tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683492034776752822.post8896972788237636841..comments2023-08-28T05:09:48.938-05:00Comments on Jola Gayle's Eclectic Blog: Upon being OverwhelmedJola Gaylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03609582774013310782noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8683492034776752822.post-26631424861432091872012-11-17T07:11:50.124-06:002012-11-17T07:11:50.124-06:00an electric aromatherapy burner (one with a boil-d...an electric aromatherapy burner (one with a boil-dry cutout if you can find such a critter) is good for covering up smells in the air. We use one in rooms when someone is "acutely palliative" (ie, in the process of actually dying) or if there's some other reason to mask odours.<br /><br />The blend of oils I use is marketed here as "easy-breathe", and it contains peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus and pine oils. You could mix together a blend that helps Lola - lavender for calming, rosemary, peppermint, bergamot etc. Use natural oils, not synthetic ones if you can, but if you shop around a bit you can find "natural oil in a carrier base" at a reasonable price. Pure oils are way too dear.<br /><br />Regarding the pooping issue, do you have or can you borrow a commode chair? this can help, where you just strip off the day clothes and incontinence aid and immediately sit her on the commode chair. While she's pooping (or whatever), you can dress her into her clean pajamas and pullup, even brush her hair and wash her face or whatever soothing rituals you have for bedtime. Then stand her up to clean up (warm wash cloths are excellent, or baby wipes) and quickly pull up the depends and pajamas and she's ready to go. You can position the walking frame right in front of the commode so she has something to hold onto while you do what needs to be done. I don't know how things go over there, but here we were able to borrow (free!) a commode chair for my M-I-L from a palliative service that dealt with helping people at home both before and during the acutely palliative phase. Once Lola's tucked up for sleep you can just take the "potty" part out of the chair and go flush the contents and wash it out with disinfectant. Easier and safer for you and her.<br /><br />The throwing thing is often an issue in dementia. They can and do do things that make no sense to us, but do in their own minds. They can also forget things they have done as soon as they've done them. It's all part of the grand ride that is dementia.Alex Dragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15712891475117991655noreply@blogger.com