My mother has always had a difficult personality, and as time goes on, her personality has become even more difficult. We have been through many aides, but I now have a team in place that she can tolerate and that can tolerate her.
Recently, she has begun to have screaming tantrums when she needs to have her diaper changed. One aide handles the situation like a pro: She advises my mother it is time to change her diaper and proceeds to change the diaper -- even if my mother is screaming at her. My other aides are frightened of my mother's tantrums and have left her sitting in the dirty diaper until my mother is receptive to being changed (and this can be hours later).
My mother has suffered multiple UTI's which can be caused by a dirty diaper, so this situation is of great concern. Has anyone had any experience with this issue? I would hate to have to let some of the more emotionally fragile aides go because they have been with us a long time and my mother is comfortable with them. On the other hand, I feel I cannot allow this situation to continue. I have tried to reason with my mother to allow her diaper to be changed when needed, to no avail: "I'll change it when I'm good and ready!" I've explained the UTI danger, to no avail: "I don't care!"
Any suggestions or advice would be very much appreciated!
I said, well, I guess you like sitting in your smelly pants! Then I made up a song (a little ditty) about it and sang it over and over again until she was singing it. "Here I sit, attracting ants while sitting in my smelly pants". I had my aunt laughing so hard, she could not be angry. The nurses were in disbelief as they returned to her room. She then allowed them to clean her up and change her. The nurses used that technique over and over again and there were no more problems changing her diaper.
I said, well, I guess you like sitting in your smelly pants! Then I made up a song (a little ditty) about it and sang it over and over again until she was singing it. "Here I sit, attracting ants while sitting in my smelly pants". I had my aunt laughing so hard, she could not be angry. The nurses were in disbelief as they returned to her room. She then allowed them to clean her up and change her. The nurses used that technique over and over again and there were no more problems changing her diaper.
I also find that if I change the subject with her and engage her mind with something completely different while asking questions, it does somewhat help. Good luck.