Close to what my mother did for cloth diapers
J
Amazing, Saroandy! Terrific sharing. Continued success. God bless.
It should be mandatory for all nursing homes to have a bidets
Nursing homes r too cheap to get it.
I agree
Other tha , yes nursing homes are for profit. Plumbing is a nightmare in those settings.@@jayaCatLvr-ys5ix
That is why the wheelchairs in nursing have an open hole in the chair, the staff just sprays the persons bottom while they are still setting. It awful, but true.
We have a bidet hose. It can be attached, quickly without the need for a plumber, to the tank of the loo (the hose generally has installation instructions), and it requires no batteries, electricity etc. It's the best thing, we find, because we can wash our bits while still sitting on the loo, and then dry ourselves with only a tiny bit of loo paper. When travelling our outside our home I use a folding plastic pouch, such as those that contain refills for liquid soap, as a portable bidet. It's folded in my pocket, occupying almost no space, at all times and then I unfold it and fill it with water for use. I think that washing one's bits after going to the loo is ideal. It's cleaner, it's gentler on the skin and it uses hardly any loo paper (whose manufacture uses loads of water).
Can you givr a brand name gor you gadget?
Thank you for this information.
Thanks for the video. I got alot of info to pass on to a friend.
I’ve had a Costco bidet since inc they first sold them and used it ever since really cheap less than 100 bucks but had to easily install it myself I really like it.
I saw toilet paper spray and looked it up and made DIY sprays. Even my granddaughter loves it! People ask me to make them for them. Not as great as a bidet, but handy and portable!
The hospital where I worked offered Vaseline intensive care lotion. A thin coat of this on peri area after cleaning, (esp with diarrhea or soft stool) made cleaning this area much easier the next time. It also provided a protective barrier.
Thanks so much! I just discovered you and subscribed, as well as on other social media!
This is a very helpful video. It would seem for the most part the bidet or portable bidet would be the simplest and most efficient way for seniors and the elderly to continue their own hygiene. I wish I had thought of it for my 88 year old mom. She struggled with the bathroom buddy (wand) occasionally, but it did give her some independence, which she was fierce about keeping as long and as much as possible! I think these were some great suggestions!
I must say I did get a bit of a giggle @2:50 where it listed "useful during periods." I realize some women have periods later in life, but for some reason it gave me a laugh! ☺
To store reusable wipes for laundry day, keep a large bowl or bucket with water and vinegar next to the toilet.
Very useful video,explains well
Thanks a lot
❤ Thank you very good information to know as I am getting older.
You are so welcome!
Very useful straightforward information. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Some physical therapists recommend trying a dedicated (only used in bathroom) pair of silicone-tipped culinary tongs to hold and reach with TP. This works for some people.
Not a bad idea!
I use a long pair of locking silicone tongs at home and carry a 7 “ one in my purse for when I’m away from home. Was a game changer for me
I installed a bidet attachment to my existing toilet. No warm water connection needed, as the water is not that cold until it has been running a bit. We use just a small bit of TP to dry off the water. I’ve found that having to use a regular toilet when outside the home is now annoying. I wish I had done this sooner, but wasn’t aware that you could add it to an existing one. Do get the dual nozzle one tho, as it is more effective for women after a number 1
Yes! We installed a bidet hose on our loo. Going to a public loo that has no undercarriage-washing possibilities is tiresome. We use those pouches in which refills for liquid soap, cream etc (it could be washing-up liquid, shower soap, laundry soap etc) are often sold. I cut off the top, wash it out, fold it in half and always have it in my pocket. Then when I'm in a loo that has no bidet, I open it, fill it with water and use it for washing after going to the loo. That way, only a tiny amount of paper is necessary for drying afterwards. Whenever we go to Japan where almost every loo is a washlet, I think 'thank heavens: I don't have to fill my loo bottle before queuing up for the loo'.
When I had my kids they sent me home with a special water bottle. And I have even used regular spray bottles. Last year my son bought us a bidet. Love the thing. Getting my husband trained in maintaining it is the hardest part. 😅
Another suggestion is a sinus rinse plastic squeeze bottle. It directs the spray upward when held vertically. I keep one next to my toilet and use from the front.that way I am "wiping" front to back. Buy a two pack at Costco. Neil Med brand. Walgreens has single pack.
