Diaper rash! It’s the bane of a child’s existence not to mention the parents and grandparents who love him. Most of the time it is pretty easy to deal with. Change her often, use a good ointment or cream for diaper rash, and soon it’s all gone. But what happens if it doesn’t go away. What happens if it gets worse? For that matter, what happens if it’s not a child?

For those of us dealing with a wide variety of the Sandwich Generation issues, it could even be a problem for both our elderly parents suffering from adult diaper rash, as well as our grandchildren! But fear not, fellow travelers, there are some great options out there. When one of my grandchildren with health issues had severe problems with diaper rash, we tried everything trying to find the best diaper rash cream or ointment. We tried my favorite, Desitin (I prefer the original ointment, not the cream). It may be messy but it works wonderfully – most of the time. But not this time.

We tried A&D Ointment. Again, it works often, but not this time. We even tried Bag Balm Ointment. While we have many friends who swear by this, it didn’t help our situation. Finally, a wonderful doctor suggested Boudreaux Butt Paste. I have to be honest. I wasn’t crazy about the name! But the stuff works. It works GREAT! It isn’t cheap. But it is well worth the cost and I have to admit, it smells better than my favorite, Desitin. Target often carries it in the big tub. Walmart usually has it in a tiny tube. And Amazon carries several sizes including the Boudreaux Butt Paste in the 16 oz. Jar. This particular size does not always qualify for a discount from the Amazon Prime Membership, but it's the handiest size around the house, so to me it's well worth it.  (Before you try this or the next item, however, you should check with your doctor regarding such a severe rash. In all cases, our doctors recommended these products to us.) 

If all these fail and the rash is getting worse, I would definitely call the doctor again. When you do, you might also ask them about Calmoseptine Ointment (though to me, it's more of a cream). I only recommend it if nothing else works and the doctor approves. I put some on one time to test it, and it reminded me of putting Bengay on my achy joints. It stayed warm and weird all night long! After that, I totally understood why my grandchild wasn’t fond of it, but it did help A LOT! When he has a very severe rash, he definitely likes it much better!

The nice thing about all these products is that they are not age specific. In other words, all of us Sandwich Generation senior home care givers can use it for those elderly relatives who might have problems from incontinence or other issues. For that matter, they can also be useful as a gentle, yet effective, external hemorrhoid home treatment. Again, PLEASE doublecheck with your doctor, as there may be other issues involved as well! 

One other tip for all ages. We know that it’s vital to clean the area totally each time. Sometimes this is difficult due to the matter sticking to the skin, or being gritty and sticky. It might not want to come off, or if it does, it causes our loved one, whether a grandchild or an elderly parent, quite a bit of pain. I’ve found that if it is sticking even when using diaper wipes or wet cloths, you can use whatever ointment or cream you have available to help with the cleaning. Just put a little amount of the diaper ointment or cream on the skin, take a soft damp cloth or diaper wipe, and spread the ointment or cream around a bit. Then wipe gently and the cream or ointment will help clean the area much easier with less pain. When all is clean, apply more of the diaper ointment or cream. Then take a big sigh of relief as you and your loved one both feel much better.

Kaye

Years ago when we were building our family, each time I was pregnant, I always packed a bag a few weeks before my due date. In it were all the essentials I might need at the hospital when I delivered.

My caregiving roles have changed as I’ve gotten older but some things haven’t. I still have to be prepared for a quick trip to the hospital only now it could be for an elderly parent or a grandkid. I have several special people in my “circle of caregiving.”

Last year I spent two full days in the hospital with a beloved. I knew it could be coming so I found that I once again had to have a “hospital bag” packed and ready to go. In it were some important items I might need when the time arose.

Eventually, after weeks of false alarms and a myriad of tests, the symptoms reared their ugly heads and off we went. It was time to “test-drive” the bag. I discovered I had brought some things I never used, and needed some things I hadn’t thought to pack. We wound up staying in the emergency room all night, from 7 p.m. until after 10 a.m., before a room was finally cleared for us. The emergency room only had a chair for me to sit in. That, combined with the doctors and nurses coming in every few minutes, meant that I didn’t sleep more than about an hour that night. My aging relative was able to doze in her bed which was great. I played solitaire on my PDA until the battery died, and tried to read one of the books I brought. Because of my concern for my charge and lack of sleep, I just couldn’t focus on the non-fiction books I had. The crossword puzzle book I found in the gift shop enabled me to have something to do, without requiring any long term concentration.

The next day I was able to make a quick trip home to check the mail, pick up some items for both of us, and grab my laptop, along with chargers for it and my cell phone. The hospital was wonderful! They allowed cell phone use everywhere we went. Not all hospitals do. You have to ask at each one. They also provided free wireless service for my laptop. I was able to get some work done in the morning and still be available to help her and talk to the doctors. I also used my laptop to access the internet which enabled me to research the various tests she was given and look up all the unfamiliar words we were learning.

The hospital staff members were terrific, but they were also very busy. Because I was there all the time, except for short breaks to eat in the cafeteria and when I ran home, I was able to help a lot and make her much more comfortable. That meant less time sitting in discomfort, a sip of water sooner, help finding items dropped, etc. It also meant I was there for all but one doctor visit so I knew everything that was going on.

The bag I used for that trip was a large briefcase-style purse. It looked professional and held a lot, but was somewhat awkward to carry when we had to change rooms or go for tests in a hurry. The next time I go, I will be using a backpack. Much easier to carry, more compartments for organizing, and it’s even big enough for a laptop.

It’s been a year since all that, and the bag was put away months ago. Last week a new incident happened in my circle of care and I thought I would again be heading for the hospital as a caregiver. I printed out the list of items I had saved from the last trip and had a new bag packed in minutes. Going to the hospital is never easy, whether it is to have a beautiful new baby, or when caring for an elderly parent or other special person you care about. Advance preparation definitely makes things easier for the Sandwich Generation!