Authored by BlueAngel on
Saturday, January 15, 2005
The new Elder Care Tips Newsletter is as interesting and informative as usual. The useful suggestion about getting the "urine odor" out of carpets is very practical. I wonder if there are any out there that have suggestions on removing the Urine odor from beds, pillows, seat cushions? Enjoy the newsletter.
Elder CareTips: Mastering The Eldercare Maze (TM)
The newsletter for all elder caregivers. Sent to you twice a month,
and only by request. Please feel free to pass on Elder CareTips:
Mastering The Eldercare Maze (TM) to anyone you think might
be interested.
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http://www.eldercareteam.com/resources/newsletter.htm
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It's certainly been one memorable New Year in every corner of the globe. If you know of a senior who lives alone, especially where there have been such terrible snow and rain storms, make a visit and check on his or her well-being.
Change the furnace filter if it needs it. Offer to make a run to the grocery store. Bring back a jug or two of drinking water for emergencies. Some fresh soup or a pot of spaghetti sauce might be welcome, too.
Let's all take a minute to check on each other regularly and lend a hand if we can. It really does take the whole village and then some when people are enduring such awfulness.By the way, here's a list of emergency supplies that everyone should have on hand, no matter what their age or where they live:
http://www.eldercareteam.com/resources/articles/emergencyprepare.htmAnd now, on to our regular business...
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>> Prescription Help For You, The Caregiver <<
Studies say that 1 in 10 Americans don't have health insurance.That means that at least one in 10 caregivers don't have health insurance.
If you don't have health insurance you're tempted to let your own health go. Not only is that not a good choice for you, it could have devastating consequences for the ones you care for. If you fall into the no-insurance group, there may be some help coming to you.
Just this week there was an announcement from 10 of the biggest drug manufacturers about a drug discount program for people under age 65 who don't have public or private drug coverage and who have a limited income.
The Together Rx Access program will allow holders to get varying discounts on selected drugs at participating pharmacies. It will not cover mail order purchases. On the list that was released on Tuesday about 275 drugs were included. Some generic drugs are also expected to be offered.
Companies agreeing to offer drugs for discounts include Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Pharmaceutical Products, Novartis, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Takeda, and TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc.
You can check eligibility or apply for the program at
http://www.togetherrxaccess.com or by calling 1-800-444-4106.
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>> Caregiver Dilemma: Getting Urine Out Of Carpet <<
A reader asked me this question, and I decided to go right to a real authority for the best answer. If you haven't had this problem yet you stand a good chance of facing it in the future, so save this issue somewhere where you can find it when you need it.
My definitive source was the great people at Dalworth Carpet
Cleaning in Dallas, TX (http://www.dalworth.com ).
That "classic" urine odor is really caused by the waste products of bacteria, so get to the problem quickly, before they have a chance to start multiplying.
On a fresh spill, blot up the moisture as soon as you can with towels, paper towels, or whatever you have that's dry, absorbent and colorfast. Don't scrub the moisture down into the carpet because it will naturally wick up to the top of thefibers and you don't want to work it down in.
Then, sprinkle Arm & Hammer (R) baking powder or baking soda (either one) over the damp area, covering it completely to a depth of about a quarter-inch. Don't rub it in. Use more than you think you really need, so you can't see any carpet through the powder.
Because the liquid naturally wicks upwards it will be drawn up from the fibers, out of the carpet, and into the powder. Let it sit one to two days until the powder is completely dry, then vacuum.
This should work if the spill is fresh and if it hasn't soaked into
the carpet padding or the floor beneath.
For an older contamination that has an odor Dalworth says you really only have two choices: professional cleaning, or kill the bacteria growing in the carpet. If your carpet is made of wool or nylon, then you will probably need professional cleaners because products containing bleach will take the color
out of nylon, and bleach will dissolve wool.
If you have carpet made of Olefin (R) or polyester Dalworth says you can mix a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and soak the affected area with a trigger sprayer. After this mixture has had a chance to work for a couple of hours, then apply the blot, Arm & Hammer (R), let it dry, and vacuum as
above. Reminder - don't use bleach if your carpet is made of nylon or wool. If you aren't sure, don't do it. If you think you're sure, test this on an out-of-the way spot first, just to be certain.
If you have nylon or wool carpet and the spill is old and smelly, you can try thoroughly re-wetting the spill with water and then using the blot, Arm & Hammer (R), vacuum method, but your chances of success are greatly reduced because this won't kill the bacteria actively growing in the carpet. You'll probably have to call in a professional.
The best cure is prevention, of course. If you have carpet in he bathroom, take it up if you can. If mishaps are occurring in other rooms - by the bedside, for instance - get some inexpensive rubber-backed bath rugs. Tape them down so
they aren't a trip hazard. When an accident happens you can pull them up right away and throw them in the wash.
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The great secret that all old people share is that you really haven't changed in seventy or eighty years. Your body changes, but you don't change at all. And that, of course, causes great confusion.
-- Doris Lessing
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>> Elder CareTip <<
Prevent someone from being scalded: Stick a thermometer in the water coming out of the "Hot" taps. If it's more than 120 degrees, turn the thermostat on the water heater down low. Wait 24 hours so the water cools off and test again.
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If you have a caregiving question please send it along to me:molly@eldercareteam.com . If you have a question, there are surely lots of other people who have the same question and who haven't asked. If I don't know the answer I'll do my best to find someone who does.
This way, we'll all learn together.
And don't keep us a secret. If you know other people who should be reading this too, then do them and us a favor by telling them about Elder CareTips. Just send them this link:
http://eldercareteam.com/resources/newsletter.htm
We have an ever-growing collection of articles on the subject of caring for older adults. Some have appeared in this newsletter, some haven't. Browse around as much as you'd like at
http://www.eldercareteam.com/resources/articles/index.htm
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That's it for this time,
Molly
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© 2005 Molly Shomer, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from Elder CareTips: Mastering The Eldercare Maze (TM) as long as you include complete attribution, including ive web site link and email link. I would appreciate it if you would let me know where the material will appear.
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Molly Shomer
Head Coach
The Eldercare Team
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mshomer@eldercareteam.com
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Box 700291
Dallas, TX 75370
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