Need advice (quickly): Incontinent Grandma

[Trekkie]

OK, there's a chance that I'll be taking my mother to Disney, next week, for two days or so. The problem is that Mom doesn't control her bladder all that well.

Frankly, I've become pretty good at managing her. (I've been her sole caregiver for the last three years.) I think I can manage things pretty well.

The problem is overnight. She literally doesn't even wake up when she wets herself, and the bed.

Here at home, I've got things covered. I've got absorbent pads that I put under the bottom sheet. She wets herself, and she gets her clothes, and the bottom sheet, wet. But nothing else. The mattress, for example, stays dry.

I get her up in the morning, strip the sheet and the now-wet absorbent pad, put new sheet and pad on the bed, wash the old sheet.

What I'm contemplating is trying to get a room at BLT. Something with a washer-dryer in the room. That way I can get up in the morning, and do the same change the linen routine I do at home. Bring my own sheets for the bed. Launder them every time they get wet.

I'd really appreciate advice. Is this a dumb idea? Is there a better way to do things? Does Disney actually have a special-needs way of dealing with this problem?

I need advice, and I need it quick, since this opportunity is only a bit over a week away.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think DVC would be the best option for you because you could wash if you need to.
You can request extra sheets and mattress protector ( I think it say rubber sheets on the special needs information) from DVC or the other resorts. That would save you having to do some wash.
Also, if she is consistently wet, you might want to look into disposable incontinence pads for the bed, at least for your trip.
They are thin sheets, usually about 30 by 40 inches, but can be different sizes You can find them easily is pharmacies or even the pharmacy department of stores like Walmart. They are absorbent paper with a plastic bottom to protect the bed. You could put it under the bottom sheet ( as it sounds like you do at home) or put it over the bottom sheet. The advantage of the waterproof pad being on top of the top sheet is that it will protect the bottom she from getting wet. If she wets, you may have to change only the disposable pad and her underwear.

 

[Eeyore5]

Have you tried a product like depends? Then you don't have to worry about the sheet getting wet. It worked well for my grandma. Not sure if it works for everyone.

 

[SueM in MN]

Have you tried a product like depends? Then you don't have to worry about the sheet getting wet. It worked well for my grandma. Not sure if it works for everyone.

I was assuming she was getting the sheets wet despite using Depends, but you may be correct that she is not.
(It is possible to get wet enough even with Depends to leak through, which was what I assumed happened).

I would advise doing what I wrote, plus Depends as Eeyore5 wrote.

 

[Trekkie]

I haven't been using Depends on her, here in Gainesville, because I don't think they'd save me any work. Every time she wets herself, I'd still have to get her to the toilet clean her up, and pull off and replace her clothes. The only difference would be that maybe I could put the same clothes back on her.

OTOH, while Depends don't save ME any work, they do keep other people from noticing the problem. I'm certainly planning on using them on her, when we're at Disney, so that we don't ruin anybody ELSE'S vacation.

That said, though, I doubt that they would keep her bed (or clothes) dry all night long. I'm operating on the assumption that she'll be wet in the morning. (If I'm wrong, then that's fine with me.)

 

[Bete]

God bless she will be 90 pretty soon. I've done this for a while and my best advice for trips is to use everything disposable.

If you are flying these supplies can be put in luggage and it's considered medical; so, you don't pay extra for taking it with you. If you go by car I bring it along and I rather buy everything for the trip in advance then to deal with any shopping of these items once on vacation.

My best advice is to layer your mom at night. There are liners available from companies like Tranquilty and Moliform that are more than just a pad. You can do searches and see what's available. Some liners allow seepage; so, it goes through to another liner/layer or to the diaper, etc.; so, you can build as many layers as you need. These liners are huge and they really work well with diapers. There are diapers that are adjustable with tabs and these are better if you are going to use liners and stack them inside the diaper. You can really tighten the diaper better with tabs then with a pull on style which is somewhat loose all the time. You will probably have to order these liners on internet. There are liners with backing (harder to find) that make them more waterproof, too. You can add additional padding on these liners, as well. I use pads that allow seepage and the others which have waterproofing on the back side. Walgreens carries an adjustable diaper with tabs. By layering you allow for more absorbency and you keep the person dry were it counts. I've even made what I call homemade gutters with liners by rolling them up and paper taping them to the sides to stop leakage. I have found that a combination of products is the only way to go when it gets really bad on this count.

