Cleaning after going to the toilet - urine
Get help from a health care professional, or talk to your supervisor or care coordinator if you think the person has a urinary tract infection. Look for the following signs:
- temperature or shivering
- acting differently or more tired than usual
- blood in the urine
- pain, especially in the lower back.
Important
Work out how much the person can do on their own. You can ask the person, other carers, support workers or family. This will help you find out how much the person can take charge of their own care.
How to clean someone after they pass urine
- Let the person sit on the toilet until they are finished completely.
- Wash your hands with soap and water, and put on disposable non-latex gloves. Remember to follow the 5 moments of hand hygiene
- Start with a few squares of toilet paper or a cleansing wipe if preferred. It doesn't matter if you bunch or fold the toilet paper. Because of changes in the skin, some people with disabilities might prefer cleansing wipes (alcohol and fragrance-free).
- Gently lean the person forward to reach between their legs (make sure they can't fall off the toilet).
- If the person uses a commode that goes over the toilet, reach underneath. If you have difficulty doing this, ask them to stand.
- Female: Ask the person, or assist them, to lean forward to reach between their legs (make sure they can't fall off the toilet). Gently pat between the legs with the toilet paper. Move the paper from front to back. This will stop germs being spread from the anus to the urethra.
- Male: Ask him to gently shake his penis to get rid of any urine. If he can't, use a piece of toilet paper to dab over the end of the penis and clean away any urine.
- In the case of a skin integrity issue, you can use a cleansing foam. Shake the bottle of foam, spray onto soild skin or directly onto the toilet paper. Wipe the skin clean and flush down the toilet.
- Flush the toilet paper down the toilet. DO NOT flush cleansing wipes as they may block the plumbing. Dispose of cleansing wipes into a plastic bag and put them in the rubbish bin.
- If needed, help the person to put their clothes back on and wash their hands.
- Take off and throw away your gloves.
- Wash your hands with soap and water. Remember to follow the 5 moments of hand hygiene
Need more help? Call the National Continence Helpline on 18OO 33 OO 66 and talk to a continence nurse advisor.
View this content and more for free via the learning modules at www.continencelearning.com
Extra Resources
