Why would a perfectly clean lady smell of urine?

[RATTER15]

We have an elderly lady at our home that sometimes has a very strong smell of urine about her, and I mean very strong so the whole room is filled with the smell.

We have changed her, showered her and within a short while the smell is back even though she is perfectly clean and dry. Apart from age related issues she is moderately fit, she has fairly severe dementia and diabetes but is very mobile and rarely sits down. She is 94 years old.

Any ideas?

[Sqad]

I assume that she is not incontinent and her diabetes is under control and that it is HER that fills the room with the stench of urine and nobody else.

No idea.

[anneasquith]

she may have a UTI ?

[woofgang]

two suggestions. One is has she got a UTI? which can cause smell without incontinence and two, have you checked her handbag and pockets for smelly stuff (anyone remember the man in Doc Martin with the dead bird in his bag? It does happen in real life too, not dead birds but used loo paper etcet)

[woofgang]

good morning anne!

[anneasquith]

good morning :)

[anneasquith]

vaginal discharge ?

[andy-hughes]

It does sound like an underlying infection which is producing an odour not related to the standard stale perspiration and breeding bacteria odours which are eliminated by regular bathing and changing of clothes.

Have your lady examined for infections, they GP will probably isolate and treat her condition effectively.

[McMouse]

Could this be related to the very strong floral smell some elderly ladies reek of. Maybe they are disguising their smell of urine?

[RATTER15]

No she is not continent but always kept clean and dry and even with this smell she will be dry and clean.

She doesn't have a UTI and her urine doesn't smell strong like she does. she doesn't have pockets or a handbag. This has happened a few times now and it isn't related to cleanliness. Im quite sure it isn't urine that im smelling but it is definitely coming from this lady and really smells like urine.

[Sqad]

\\\\No she is not continent\\\\

Do you mean she is not "incontinent" a typo perhaps?

[RATTER15]

I think you maybe right Andy, I will involve the GP.
The problem with GP's these days is they dont like testing urine based on colour, smell, consistency Etc, they are starting to refuse these tests unless there is a specific problem with the person concerned. This means we have to wait until the problem escalates into illness before they will test a sample. Madness!!

[carolegif]

It could be kidneys. At her age all the vital organs start breaking down. this happened with my grandmother.

[RATTER15]

Sqad, no typo, she is incontinent.

[Sqad]

Right...well if she is incontinent of urine then that would explain the smell.....she is wetting herself.

[anneasquith]

diabetic...................... does she have her urine tested regularly ?

[RATTER15]

Sqad, do think that being a Senior Care in a residential home that that hadnt occurred to me lol, credit me with just a tiny bet of intelligence please!!

I have said that she is clean and dry, we have showered her and completely changed her but after a while the smell returns whilst still being clean and dry!

[RATTER15]

Ann, they only check her urine quarterly or if there is a problem with her health, Im actually thinking that this is connected to her type 2 diabetes but im no expert in this field and know very little about diabetes.

[black_cat51]

what about the bedding/matress?

[RATTER15]

While the smell is like that of urine, it is more of an acrid smell!

I think tests by a GP is going to be the next step, if we can persuade them to do the tests without a specific illness.

[bednobs]

how will you get a sample i wonder?