Medical question about elderly

[Melissa in NC]

My Dad has started to have that "old person odor". What is this caused by? Is is an indication of a yeast infection? Illness?

I mean no disrespect.

[lynn]

I believe it partly comes from not drinking enough water and not being able to or taking time to bath properly.

[kalanamak]

I believe it partly comes from not drinking enough water and not being able to or taking time to bath properly.

Bathing, but often more likely, even a bit of urine on unchanged undies gets fragrant. How often is he doing the wash, is he losing weight rapidly, etc. My mother got fragrant from her uremia, and also from her very low platelets, which caused her to ooze a bit of blood from her atrophic vaginitis, which gave her an "old pad in the back of the closet" smell. Anyone else old enough to remember that?

How often is the washer running? Is the food in the fridge all old? Are his undies stained? If you want to snoop, snoop for those.
HTH

[kalanamak]

nt

[Antonia]

I would think the tons of meds these older folks usually take might have something to do with it also. Agree with the above, too.

[Valerie(TX)]

many times, elderly folks (and even some of us middlers) simply don't have the acute sense of sight or smell any longer. It is very frustrating to those around them.

This would be the time for a frank, honest talk with your loved one, if the relationship will bear it. For example, "Dad, you have certainly earned the right to choose most any path you want; if you want to be more relaxed in your hygiene, it is your choice, but if "such and such" would bother you, would you let me help you get to the root of the issue?"

I've BTDT with my FIL, and it was his desire to scrupulously maintain his hygiene (shaving daily, etc.) until just a few weeks before his passing, when he simply did not have the energy to make it a priority any longer. I did the "tactful dance" with him quite a bit to help him with the things he couldn't see or smell, knowing that he *wanted* to be presentable. When caregiver types came into the home, he felt better knowing he could count on his being presentable.

In addition to helping him from another person's perspective, you may want to look into safety issues. Is he ready for a grab bar, non-slip rugs and tub mats, a seat in the tub, a shower-head with a detachable nozzle? These were life-savers for my FIL.

hth

Val

[Mrs. H.]

This would be the time for a frank, honest talk with your loved one, if the relationship will bear it. For example, "Dad, you have certainly earned the right to choose most any path you want; if you want to be more relaxed in your hygiene, it is your choice, but if "such and such" would bother you, would you let me help you get to the root of the issue?"

I've BTDT with my FIL, and it was his desire to scrupulously maintain his hygiene (shaving daily, etc.) until just a few weeks before his passing, when he simply did not have the energy to make it a priority any longer. I did the "tactful dance" with him quite a bit to help him with the things he couldn't see or smell, knowing that he *wanted* to be presentable. When caregiver types came into the home, he felt better knowing he could count on his being presentable.


You were very kind to your FIL. My grandfather is the same way: believes in being clean shaven every day, hair combed neatly, clothes ironed, pocket hankerchief at the ready. Family members who treasure their loved ones' diginity are true blessings.

[Doran]

I would think the tons of meds these older folks usually take might have something to do with it also. Agree with the above, too.

My father is on about as many medications as anyone I've ever known (something in the realm of 15 different prescriptions), and he is not a well person. But at this point, he doesn't seem to have a smell. I sometimes think that smell is as much the articles (furniture, floor, clothing) as it is the person. But, yes, body odors can come from infrequent or ineffective bathing, poor personal hygiene, incontinence, body systems not working as they should, bad teeth, infection -- all of these.

Doran

[Valerie(TX)]

how to put this delicately...a carpet cleaner is worth every penny? :blushing:


V