Bidet. That’s all anyone of any age ever needs to feel totally clean afterwards! There are simple attachments or, the best of all, bidet toilet seats with remote controls for many functions. For the bidet toilet seats, you will need an electrical outlet in the bathroom near the toilet.
Get a tushy. Best thing we’ve purchased. It attaches easily to your toilet and makes cleaning after yourself and washing a breeze.
In Asia a butt washer is typical. It's the same item used at kitchen sinks to rinse off dishes. It's easy to install/ cheap/ and efficient.
Bidets that are easily attached to your existing toilet are sold inexpensively at Costco. Starting at about $150.00. It also great after labor and delivery of a baby. 👍 😉
I bought a very small, flip top trash can with a box of liners. When it becomes full, just tie the pull strings and drop the bag in the outside trash can. It beats a one-ton ball of wipes such as clogged up the sewer in England!
Thank you!🤒
Well done thank you ,!,
Our pleasure!
This person suffereg wit IBS FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS..I DO IT YOUR WAY FOR MANY YEARS..THE BEST AND CHEAP AS YOU SAY..
👍👍Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️
Nothing but the shower would work for me. Sounds fine but how many showers with getting in and out of a slippery tub or shower (must get shower bench), wash, pat dry, petroleum jelly or powder can a person do in a day? I can't help anyone because the smell makes me vomit and vomit and vomit. Bidet or hand held shower are a good idea except that in Phoenix the water is so hot for a lot of a year that a separate indoor tank would be required. I like to use empty toilet paper or paper towel (cut in half) tubes held in the proper position to direct feces away from the skin and into a toilet or receptacle. I also trim my pubic hair (NOT WAX). Good luck to us all.
I get a piece of wood say from adopt handle. Wrap toilet paper or rag round one end dip in water stand bend over forward. Place wood behind back wipe forward. Cleans well.
Costco wipes are cheaper and buying no rinse cleansing foam also helps with the wipes. Another alternative to showering is a collapsible sitz bath that sits over the toilet and has holes for the water to drain towards the back and into the toilet. I like buying an Epsom salt for hemmroids to add to the bath and take my entire pants and socks off and have a bath towel ready. Tudca is also helpful for constipation and digestive issues.
Kleenx tissues work well. A layer of three, no folding required so minimizes the risk of contamination as with TP,minimizing the risk of infection. Just more expensive than TP.
I hear that even tissues do not disintegrate like toilet paper does and may not be suitable for flushing.
You can test this by placing a few clean tissues in a bowl of water to see if they break up into pieces or stay in one sheet which can be caught up inside the plumbing pipes, and build up to a blockage eventually. Might be worth checking up on.
If you’re in Long Term Care and ring the bell for an aide, good luck! My Dad got out of bed and fell! He died 3 weeks after, guess he doesn’t have to be in pain anymore!!
Guarding against residents falling while trying to get to the bathroom is an ongoing concern in hospitals and residential facilities. The need to go can come up suddenly ! The staff member is in the bathroom with another resident and cannot come at a moment’s notice. Or, a resident is having an emergency that has all the staff trying to manage the situation. There is never going to be enough staff to assist all residents to the bathroom at the same time, especially at night. I could offer a dozen scenarios on this subject. Elderly people also fall at home when attempting to get to the bathroom and safely on and off the toilet, especially at night. Recently, I met an injured lady at physical therapy who had gotten up at night to use the toilet. She has no memory of what happened, but she ended up in her cat’s kitty litter box! She said she hit her head and shoulder on the wall and tub. Yes, she did relieve herself right there in the kitty litter box. The dear lady was injured but lived to tell her story.
so very sorry for the loss of your dad, Linda. God bless you.
Exactly, been there.
A $1.00 bamboo back scratcher, cut to length, works for me with tissue wrapped on curved end which removes easily. It is portable about 6 to 8 inches long.
I'm not exactly skinny but I can manage to stand on one foot with the other foot up on the toilet. (This requires something to lean on like a vanity or a wall or whatever can be arranged). This position allows access from behind (pun intended). So I WET a piece of Viva Signature Wipe and continue to fold and wipe until it comes out clean . . . tossing the used paper in a plastic bag for disposal with the regular trash. Wash hands when done.
Basically, get the bidet adapter for your current toilet. I did. Now I need longer seat bolts and a thicker stopper under the toilet seat, so the seat won't break due to its elevation because of the insert of the bidet attachment. Off to the store...
