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Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
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Is she on any meds? Meds can sometimes cause a strange body odor. You could ask her doctor about it. Is she bathing frequently and thoroughly? If she's obese, bacteria could be growing between rolls of fat. Even if she's not obese, she may have a yeast infection that's causing the odor. Sometimes older people have a hard time bending down to scrub their feet and an odor results. Gross, I know, but it happens. Is it her breath? Maybe she's not brushing her teeth or cleaning her dentures properly. Maybe it's food that's gone bad. Could she have put some kind of food in one of the drawers and forgotten it was there? Urine has a distinctive odor. It doesn't sound like that's what you're describing, but then again, meds and certain foods (asparagus, for one) can cause urine to smell weird.
I always put waterproof liners on the bed and use waterproof padding on top of the sheets (sometimes 2 next to each other). I live in Kansas and near the cows so windows are open depending on which way the wind blows). We moved here a few months ago and the smell is awful! She is 91 and very hard headed. She showers every other day, but I always wear surgical gloves and sometimes a mask when I have to clean messes. I tell her it is to protect her. I use baking soda with detergent for washes. I do not let laundry build up, sometimes I have a large soaking bucket until I do her laundry. I do use the lavender body wash and powder. She likes the smell. I put a little powder when changing her sheets. I use lotion on her legs and arms and still apply deodorant daily. She will not wear her dentures but I make her brush her gums with toothpaste and diluted mouthwash. Keeping her hair short keeps it easy for her and me. I like blowing her hair dry to add to the beauty day. She does not like to go out, so I do her nails and toes and apply clear polish. Once in awhile when visitors are coming I apply a little lipstick. I do ask her if she smells anything unpleasant and sometimes she says maybe she needs another shower. Try to get them involved. As stated above, do make sure there isn't anything medical. She does go to the doctors about every other month. I make sure she drinks plenty of fluids and keep track of her elimination to intake ratio. I take her to the restroom trying to restore some dignity when I can. Their is non alcohol wipes and good cleansing sprays to help keep that area clean. Do make sure they are dry before using another depends. Letting the area air out (sorry for the bluntness), not only feels good, but helps avoid bacteria from forming..but do use a liner underneath them. It is very difficult, time consuming but remember you are their angel! Keeping dignity with love is so important. Try to instill this with whoever takes care of them during your time off! You definitely need time for yourself, friends and your significant other!
Most likely a hygiene issue as stated earlier. I have to make sure mom brushes her teeth and change depends every day. If forget she will just use the same poop encrusted underwear until I make her change. I send her to adult day care (part of a hospital) everyday where they bath her twice a week since I know she does not do that well. At the day care they noticed a smell from her urine and it was cloudy. So I took her to the Dr. and got THAT cleaned up.I installed a bio-bidet so it will "clean" her if you will. That was a great idea! I also take her to get a mani-pedi every 2 weeks or so. Why? because her toe nails need cleaning and a year ago I found that she has an infection there too and smelled (more dr visits) plus the mani-pedi for 90 minutes on a Saturday is cheap day care too! I am free to do some things. Anyway...there are a lot of things that can cause an odor an you just have to eliminate possibilities. Good luck.
the product Zero Odor is a fabulous product, when I used to smoke, I used it on my self, not skin but clothes I was wearing and hair, and it is great for fabric of any kind. Whoopie Goldburg used to smoke, and she said this is the only prouduct she has ever tried eliminamte all odors from her house, clothes, linens , car etc...you can get it online. I dont have to use it more because I dont smoke..but that an idea. I do agree with the above post, I myself believe it will probably continue to smell that a way..just cause..you know what I mean? but Zero Odor does not have ANY smell itself it does not put off a smell. Also, I would do this, Put Dryer sheets in the drawers and also lay them out so one can get to them, Like Bounty or Bounce. that is what I would do
So very glad that I came across this problem.......I absolutely will NOT let anyone in my house other than us. I think it stinks so bad. My husband works away during the week and when he comes home, he doesn't smell anything out of the way, but I sure do. I have bought every kind of air freshner ever made. I use vinegar, lysol, febreeze, natural odor eliminator and anything else I can get my hands on. The above named 2 products will definitely be purchased, for sure.......All I get done is change depends poop and pee both, she is totally incontinent both ways, then I scrub her and then the bed. I totally have this smell embedded in my nose and it won't go away. Usually, I have to go somewhere else to eat and when I go to clean up messes, I get very nauseated. Has anyone else experienced this? It keeps getting worse by the week, or daily. Thanks!
