Urinating in heat/air unit

[nrsbetrn]

Any suggestions on how to stop a resident with advanced dementia from urinating in the heat/air vent in his room. He is ambulatory and wanders, resides in a memory care unit. Staff offers toileting assist, but he still owes in the vent at times.

[litbitblack, ASN, RN]

Toile ting program then maybe he wouldn't need to go to the vent....Frequent redirection? Maybe place a trash can there to catch it instead.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Stop sign? or some type of sign or diversion?

[amoLucia]

Don't know how true this is, but I remember seeing big BLACK areas being painted in front of doors in a couple NHs. It was believed that BLACK color somehow stopped the demented resident from trying to leave/escape thru the doors. Like the BLACK color caused some type of spatial hole that tricked the resident's brain into thinking it was a 'fall' risk zone. The resident then would avoid the BLACK zone to prevent falling.

Maybe if the HVAC unit (and nearby wall & floor) was painted black? Couldn't hurt to try. And who knows - maybe I thought of some really helpful unique response!

I also thought of placing a big FALSE, artificial potted plant really close to the unit. Maybe the resident would think to pee on the tree rather than the HVAC. Maybe it would be a 'guy thing' to him deep down in his brain. I realize it's just a substitution and not reality-based, but it is the lesser of 2 evils. At least, his room wouldn't smell like a barnyard in the summer for him, his roomie and visitors/staff and needless repairs. And you could just hose down the faux tree or toss it as nec.

Funny how toilet training is so deeply ingrained into folk.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

We had a resident that would urinate in the lobby. He loved the fake trees, trash cans, and the water fountain. We ruled out UTI, did q 2 hour toileting, everything. 1:1 was the only thing that worked. Frustrating.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Try an unbreakable full length mirror in front of the unit(they may perceive someone standing there and go the other way.) Try black rubber mat on the floor in front of it (may be perceived as a hole in the floor).Years ago in a facility I worked in the maintenance dept. installed a sheet of plexiglass in front of the unit up over the guys head.It worked but I'm wondering g if it would be considered a dignity issue today?Does he ever use a toilet?If he does why not put a bedside commode in there?