Sofa recommendations - Incontinence somewhat of an issue

elhijo

Hi,

The sofa I bought about 2 years ago is hard a rock. I'm getting it replaced but before I buy I wanted to get some advice from other caregivers. My LO has mild ALZ and pee incontinence is somewhat of an issue. She's about 4'8", feisty, and about 175 lbs. So I will get a low profile sofa but I was wondering if leather is the way to go or should I get cotton, wool, polyester, etc.? I heard polyester is terrible on your bum if you sit there for hours at a time on it which we're planning on doing (mobility issues). And a recliner is not in our cards as my LO is too short to get in/out of one comfortably.

Good advice on the sofa appreciated.

Thank you and Happy New Year!

E.H.

zauberflote

It's the stuffing you'd worry about. This is abrupt, but is it time to discover "look I bought you some new panties/undies!" only they are really Depends or the like? Or are you still at stick-to-panties pads stage?

It's possible you could find a waterproof slipcover.. but it would be a bear to wash. Just cushion covers perhaps. Eventually you may want the large incontinence pads I know as "chux". 

RobOT

I've dealt with this, and you have ALL my sympathy.  The only thing I can think of that might stand up to pee (and poop) is leather with a plastic coating.  Until it runs into the seams.  After the couch at my house was ruined and after I moved into my father's house, I just kept the stinky old couches.  I put folded towels with squares of plastic in them in the spots he usually sits.  Of course sometimes he sits someplace else and once in a while has an accident.  (He wears Depends by the way) I've been soaking up urine and spraying with Febreeze for seven years.  It works well enough that we can live with it.  I hate living like this, but I refuse to pay money for a couch that will just be ruined.

Emily 123

I wouldn’t spend the money on leather or wool. If you’re already anticipating stains and can’t do the ‘depends’ route, then go with something with zippered cushion covers in a sturdy fabric, maybe something like a cotton duck.  Unzip and cover the cushion inside with plastic bags first. Yard bags work well. Maybe try to have some plastic placed along the sofa seaams too.

Amazon sells giant beach blankets made out of parachute fabric that don’t stain or retain odor, they’re light, and take about 5 minutes to dry, initially bought  to try to keep dog hair off the sofa, but the fabric’s been great for days my mom spends a lot of time on it.  It’s not waterproof, just low maintenance and easy on her skin.

Jo C.

Amazingly, it is easier to find waterproof, non-slip sofa covers/pads for pets than it is for humans.  Here is a link to an example of such a cover; Ameritex also makes such covers.  There are many of them:

 https://www.amazon.com/KARLSCHMIT-Waterproof-Furniture-Protectors-Protector/dp/B085HJDBW5/ref=asc_df_B085HJDBW5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=416790558681&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3745674181448147400&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031067&hvtargid=pla-906579544012&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=90729934461&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=416790558681&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3745674181448147400&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031067&hvtargid=pla-906579544012

There is also Scotchguard furniture protector spray one can pay to have done to the sofa when ordering it; but there is no way to tell if this has been done or done well except to take someone's word for it.   However; one can buy cans of Scotchguard furniture spray and do this themselves:

https://www.amazon.com/Scotchgard-Fabric-Upholstery-Protector-10-Ounce/dp/B008JA4PZY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1465936987&sr=8-12&keywords=waterproof+fabric+spray&linkCode=sl1&tag=daily00d4-20&linkId=da005bea190dc8e977ba50b26797760e

There is also the option of purchasing a sofa made specifically for facilities that are intended to stand up to such issues; many of such sofas look like any home sofas.   Here is a site with some suggestions for furniture for elderly or challenged people:

https://gograhamfield.com/considerations-selecting-senior-living-furniture/

NOTE:  There is a furntiure fabric called, "Crypton."  This is the fabric mentioned in the grahamfield site.  Much regular furniture is also made with it; even Pottery Barn has carried such pieces.  Facts re Crypton furniture fabric:

https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/crypton-super-fabric.htm

If you are interested in sofas made with Crypton fabric, just use Google, there are many places that carry this.  Crypton also makes furniture cleaners and fabric protectors.

So much - and it is true, if you have stitching in cushions wetness will go through the stitching and seams to the under fabric.  Best of luck, let us know what you decide.

J.

Jo C.

I am so sorry for having hyperextended your Thread.  I tried working with it to make it smaller as I had been told would work, but as you can see it did not help.

Once again, apologies are extended.

J.

Cynbar

I faced this issue when buying a power lift chair for my DH last year. I finally settled on a good quality faux leather. It's lovely, doesn't look like plastic at all, soft and supple.I do use a pad under him for occasional leaks, but it has held up very well.

jfkoc

If there is a Fiber-seal franchise near you have them come out and treat all the furniture your loved one might sit in. This is in addition to waterproofing. 

Be very careful of the seat height and depth due to the short height. The more comfort the harder it is to get in and out...for example down is wonderful but very hard to get out of.

JDancer

I cut pieces of memory foam to fit inside a regular pillowcase, added a layer of incontinence padding and slipped in under my M-I-L before she sat down. The pad could be thrown away and the foam and pillowcase washed.