Many UTI's

[buckett51]

Sorry to that your Mom is suffering so. But I believe I would find another NH for her.
I have suffered all my life w/UTI's,and I have had every test known to man and there is only one answer I get and that is some women just have alot of them and for no reason. But I have reduced them alot by taking Macrobid 100mg, each day. So you can do something about it. If your Dr. won't agree with you find one that will.
Good Luck

[savv55]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I should add a bit more history for my Mom. She is considered "mildly cognizant impaired", still toilets herself and is left to her own resources for the most part. I doubt she is able to clean herself properly after a bowel movement so this may be adding to her troubles. She is in one of the 'best' government/veteran's funded nursing homes in the country as she is a war veteran herself. However, the medical system in Canada is quite a mess, underfunded, understaffed and not enough qualified nursing staff in the homes. The home itself is really very nice and unless we went to private care we would be unable to get anything better. Private care is not possible as she has very limited financial means.

I will meet with her doctor next week to discuss preventative measures, both alternative medicine, over the counter options, and traditional treatments, and as also suggested perhaps a daily antibiotic. I will also ask the staff if they could assist in ensuring she is properly cleaned daily to keep the urethra area as clean as possible - but expect they will do this hit and miss.

On a lighter note, I called my Mom tonight to see how she is doing. She said "did I tell you a had a bladder infection"? I had just spent two days with her talking of little else, getting her to drink water and cranberry juice, and making a complete nuisance of myself in the NH trying to get something done. Since then I've been on the internet and consulted with all of you. I just repled "yes, Mom you did mention it". My life has been nothing but about her and my Dad (who recently passed away). She has no idea!

Shirley

[Martha H]

Before my Mom was in a NH, while she was with me and taking care of her own toileting needs she had one bladder infection after another. It was clear to me that she was not cleaning herself properly, indeed, sometimes she smelled bad becasue she had forgotten to wipe.

The transition to NH and diapers brought about LESS UTIs since she was properly cleaned. It is poosible to get NH Aides to look after her toileting needs - you just have to put more pressure on them and reward them with thanks and little gifts. Your Mom might resent such help - believing that she can do a good job of it herself. It is a very tricky subject. My Mom and I were often both in tears when I tried to get her to wash herself thoroughly, since she was sure she had already done so, and I was being unreasonable.

Good luck - AD is a horrible disease.

Love,
Martha

[ibake&pray]

I just fought this with my mother when we were home the first of the month in Minnesota. They caught the infection quick enough, but the first antibiotic didn't touch it and it wasn't until the labs came back four days later and they changed the antibiotics did Mom start to even stand a chance to recover.

I am a fierce protector of my mother as the staff knows...except for the new nurse who had the gall to inform me "that my mother had a DNR, after all." I was so dumbfounded that I stood with my mouth gaping open. I looked at her and said.."My mother is suffering from a UTI, not a massive heart attack. I certainly expect you to treat her for THAT."

We were having a quarterly care meeting the enxt morning and I brought this up with the supervising staff. Their reaction was the same as mine had been-which was what I had hoped it would be. They were appalled that she acted this way and was treating my mother as such. This same nurse also informed me that I didn't need to call to check on my mother. She would call me if there was anything wrong.

Now I am an only child and the only advocate my parents have so you had better expect to see and hear from me...The staff knows me by voice, face and by name..nad I have a good relationship with 95% of them...until this last UTI..

[angel_bear]

Theres always at least 1 cynical "B***H" in a nursing home, and in the one I work in, it's one of the bosses. The most uncaring, unempathic, selfish egotistical woman I have ever met. Why she picked nursing with her attitude beats us.

I've even had NEW staff who have only been with us just over a week come and ask me if this staff member has a mental issue.

Amazing.... absolutely amazing. And yet, whenever there's been a complaint, there's never been any follow through or disiplinary action. Not once.

Raise your voice a little bit louder. Stand your ground a little bit harder. Let this nurse know your not intimidated by her. If possible, check with other residents family members if they have had issues with her.

I'm sorry to say, but this nurse will let your mother suffer pain by the sounds of things and that's just unthinkable. Her logic is "so? She's gonna die anyway"

Oh it makes me mad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!