Every brand's installation is different but you are doing the right thing to make sure there you have a stable connection. I have personally used and recommend the Bemis bidet attachments. They have a low profile mounting system and some even work with raised toilet seats. Learn more about them here: www.grayingwithgrace.com/best-bidet-for-elderly/
Thank you for the tips. This video was very helpful.
TIP
I make family wipes for urine. I cut 8x8 inch squares from older soft shirts, t-shirts, and undershirts. I just throw in with the wash. I have very sensitive skin so these are so much better and free.
Also, I put a tiny dab of Organic Coconut Oil in Vagina and Rectom. It really cuts down on yeast infections and dryness. Plus it helps prevent rectum irritation. (I do this daily after I shower and dry off thoroughly)
Thanks for sharing your tips !
Going to the bathroom as a senior is going to be a long excruciating process in between doing one or both and cleaning up after. It’s easier to just take a full shower after each process and pray not to go more than once daily before showering..it needs lots of planning!
This is beautiful, but I wish you would have left a description of what country or religion and the period of time was from. I have been asked to make a wedding dress for a friends new daughter-in-law who is from Morocco. She would like a traditional Burber dress.
Wrong video😂😂😂😂😂
I am almost 70, and happy that I still have the flexibility and stamina of a much younger person. However, for number two, I use moistened eco and no fragrance wipes because they do a better job. Also since changing my diet to a more carnivore and almost eliminating all excess carbs/sugars things coming out from my body do not leave too much of a trace, which makes it a lot easier and less expensive. I use less toilet paper and mostly to lightly pat dry after pee. While I wash my hands I let things air dry for a couple of minutes, which is better for that sensitive skin. This works for my present situation; however, always check with dr for dietary changes. I do not have a tendency to become constipated and I drink plenty of water. The majority of elderly avoid drinking water; this is my experience as a nurse. I have been thinking on a bidet for a while too. I may need one in the future, but so far so good on that department. Good advice given!
The toilet tissue wand at 4:34 sucks big time. I got it in the mail tried several times to use it and it was horrible. I believe it cost me less than 10 bucks and I threw it away. But I’ve been using one that’s a lot easier for the last 20 years. It’s hard to find on the Internet. I’ve dropped it many times and it has not broken or bent. It’s white metal and it has plastic on the tip of it where you wrap the toilet paper. I just don’t know the specific name of it. A nurse gave it to me from the hospital many years ago.
Doesn’t the water send E. coli to the front . I was taught you must wipe,front to back?
I’ve actually thought that myself. If we had a bidet I would probably use toilet paper first and then the bidet. I can’t imagine using a bidet without wiping first. 😬
Very good question.
I've never seen or used a bidet or bidet attachment, but I assumed you inserted from the front so the water is going from front to back.
Hopefully someone will comment & tell us how its done LoL 🤭
Use small amount toilet paper first, then wash from the back, then do a second wash from the front. Only takes a few seconds and your question is solved.
Yes for women...it does cause a problem with uti's....u must wash from the front...Back! I found out the hard way!
@@marieliza858 With a hand-held bidet hose, you can control the direction in which the water travels. That's why I prefer them to the stationary spray attachments.
I cant reach all the way down there so I installed a bidet adapter to both my toilets but they dont remove it all so I follow up w a silicone bottle brush dipped in the clean water of the flushed toilet-then swish the brush to rinse. Works great. HOWEVER, when I am away
from home...
!
Oh heavens, I have a silicone bottle brush. You may have hit on something here!!
Traveling is a problem! You can get disposable periwash bottles to carry with you when traveling that might be helpful. They are made of a soft plastic and you fill them then squeeze the water through a small hole so that it comes out with some pressure.
Bidets work
I do wish someone would invent something for over weight elderly people. I have a hard time reaching to clean the bowel movement area.
Sorry to hear about your trouble! Are none of these methods suitable? Have you considered a bidet?
Vickie, not to intrude, but gently I ask if you have ever tried the keto diet ? I was heavy, but did not choose keto so that I could lose weight ! I chose it to help with my diseases. It didn’t take long, though, before I noticed my weight just sliding off ! I eat like a doggone lumberjack, so I certainly wasn’t skimping on my meals. Just thought I would toss this in, in case you are interested.
