Anonymous wrote:I smell a marketing ploy for persimmon products...

+1000
I felt this the second I read OP’s opening post stressing so much about “nonenal”...and Persimmon.

Anonymous wrote:Please, what is this smell. I'm afraid this is me.

This topic isn’t funny, but this made me laugh. It’s all I was thinking as I read the thread!

I smell a marketing ploy for persimmon products...

I haven’t noticed this smell on my elderly relatives and I have a very strong sense of smell. It also may be that this MIL has a very strong natural smell, as some people just do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s a persimmon soap, but it is very expensive.

Yes, OP is aware.

"She is now visiting her other children, and I have used this time to launder everything with the persimmon detergent made to help with this issue ..."

The soap and detergent are two separate products.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the older people I know have any particular smell. I think this is something made up by a business trying to sell a product. So silly.

Maybe?

Some people are more sensitive to strong odors.

Anonymous wrote:I regularly visit and do errands etc for a 96 year old who has no smell. She is on very few meds and eats a bland diet. She is still continent.

Oh this is great to hear!

Anonymous wrote:None of the older people I know have any particular smell. I think this is something made up by a business trying to sell a product. So silly.

Maybe?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is normal and nothing you can do about it sadly.

Old people give off a distinct odor.

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/old-person-smell-174839.htm

TOTAL BS...

Unless you eat crap and use ton of meds you don't smell funny.

Garlic, onion.. asparagus ... meds.. and you smell funny..

Hmmm...she is on a bland diet with zero meds (except occasional insulin.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sweet elderly MIL has been staying with us. She is wonderful and we love her dearly. She has recently developed old person smell, a normal condition caused by thinning skin oxidizing and creating nonenal, which creates the odor. Although she showers every day and I do all of her laundry including sheets and towels regularly, the unpleasant odor remains because nonenal is not water-soluble.

She is now visiting her other children, and I have used this time to launder everything with the persimmon detergent made to help with this issue, as well as Borax and Oxiclean. I have been airing out her bedroom by keeping the windows open, and have used coffee grounds, vinegar, baking soda, dryer sheets, scented candles, and Pinesol to help eliminate the odor that lingers in the bathroom, carpet, the air.

Has anyone else dealt with this issue? Any tips? My MIL is returning soon and I want to be able to handle this discreetly so as to not hurt her feelings.
Thank you for any advice you can give me.

OP.. DO YOU WANT TO KILL YOUR MIL???? Because you are on a perfect road to do that!

I don't know ONE young person in the full health whou would Survive the barage of chemicals in their environment.

First of all.. I am not sure if she developed the smell but the smell is a result of what she eat AND medications she uses. Mostly the medications that make her smell bad.

Also, is she showering and washing her clothing?

Is she having medical problems like urine leak or has a catherer of some sort?

Maybe she is not telling you everything.

I know many elderly and I don't really smell anything drastic. There might be really some medications that send the odor off.

Othewise, change the carpet and drapes, mattres, and sheets for the new ones, paint the room.

BTW maybe this is mold that you confuse with old person. some old peopel hav emold in their home as they loose ability
to clean their homes and take proper care of things...

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I forgot to mention that I tried all of those remedies after she left, and now the odor is gone. My main concern is how to help with odor when she returns, preferably with organic nontoxic ingredients.

MIL is on a strict healthy diet prescribed by her physician, and currently not taking any meds unless her sugar is off, and in that case she needs to take some insulin. She does shower daily and we have a safe shower set up for her. I launder all of her clothing, sheets, and towels regularly. No urine leakage or catheter.

Because the odor is gone, I don't need to paint the room, change the carpet, drapes, sheets and mattress.

I don't think it's mold, because now that MIL is out of the house, the smell has disappeared. I don't expect MIL to clean, so I clean her bathroom and bedroom, and have the whole house professionally cleaned every month.

That's good that you have never smelled this odor on the elderly, I know it doesn't happen to everyone.

Anonymous wrote:https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Persimmon-Soap-Hormonal-Imbalance/dp/B081D6B1ZD/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=persimmon+soap&qid=1618623165&sr=8-14

I might try this. All natural ingredients and great reviews, except for the person that broke out in a rash. You never know how ingredients will affect people

Anonymous wrote:Please, what is this smell. I'm afraid this is me.

Check out some of the links, they are really good.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to honestly tell you if they smell an odor on you.
If so, it is natural. Maybe try the persimmon soap, and the detergent for your laundry.

Anonymous wrote:This is normal and nothing you can do about it sadly.

Old people give off a distinct odor.

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/old-person-smell-174839.htm

Really informative link, thank you.

Anonymous wrote:I’m 59 and concerned. How old is MIL? And yes you are wonderful OP! She’s lucky to have you.

MIL has circled the sun 92 times!
Thank you so much for your kind words, very much appreciated. I'm lucky to have her!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is getting in the shower, but is she using soap, shampoo? Can stand up without holding on? Sometimes old people can't reach around to clean themselves. It would be helpful to have a handheld shower sprayer and a seat to sit down on. She may need help washing her hair and back.

OP here: Yes to all.

The issue isn’t cleanliness. She is very clean. The problem is that no matter how much washing, nonenal is not water soluble. I would like to try the persimmon soap, but she will question it since she always uses Dove.

You mentioned she is very sweet. If you asked her to try out a new soap and let her know how it works & what she thinks of it, do you think she would agree to help you?

You can mention afterward that you love the scent on her, or how it seems to work with her body chemistry (if there is no scent).

I love the way you worded this! Thank you, this is a very kind way of suggesting the Mirai persimmon soap!