So my 85 year old grandfather can no longer walk - he spends all day either in bed, or is moved to a chair.
His caregivers (his 85 year old wife and 60 year old daughter) are becoming increasingly desperate and stressed dealing with him. He takes water tablets and also has a prostate issue so is FREQUENTLY needing to urinate - he feels the urge to go at least once an hour.
They used to make him wear adult diapers/nappies/pads and would clean him up after but due to how frequently he needs to go, they stopped this.
His current routine is as follows:
1. He shouts that he needs to 'go'
2. He pulls down his diaper/nappy
3. His wife (my grandfather) fetches a bottle, he places 'himself' inside the bottle and urinates
That's what's meant to happen.
However, as he is always sitting when he does this (he cannot stand up to urinate), most of the time his urine ends up spraying upwards, as he has difficulty "aiming". This means he nearly always ends up urinating over himself and on the chair under him and again needs cleaning up.
They have tried different bottles with different shaped openings, no luck.
How can they fix this?
How can he urinate whilst sitting down without causing a mess/spilling/spraying urine? Is there a particular device or a bottle with a better design he could use.
Please do not suggest catheters or similar as this is not feasible for them.
Thanks
Instead of disposable garments, use real cotton terry hand towels.
The soiled item can be rinsed out, or not, and placed in a covered receptacle. Since it seems there will be several dozen per day, several times a day they can be laundered.
Place the washer, dryer nearby, perhaps near a bathroom, or in a closet.. Although the washers are meant to be portable, they can be installed much like a dishwasher.
You can always have a supply of fresh, clean cloths, comfortable for the gentleman and doable for the caregiver.
Ask if the diuretic can be reduced to perhaps every other day.
Well, it’s a possibility anyway
Two unpaid family caregivers orbiting around his all-day, everyday potty routine is senseless, unproductive and unsustainable. This will burn them out.
Why is he on a diuretic? If it's not prescribed by a doctor I would take him off of it. You should talk to his urologist about his prostate issue and sense of urgency, there may be medications to deal with this.
It's all really just hit or miss.
Who is “ we” are paying ? Are you spending your own money for Dad’s care ? I hope not , you need your own money . Adult children , if possible should not use their own money .
If your Dad is in the US. Depending on Dad’s financial situation and care needs, he may be eligible for Medicaid to pay for his care in a facility . Have you looked into Medicaid , rather than you going broke ?
Does Dad have a house to sell to pay for his care ?
And suggesting placement in a facility in cases where the caregiver is worn out can be helpful . Many caregivers ( especially elderly spouses ) die before the person they are caring for . Then the care recipient ends up in a facility anyway , and without their deceased ( caregiver ) spouse to be their advocate .
I believe the elderly bedbound man in this thread may not be in the US . I do not know what his financial situation for care is in another country.