As many of us know, older folks do have a smell, this could be because cells from their skin do not turn over as fast and they do not produce as much oil on their skin. The sour Milk smell may be the clothing, sheets, fabrics due to possibly them souring after a load of clothing if it sits out before you put them in the dryer they will sour. It could be a combination of the medications they are taking and it having an affect on the oder of thier skin, thus rubbing off on the bed sheets, sofas, chairs, clothing, hair. This is a great question and I was throwing out some possibilities. I am not sure the condition of your loved one, but it could be their illness. It could be a yeast infection, it could be a Urniary tract infection. I am 54 years old, I get Urinary Tract Infections about twice a month and I will have an odor until the medicine begins to kill the bacteria. It could be the smell of bacteria too..any kind of bacteria. Our bodies emit all kinds of smells when we get older.
Hi there, I had a similar problem...One of the things my Mom was doing was putting worn clothes back in the dresser & closet. She was pretty good about wearing Depends, but she never wanted to bathe ~ "She didn't do anything to sweat", so she would wear her clothes repeatedly, even socks. She seems not to understand hygiene anymore and tells me I am "crazy about showering and laundry". Her clothes did have an odor (not always dirty smelling) that seemed to be a mix of personal scent and food. It was mostly the improper storage of clothes which made her room smell different then the rest of the house. Regular bathing with lovely scented soaps and doing all the cleanup and laundry finally worked for my problems here at home but it required hiring a bath aide after I tired of fighting with her. She will still squirrel away clothing if she is not managed, but she resides in a group home now and is less resentful of the CNA's help than mine.
I recently read a very interesting article dealing with "old people odor" and the very scientific explanation of it. Can't remember exactly where I found that information, but will look around and try to find the article for you. You are not imagining it. In addition to all the above suggestions, this is a real thing. FIL has an awful odor that wafts through the house. Got to keep after him to bathe and I found that he took off dirty clothes and rehung them in the closet to "air out" . I try to keep on top of that, but it is very hard.
Also..since you had new floors, sometimes...unusual items...end up in the floor base boards or registrars...Not sure if your company cleaned up the flooring materials...but I take care of home..and I know...how some contractors will sweep things into the registars and I have to vacuum them out and clean them...it could be that the registers in her room need washing and cleaning..and you can also THREAD a FABRIC SOFTENER SHEET through the VENT to make the room smell sweet...when that fabric sheet is done...redo another one...SO SWEET...is everywhere !!!!
Could she be spitting up a bit on her bedding? Teeth (perhaps mouthwash would help); body odor (regular baths and/or sponge bathing); dehydration? (important to get hydrated which can be done with jello, fruits, and water or other drinks by her; Medicines; her 'stuff', i.e. mementos she brought with her, etc.; closed quarters, i.e., open a window just a bit (she need not know) I had the window opened in the northeast this past winter the entire winter, she didn't know and it was still warm in there);
The only way you can get rid of it is to address all the issues, give the room a good cleaning (bit by bit if you're exhausted). Ways to address it would be scented cottonballs (I use lavender); I've used clothes dryer sheets under the sheets and in the pillow case; there are also sprays now available, but I'd try the 'cleaning' route before the sprays. You don't want to cover up the odor, you want to find the cause, then take care of that.
Also, make sure her dirty clothes don't hang around in a closed hamper. Any little drop of bodily fluids can smell bad especially when left hanging around.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
Is it her breath? Maybe she's not brushing her teeth or cleaning her dentures properly. Maybe it's food that's gone bad. Could she have put some kind of food in one of the drawers and forgotten it was there?
Urine has a distinctive odor. It doesn't sound like that's what you're describing, but then again, meds and certain foods (asparagus, for one) can cause urine to smell weird.
The only way you can get rid of it is to address all the issues, give the room a good cleaning (bit by bit if you're exhausted). Ways to address it would be scented cottonballs (I use lavender); I've used clothes dryer sheets under the sheets and in the pillow case; there are also sprays now available, but I'd try the 'cleaning' route before the sprays. You don't want to cover up the odor, you want to find the cause, then take care of that.
Also, make sure her dirty clothes don't hang around in a closed hamper. Any little drop of bodily fluids can smell bad especially when left hanging around.
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