I cant list all the problems I am having getting used to putting mom on the bed pan. Two months ago she had a stroke on the right side of her brain, making the left leg very weak and she is unable to make it to the bedside commode yet.We are working with PT to get her to use her strong right side, but that is in the future. Poor mom must put up with me until then and I continue to spill the bed pan, or cannot seem to place it correctly under her. Please if you have any pointers feel free to send me the info. Currently we are using the bed pan that is shaped like the cowboy hat, and slprinkled with corn startch to slide in and out better. Is there an exact science to this ? Pls help !
If the head of the bed can be raised...great!
If the head of the bed cannot be raised...begin by having or helping Mom bend the knee of the 'good side' and use her 'good hand' to help roll her over...while she is still lying flat.
You can also push gently on the 'good knee' and gravity will take over and Mom will roll.
While you have her now in what is called a "side-lying position"....place the opening of the bedpan against Mom's back side...against her buttocks...with the shortest end of the pan facing toward her head and the fatter end of the pan facing toward her feet.
You may need to 'jiggle the pan' to get it down into the mattress...
Now...hold Mom's 'good knee' and start to roll her toward you.
You can at this point...move to the other side of the bed and pull the sheets under her toward you and she will glide onto the pan.
This takes a bit of practice...but I bet after 2 or 3 times...you'll be a pro!!!
There are female urinals available which do take some practice but of course you still have to use the pan for the poop. I would caution against the use of an indwelling catheter in this circumstance. No need to run extra risk of UTIs.
mom should not be spending all her time in bed if the ultimate goal is rehabilitation.Can you request a hoyer lift to get her up into a chair or wheelchair. Ask the PT about that as you need help and practice. I am assuming you have no nursing training and there is a lot to learn but so far you are doing well and asking all the right questions
At some point would adult diapers work better than a bedpan?
Temporarily?
Getting into a good side-lying position is important, in order to place the bedpan in the proper location.
If there are bedrails on the bed, then maybe your mother can also help get into and hold the sidelying position as well so you can place the bedpan properly.
Ultimately -- if she can improve with the PT, this will help - either by helping her learn to sit and transfer to a commode, or at the very least move better to allow for a better rolling in bed to use the bedpan.
I then roll, the patient onto one side, place the pan against the patient's sit-upoon and roll patient and bed pan back together..
When the pastien has finished, I slide the pan out fromunder, and then roo the patient to cleanse and massage the rear to ensure that all waste is removed and that circulation is stimulated.
Empty bedpan, sterilise, and await next adventure.
For urination, use either male or female urinal as appropriate, making sure that the vessel is not tipped when retrieving.
Practice makes perfect, and the patient will not become distressed. Always explain what you are going to do and why **before** you commence the procedure.
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