Bidet for 500$ ? Lord, mine was less than 300 , made by Kohler and I ordered it on Amazon. I can have variations in warm water, dryer, heated seat, and couple other options. I’m happy with mine. I used a plumber. I needed a plumber for some other issue so the cost wasn’t bad. but a family member or friend that can get down on the floor can install it.
I keep plastic sandwich bags to dispose of wipes. The wipes can't be flushed even if the container says they can.
Peri Bottles? I haven't heard of them since I had my daughter 55 years ago. We had two. One with soap and water and one with just water for rinsing.
Did she like one better than the other one?
@@charmyers5461 You don't want to know.
'Tucks' is basically 'witch Hazel's. Good call
We don't risk flushing kleenex but discard in waste basket.
Our apartment wont let us install a bidet. Is there a rule in ontario on that
You can get a bidet spray hose (similar to shower spray hose) that attaches to the tap at the side of the toilet. No separate bidet required. A plumber can install a double-use attachment on the tap - one link for the toilet water supply and one for the bidet spray hose.
Great idea.
I used to own some rental property in the US and I allowed tenants to do things like that as long as they left it as it was when they moved in. Bidet attachments are easy to remove should you move. Just unscrew the connection and the seat attachment !
They should have bidets like they do in Europe. Where they have them hooked up.
Sometimes using a portable sitz bath basin that fits over the toilet once the seat is raised can be of some use. It involves filling the basin with warm water and then just sitting in the water for a few minutes, then completing the clean up with some toilet paper or a wet wash cloth. The sitz basin can easily be tipped and drained right into the toilet. It is not for everyone and not as hygienic as a shower with a telephone shower head, but it may work in some instances. It should be noted that it is not always aging that causes problems in the bathroom - people with lower back injuries can also struggle to clean themselves after a bowel movement. Ultimately the best tool is the bidet.
I have heard that, for women, a bidet can accidentally spray fecal matter into the vagina, possibly causing infection. Any thoughts on that? Thank you.
Nalou, Europeans have been using bidets sense the 1950s or more, they even have public ones.
I bought a bidet on Amazon. $150.. easy installation with no plumber needed.
I find a spray bottle works just as well
3,000 years ago when I was 25 or so, and dinosaurs roamed, I went to Italy, 1st time. ' Foreigners' say 'toilet' like it's a real world place.You ask where the toilet is (!). 'Rest room', 'lavatory', men's or women's room, even bathroom draws a blank. Toilet. OH. They point or tell you--like you have Psychological Issues. Some TOILETS were holes in the ground surrounded by dirt or some paving. When there was an inside bathroom, there were '2 toilets': a toilet and bidet. I'm a fancy pants American--but a toddler had more sense around hygiene. It was hilarious. I finally just interrogated a new friend on What in the World: Myths & Facts? We laughed for days--especially because she was HORRIFIED & utterly MYSTIFIED about US not having them. It DID seem uncivilized once I learned bidets. These are very helpful ideas---I work with younger clients who get (mostly temporary) sports injuries. Being safe & stable is our #1prevention against re-injury. Now? Trying to explain to colleagues from abroad why the US closes or thinks the single unit ADA-type, or gender-free TOILET (single bathroom unit) is suspicious, especially on campuses or in facilities. Sigh.
Vietnamese and Chinese have been using water to clean after poopoo for our lives.
I use the shower hose. I call it hydraulic hygiene. Much better than wiping.
Yes! Me too! It makes the most sense. It's cleaner and requires only a tiny bit of loo paper.
@@Formicola My bum is clean enough to eat off. If only i could reach it.
First, wet wipes burn if shin is broken...including open acne or diaper rash (which includes babies)
second, diaper rash is cause from contact with urine with too much acid in it...I removed much loved apples from my sons diet and his diaper rash was gone the next day!!! My niece removed much loved spaghetti from her daughters diet and her diaper rash was also gone the next day!!! I now tell every body as from my own adult-life experience, DIAPER RASH IS EXTREMELY PAINFUL!!!
I wipe then wash with hot water, soap and a wash cloth when at home. I am 75.
Cleaning in the shower requires a thorough cleaning of the shower stall floor. You better do it too!
Bidets!
Get an electronic bidet seat installed. The seat is WARM. The flushing water is WARM. The drying function takes too long so use some toilet paper to dry off.
So much water