Another trick is to use the disposable bed underpads (bigger size 30 x 40) and wrap it around her diaper and tuck it in everywhere there's an opening. This is like a diaper on top of a diaper. I use some paper tape when I do it this way. These are also called chucks. It prevents most leaks, but I still prefer Moliform liners which don't come cheap. The chucks can be found in many stores.

For the bed buy either a cheap waterproof mattress liner and use it at the resort above the sheet. Then use the disposable underpads on top of this for extra protection and absorption. Another way is to bring a large drum liner plastic garbage bag (55 gallon size) and use it on the bed with the underpads. You have to tuck this bag in on the side for it to stay in place. Shower liners will work, too. Dollars stores have very cheap shower liners and they can be throw aways.

Bring some smaller scented garbage bags to dispose of the wet items each day. Remember to seal these bags. I use disinfectent and febreeze to keep everything smelling good.

If you want more help send me a private message and we will talk more on this topic. Good luck and just remember you are not the only one with this issue.

I want my mom to stay very hydrated; so, I don't put limits on her drinking at home even up to bedtime. She lives with us. Anyway, I do cut back on drinking after 8 pm when on vacation. This helps to keep the flow down through the night.

I stopped doing this , but you can even set an alarm and get her to go potty at night. I found this very disruptive to everyone's sleep; so, I stopped doing it. That's why I layer now and protect the bedding.

 

[peemagg]

You could also take a shower curtain with you to act as a waterproof cover for the matress.

I would also try adult diapers at night too. If you can keep from having to change everything, everyday, it would be for a much less work vacation for both of you. I have even known of some patients using regular baby diapers as liners in thier underwear instead of being in a full adult diaper. This gives a little more protection than regular incontinance pads.

 

[krisnme]

And remember, the resorts are used to children who wet the bed, they know how to wash up and sanitize the bedding. It is probly more embarassing to you than it is a problem to them. Just ask for a bed wetting set up on the linens and they will add a plastic sheet, leave extra sheets and blankets and a plastic bag for your wet things. Good luck!

 

[peemagg]

I know the original poster has probably already gone and come back, but maybe this can help some others.

I was doing a seardh online ( for puppy pee-pee pads of all things) and came across these disposable bed pads that were 36x70 with tuck in tabs. I thought those would be great for travel especially since one or two would cover the whole bed. I am even half tempted to get them for my puppies, which it would cover almost the whole area that I corral them in.

If your interested, just do a search for disposable bed pads, and you will find several sites that carry them.

 

[mellers]

OK, there's a chance that I'll be taking my mother to Disney, next week, for two days or so. The problem is that Mom doesn't control her bladder all that well.

Frankly, I've become pretty good at managing her. (I've been her sole caregiver for the last three years.) I think I can manage things pretty well.

The problem is overnight. She literally doesn't even wake up when she wets herself, and the bed.

Here at home, I've got things covered. I've got absorbent pads that I put under the bottom sheet. She wets herself, and she gets her clothes, and the bottom sheet, wet. But nothing else. The mattress, for example, stays dry.

I get her up in the morning, strip the sheet and the now-wet absorbent pad, put new sheet and pad on the bed, wash the old sheet.

What I'm contemplating is trying to get a room at BLT. Something with a washer-dryer in the room. That way I can get up in the morning, and do the same change the linen routine I do at home. Bring my own sheets for the bed. Launder them every time they get wet.

I'd really appreciate advice. Is this a dumb idea? Is there a better way to do things? Does Disney actually have a special-needs way of dealing with this problem?

I need advice, and I need it quick, since this opportunity is only a bit over a week away.

We have a similar problem to deal with in our family, but Depends (overnight strength) usually solves it. If that won't work, you might try a delivery service of incontinence pads to the hotel. Another thing that might be worth doing is calling the concierge at your hotel--we've managed to get emergency prescriptions, last minute bottles of distilled water for CPAPs, and all manner of medical equipment we needed in this way.