Laundry Pods Look Like Candy to Dementia Patients, So Echo Park Home Health Care Professionals Remove the Pods for Patient Safety

Although Pegasus serves a variety of individuals, many of our clients are seniors. Some suffer from cognitive impairment. Our in-home care professionals in Echo Park put patient safety first regardless of age or condition.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission accumulates statistics on injuries and deaths related to household products. Their reports include the deaths of children and adults who have consumed laundry pods. Most of the adults had dementia.

Laundry pods are little packets of laundry detergent. Each pod has enough detergent to clean one load of clothes. The detergent in the pod is concentrated and toxic.

The pods are small and squishy. Some laundry pods are also brightly colored. The size and color make them look like candy.

Children and adults with dementia find the pods irresistible. Children automatically pop them in their mouth. Some cognitively impaired adults have a greater desire than normal to put things in their mouths.

Then there’s the so-called Tide Pod Challenge. Teenagers and young adults intentionally bite into laundry pods, but usually spit out the detergent. They post videos of themselves doing so on social media.

There’s less concern about taking the Tide Pod Challenge. No one has died from it. It’s a fad and will eventually be replaced by the next fad.

The American Cleaning Institute has asked manufacturers to voluntarily put latches on the containers holding the pods. They have asked that the pods be made with a tough and opaque skin. The primary efforts have been directed at making laundry pods less colorful and appealing.

Proctor & Gamble (P&G), the makers of Tide laundry pods, expresses regret at the deaths of children and elderly individuals. They have made the packaging stronger. They have also coated the pods with a bitter-tasting film.

P&G has no plans to make the pods less colorful. The color is part of the marketing. They are increasing their warnings about not consuming the pods.

Home Health Care Professionals in Echo Park Undergo Patient Safety Training

In-home care by professionals includes:

• Nursing care
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Social services

The goal is to enable patients to live safely and independently at home.

Care services are available for anyone who cannot care adequately for themselves. That can include younger individuals with disabilities or recovering from surgery. Most services, however, are provided to elderly individual whose safety is at risk.

Patient Safety Has Many Facets

Pegasus home care professionals know household cleaners are toxic. They ensure that all harmful products are out of reach. When possible, hazardardous items are kept in locked cabinets.

Patient safety involves more than that. Our experts assess the home environment for all safety hazards. These can include:

• Loose rugs
• Objects on floors
• Electrical cords
• Unsteady tables or chairs
• Poor air quality
• Unsanitary conditions
• Clutter

Often individuals are so used to how things are in their homes that they don’t recognize potential hazards.

Physical therapists work with patients to strengthen them to help prevent falls. Patients also learn how to minimize injury if they do fall. Grab bars are installed for patients who are mobile but at risk for falling.

Medications are another area that our care professionals are trained to assess for safety. Some of the households in which we provide services include children. All prescription and OTC drugs must be kept out of their reach.

Adult patients sometimes don’t understand the instructions on how or when to take their medications safely. Others simply aren’t able to take drugs without assistance. Part of in-home care includes monitoring and administering medications in the correct dosages according to schedule.

Pegasus home health care includes helping patients with their personal hygiene. When individuals are clean, with fresh clothes, they usually feel better. Feeling better mentally improves their physical health and safety.

Good hygiene also helps prevent infection in patients with wounds, receiving infusion treatments, or other broken skin. Our nurses will clean wounds and change bandages or dressings. They also monitor and evaluate any changes.

Sometimes family caregivers become extremely stressed. In a few instances, the elderly adult can suffer mental or physical abuse. Pegasus in-home caregivers recognize the signs of abuse and intervene.

Patients Receive Personal Care

Pegasus home health care experts work individually with their patients. Care is always tailored to meet the patient’s special needs. The professionals design, implement, and modify customized care plans.

Pegasus is a licensed Home Care Organization and a Joint Commission Accredited Home Health Care organization. Since 1994, we’ve helped individuals remain safe and independent in their home. We’re recognized as an industry leader because of the consistently high-quality care we provide.

Our goals for each client are based on:

• Dignity
• Health
• Independence
• Support
• Compassion
• Medical Care
• Respect
• Recognition as an individual, not a diagnosis

We strive always to help each person improve their quality of life.

If you’re responsible for someone who needs assistance living at home, call us. Pegasus Home Health Care professionals are here to help keep the home environment safe for your loved one.