how to keep mom from taking off her Depends - Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Message Board

corkyone · 05-25-2008, 10:12 AM

I've bought larger than needed sizes of protective panties because my mom feels her Depends are "too tight". Half the time she still wiggles out of them half way thru the night and of course then soils the bedding. Any suggestions..I'm too worn out to search the internet for answers.

Martha H · 05-25-2008, 02:07 PM

Try one size smaller, and fasten the tabs so that it sits under her belly button, not higher. Low slung, so it does not pinch at the waist, but tight at both sides so nothing leaks. If she can wiggle out of it, it is much too loose. That defeats the purpose. After a while my mom got so used to having it on that she didn't even notice. Good luck!

Martha

corkyone · 05-25-2008, 03:13 PM

Thank you..I wouldn't of thought of going smaller and having them fit lower..worth a shot ! : )

gemini1961 · 05-25-2008, 03:18 PM

You could also try putting on a pair of long pyjama trousers that tie at the waist. Do the tie up *firmly* and *securely* (double bow etc) that she can't fiddle with and remove as well (hence creating more washing!!).

Do you have a *kylie* on her mattress? This is an overlay that is put over the bottom sheet that covers the patient from waist to knee (approx) and protects the bedding. They can hold up to 5L of urine (I think) there are a few similiar products around, might be worth investigating.

There is a gentleman I know who is perpetually taking his incontinence aids off, so now he has his wrap around pad, covered by boy leg underpants, covered by tie up shorts covered by tracksuit pants that tie at the waist.

Sometimes he still wins *sigh* but there's been a 85% improvement in keeping the dang thing on!

Cheers!

corkyone · 05-25-2008, 06:01 PM

I do use the bed protectors and even with the Depends I'm using on her being larger, they work fine IF she leaves them on.
My mom's 90 and has had dementia for over 8 yrs. but only in the last few weeks has she slipped so quickly after a fall.
Her short term memory has been so poor for years but, in the minute, her reasoning isn't that far off.
She's very sweet but the one thing we do bump heads about is her wearing Depends..a pantie sheild is enough during the day(most the time) but at night, she gets out of her bed to use her bathroom at least two or three times each night..she wets the bedding, if she has taken the Depends off or before she can reach the toilet or just as she reaches it, if they remain on. She insists she has never done that of course. She would fight me tooth and nail if I tied her night pants on too tight, altho all great ideas.
She mainly hates the feel of the Depends being tight around her legs..suppose there are super duper shields to go in her regular undies but just a strip adhesive doesn't secure them well enough..she tries flushing the shields down the toilet : (
A regular feeling pantie, with a security inter panel, is what sounds like it might work. Is there such a thing ?