Is there an automated self-cleaning device (especially for #2) for bedridden Mom?

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Clemente Asked January 2021

Is there an automated self-cleaning device (especially for #2) for bedridden Mom?

Is there any automated equipment that an aide can use to clean (#1 and #2) a bedridden woman who is being taken care of at home?

I am looking for comments ONLY by people who know (or have heard) if such a device exists, or people who know of current research into creating one.

Mom will soon be set up with a Hoyer lift with which an aide or family member will get her into and out of bed, as her back is in bad shape with no chance of recovery.

Our family is just now entering into the world of learning about equipment that can make life easier at home for Mom. I know some will scoff at the questions posed here, but as we learn each day we have found equipment that to our (pleasant) surprise exists and can make a big difference in family or an aide taking care of Mom at home. For example, when Mom was in a hospital recently we found there is such a thing as an external catheter which takes care of urine using a pump even during sleep time.

Now we are hoping there is such a device to also take care of #2.

Thank you, and once again, we are only looking for serious responses. If there is any research in this area, particularly taking care of #2, I would like to hear about that. Since cleaning the disabled elderly is a matter that takes a huge amount of time for a great number of people at home and away from home (nursing homes, etc.) and is considered one of the most disliked tasks for both aides and family members alike, it would seem there is a good market for such a device to be invented if it has not already been invented.

On this matter I am interested in the thoughts of people who are open minded only, not those who find it easy to shoot down such ideas-too much of that is going around already these days.

Many thanks in advance for your input on these questions.

Hygiene Incontinence Product

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score 0 · Answer 1

Thanks Beatty, I am learning a lot from this forum and thankful for all who are responding. Even a "no" answer is valuable as I learn what is available re equipment for this situation. I do believe someone will invent a solution, perhaps similar to a bidet, but it will need to work for both people who are bedridden in particular as well as those who are not.

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score 1 · Answer 2

Clemente, The Pure Wick female external catheter my mother used in the hospital. It kept her dry and not so many changes. I was impressed that the container had about 800 cc of urine in it. She was on intake and output daily. It worked well, but the home one apparently is not as good according to the reviews. I was going to buy one for my mother but decided not to until the company makes a better one. I did some research on the stool device, there is some research going on right now and some testing being done but did not see anything for you to purchase right now, but If I come across anything I will be happy to let you know. Good luck.

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Thanks Earlybird, this is very helpful. It sounds like Pure Wick makes more than one female external catheter, and you are saying the one at the hospital made by Pure Wick is better than Pure Wick's home versions, is that right? Are you going to contact the hospital to find out what the model number of the better version of this product is so you can see if you can buy that one now rather than wait until Pure Wick might start selling the hospital version?

I also appreciate your looking into a device for cleaning #2. It's very good to hear some research is being done, and yes please keep me updated if you see anything come to market. This would be a huge breakthrough for those taking care of loved ones at home, as well as the 15,000 Nursing Homes and innumerable other Long Term Care facilities in the USA and abroad.

I have to believe someone could invent such a device and make a good living off it. My general thought is the basis of it could be an upgraded or modified bidet that can clean for #1 and #2. A challenge would be for such a device to be able to clear a bedridden person, like my Mom, who due to physical condition would be highly unlikely to be able to sit upright on such a piece of cleaning equipment, so a bidet/toilet like device would probably not work. I'm thinking it would have to be incorporated into a hospital bed, as that Mom is changed from her bed now since she has become bedridden.

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score 0 · Answer 3

Sadly I know of no such automated device. When my husband was completely bedridden, I had to hire an aide to come every morning to put him on the bedside commode, so he could poop. When he was finished, she would hold him up, while I cleaned him up. It was so much easier than trying to clean him while lying in the bed. Sometimes he would poop again in his diaper later in the day, and then my son would come after work and again hold him up, so I could clean him up. Thankfully that didn't happen often, as his body got used to pooping in the morning. My husband also had a supra pubic catheter(which is a permanent catheter),and I only had to empty his catheter bag twice a day, Once in the morning and again in the evening. That made life a whole lot easier as well. Until there is an "automated way," we will just have to continue doing things the very best we can. Wishing you the best.

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Thanks for taking the time to write, even if I find no solution exists at this time, it is an answer in that can put a "checkmark" next to this question--until hopefully somewhere down the road someone does invent a cleaning device for men and woman that takes care of #1 and #2.

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score 1 · Answer 4

I admire your curiousity but have to admit - wipes, water & human hand is what gets the job done.

There is ileostomy or colonoscopy - external bowel openings from body with attached bag that gets emptied/disposed of, similar to suprapubic catheter for urine. These are far more invasive than the urine catheter & only done out of medical necessity (eg bowel cancer) as far as I know. Changing the bag, cleaning the area, reattaching the bag is a skill that needs to be learnt by the carer (& is often just as messy & oderous).

The good news is that aides who care for bedridden patients just get on with the task in a professional way. Family members (who are willing) will get trained & learn to get on with the task too.

It can be a deal breaker for many families - but not all. Good luck with your caring role.

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Is there an automated self-cleaning device (especially for #2) for bedridden Mom?

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