tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787517983781994880.post5724467675432871944..comments2023-06-27T05:29:16.713-07:00Comments on The Pragmatic Caregiver: A Stinky SituationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787517983781994880.post-72275471043591661532007-03-25T05:52:00.000-07:002007-03-25T05:52:00.000-07:00Eric,I got a great laugh out of your March 5 reply...Eric,<BR/><BR/>I got a great laugh out of your March 5 reply here. Sad, but true. Especially your being horrified with the *fishnet* system...welcome to a woman's world!<BR/><BR/>BTW, I keep my survival kit in the back seat. Anyone breaking into my car would be severely disappointed.<BR/><BR/>I look forward to your blogs. Linda<BR/><BR/>ps. I was checking out the comments while the pygmy bears have you tied up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787517983781994880.post-38431121983582332632007-03-06T09:52:00.000-08:002007-03-06T09:52:00.000-08:00For many years, my husband & I took care of his gr...For many years, my husband & I took care of his grandmother as she slipped further & further into dementia. I remember the search to buy her a phone, a simple phone without extra buttons & (confusing) functions to replace the one with a mute button that defeated her (just like the microwave story you told about your father). Reading your entries brings this painful history back. I wish you well and applaud your strength & caring. Thanks for creating this blog to share it with us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787517983781994880.post-33467766566044262282007-03-05T14:03:00.000-08:002007-03-05T14:03:00.000-08:00First off, everybody wave to Sid.... he blogs at s...First off, everybody wave to Sid.... he blogs at surgeonsblog.blogspot.com and I admit to cribbing *shamelessly* from his writing style and link habits. He's got a great, twisted sense of humor, and I can personally attest to his considerable professional talents. If he thinks this humble collection of uninformed-but-field-proven effluvia is a gift to caregivers....well, I hope they kept the receipt. Still, I blush from such flattery.<BR/><BR/>Back to diapers. <BR/><BR/>Really, the worst part about disposables in the waste stream is transporting human fecal matter through the streets. I would *much* prefer such things move through the sanitary sewer system than landfills. <BR/><BR/>You might be surprised about the construction of the state-of-the-art products; most adult products no longer have plastic film coverings, relying on spun-bonded or other non-woven fabric coverings. They're no more biodegradable (in fact, you want to avoid degradation in landfills) than the original Pampers, but they are surprisingly underwearlike. <BR/><BR/>Oddly, the products we've found used in hospitals are *light years* behind the consumer-targeted products - more bulky absorbents that hold less, plastic films, non-reclosable fasteners. We bring our own - the CNAs are incredibly grateful. (Note to self: blog about the Hospital Survival Kit in the trunk of the car one of these days)<BR/><BR/>Launderable products use a lot of hot water and energy - I think environmental activists have pretty much resigned themselves, with infant diapers, that it's a draw. With adult products, due, to, the, um, volumes involved......and the nature of the substances....oh, god, is this what my life has come to? *deep cleansing breath*<BR/><BR/>We looked at the launderable products (mostly disposable inserts into washable carriers), and they're quite suitable for a non-ambulatory person who has no say in the matter, but they're essentially dignity-destroying for the moderately-capable. One system we looked at had *fishnet mesh* panties with what resembled maxi-pad inserts. Horrifying.<BR/><BR/>Cal needs something that looks like underwear, so he'll know what to do with it. The only problem I've got with the existing product performance is that you have to hike them up over the navel - you cannot wear them like Jim Palmer's favorite scanty Poco bikinis, circa 1981. Once we figured this out (that they should be snug at the crotch, and not just around the leg holes), the problems stopped.<BR/><BR/>Dementing diseases are horrific; they sap the life out of everyone involved in the care, they cost people everything they worked their whole lives for, and the treatments are essentially futile in 80+% of cases. We're "lucky" with Cal; his form of dementia is surprisingly treatable, and the progression may be slowed with optimized medication. I'll post more on this some time when I'm feeling reflective. Still, regardless of the etiology, it's a full-time gig on top of our lives and could remain so for another eight years or so. Here's to hoping that what we've figured out can be practical and useful to someone else, or at the very least amusing. <BR/><BR/>EricEric, AKA The Pragmatic Caregiverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10006690628166460007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787517983781994880.post-36296540713529725112007-03-05T13:32:00.000-08:002007-03-05T13:32:00.000-08:00This blog is truly a gift to caregivers. I love th...This blog is truly a gift to caregivers. I love the wonky aspect of it. You need to get wide notice. My mom is well into the forest of Alzheimer's, as well as pretty much totally dependent on help in all movement. In addition to being heartbreaking, the logistics are daunting in all things. <BR/><BR/>On a specific note, I understand disposable diapers are a major landfill issue in addition to the problems you address. I gather degradable materials are in wider use, although I assume the plastic liners are still a problem. On the other hand, especially in the adult situation, they're pretty much indispensible.Sid Schwabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14182853083503404098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787517983781994880.post-40247303182212461712007-03-02T10:14:00.000-08:002007-03-02T10:14:00.000-08:00Pragmatism is good. I just found your blog by way ...Pragmatism is good. <BR/><BR/>I just found your blog by way of reading the LBD forum, and how ironic that your latest entry regards incontinence! This morning was yet another day of cleaning a gigantic mess before I could even dream of coffee. My mother was diagnosed with Pick's Disease last year and LBD this past January. As her sole caretaker, I'm at my wit's end and look forward to your input and experiences. Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787517983781994880.post-68167881260402552172007-03-02T06:44:00.000-08:002007-03-02T06:44:00.000-08:00Thanks for this website. It's really helpful and p...Thanks for this website. It's really helpful and practical. I'm recommending it to the LBD spouse group. ImeldaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com