Extra soft flannels

13K Posts


My mother is 92 years old and is in a nursing home. She is very frail and has lost a lot of weight.
Her skin is very fragile, almost wafer thin and bruises very easily.
Can anyone recommend any very soft flannels or similar that the carers can use when they wash her?
Grateful thanks.
Her skin is very fragile, almost wafer thin and bruises very easily.
Can anyone recommend any very soft flannels or similar that the carers can use when they wash her?
Grateful thanks.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Latest MSE News and Guides
Replies
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me..
Martin Niemoller
Advice should be sought from the care home staff who are responsible for ensuring optimum tissue viability, and/or the district nursing service.
When my children were young I used to use these instead of flannels, as they were softer.
Unfortunately the tissue viability nurse no longer visits - another cut back - but they can contact her by phone. It just takes so long.
Mum is having a review at the nursing home next week so I will be talking about it.
Wanted to ask as I find it quicker to buy things myself than wait for the staff to get through the 'red tape/assessment procedures' which seem to take forever.
I'm afraid I have caught carers using a "circular scrubbing" motion to clean him rather than a gentle dabbing motion.
Similarly they do not dry him properly. I have supplied my own flannels and towels but they rarely use them. They insist on using their thin rough worn out towels instead of the nice soft fluffy ones I provided.
Please watch out for this.
I find I have to constantly keep "on their case".
It is so hard isn't it?
Without being there 24/7 it is so difficult to know what is going on.
I know that the carers are overstretched and underpaid but that is no excuse for 'rough handling'.
I am going to suggest that a care plan outlining the things that need doing in the morning and evening are kept in her room for all carers to read. Staff rotas mean that it is never the same carers and whilst some are wonderful, some are decidedly lacking in 'gentle handing'.
But you need to pick them carefully: some are very prone to static.
I'd look for very smooth ones because it makes it much clearer that this is not a 'normal' towel.
For flannels, I do have a couple of muslin ones, I don't find them very satisfactory because they are so small, but I guess a muslin nappy might work better.
http://www.synergyhealthplc.com/en/conti-dry-patient-wipes
They are soft and disposal, so reduce cross infection. We use to use them many years ago when I was nursing.