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?

[Clanad]

An elderly aunt, in a nursing home setting, displayed many of the same symptoms you describe, especially an undefined but urine-like odor nearly constantly present, dementia and suffering from Type 1 diabetes was finally diganosed with Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The scent emmantes from the ketones produced, primarily by the diabetes processes. We were told that DKA can be, but much more rarely, observed in patients with Type II diabetes...

[Ann]

I know this sounds stupid, but my Mum used to be Warden in a waden controlled flats where there was one lady with the same problem - My Mum was so puzzled but it turned out to be her new perfume YARDLEYS FREESHIA - it absolutely reeks just like urine, please ask her what perfume she is using!

[karenmac60]

I was going to say exactly the same as Ann - not just that particular type of perfume mind you, there are lots which can stink of wee.

[joko]

could it be some kind of medication?

my friend smells and he blames it on medications... but to me it smeels like when you leave washing in the machine for too long after its washed and it develops and strange smell

is it definitelt coming from her... not a leak or soemthing?

[Eve]

Perfume is a good one to check as, as others have said, some can smell really strange and they seem to smell different on different people. I'd include other toiletries as well.

Does she wear a pad and could there be any leakage? If she is leaking and it's trickling somewhere then it could be getting caught in say hosiery or slippers or shoes.

Diabetes can give off a strange smell so worth getting her checked out to make sure it's being properly controlled. Is her blood sugar and diet being monitored and could she have access to anything, even a secret/unknown stash of something, which might knock things out of control.

[Mosaic]

Having read through all the above, cn I just add my support to the notion f perfumes / scented products as the culprit? I agree with the freesia scent smelling like wee! But all scents react individually with a persons skin, so it's not just freesia. I've also seen this occur with 'fragranced' wee pads - they just smell like more wee.
Good luck - she's a very fortunate lady to have you looking after her.

[Mosaic]

BTW I cannot even type what OH said the perfume Anais Anais smelled like to him. But the word 'old' did figure in the description.

[RATTER15]

This perfume thing may be worth looking into, I will talk to staff who dress her in the mornings, we have often showered her because of the smell but then the smell comes back, possibly because staff are reapplying her perfume, im not just talking an odour though, im talking an acrid urine smell that permeates through a 14 bedroom floor and we have to spray the whole level to disguise it.

[wolf63]

I haven't read all the answers but others have mentioned diabetes - there are other disorders that cause bodies to emit strange smells. Fishy smells - and not just from lady bits but from a person's pores, maybe in sweat.

I am intrigued in her habit of moving furniture though - she sounds like a character. ;-)

[Hopkirk]

Are you sure it comes from her and not the fabric and belongings in her room?

[RATTER15]

Hopkirk, quite sure, she only goes to her room to sleep and her room is as clean and fresh as a daisy.

Ann86, This lady as sweet as she is, doesn't know her own name or even how many heads she has, however I think you will find it will be a Tesco special, they all have the same in the Dementia unit, families don't tend to bother with them when they enter a dementia unit, they would rather forget they existed, (generally speaking) So the Manager buys cheap budget perfume.

[TheOtherHalf]

When we cleared my MIL home when she had to go into a care home this time last year, we found 4 unopen bottles of expensive perfume that we had bought for Xmas or birthdays over the years. So we are now on the last bottle to take in for the staff to give her a little spray after her bathing. the staff are very good there fortunately, as she has alzheimers and we help look after her every need and they agree that some residents hardly ever see their family. Its sad. You sound as though you are a great carer Ratter. Keep up the good work

[RATTER15]

TheOtherHalf, thank you for your compliment, I do my best,unfortunately trying to do my best and constantly fighting for the rights of these unfortunate souls will undoubtedly cost me my job one day. Once again I have lurched into another Crisis defending their rights.

It is becoming increasingly clear to me that if you are totally dedicated to the welfare of the elderly and the care of these people, then stay away from this line of work or accept a very very rocky ride.

[Connemmara]

I know these have been answered but I think the problem lies in the perfume and some of these perfumes can permeat through floors and corridors. I suggest no perfume at all for a while cos it does linger for days and days - do that for your other patients. Bless you Ratter it takes a great vocation and patience to look after older patients and we are so aware we will be there ourselves some day and I hope some body like you Ratter cares for me. If the little ladies do want some spray spray gently with a little water - see what happens. Good luck

[Mosaic]

Also, whilst not curing any underlying problems, patting a very little bicarbonate of soda onto dry skin is very good for strange odours.