What style of clothing protector/bib is best?

Hi My Mum in law dribbles constantly she is 94 with dementia and lewy bodies it is difficult to keep her clean, I use an apron or a muzzi, when at her day centre she uses a tabard which is neat and protective, but she feels she is being picked out so any suggestions would be grateful. 

On Wednesday, 29 April 2015, 10:38, Dignity Champions forum <[log in to view email address]> wrote:

Message sent by Paul Brown.

Hi. We are looking for feedback on carer's and resident's use of clothing protectors (bibs) to help us understand everyone's experiences and to develop new dignified designs. We (Care Designs) already have two dignified clothing protectors (a ladies scarf style, for all day wearing, and a durable, tabard style with a pocket for mealtimes) but wondered what else would be desired to give residents dignity with practicality if they dribble or have trouble eating.

My company is Care Designs (part of Bibetta Ltd., our website: www.bibetta.com ) and we welcome any feedback or ideas to help us create the best designs. Post them on this discussion board or contact us directly at [log in to view email address]. Thank you.

Dear Rita. Thanks for your message. It is exactly your point about your mother-in-law being picked out, amongst other adults wearing bibs, which we are eager to overcome.

You may find the 'Pashmina Scarf Style Protector' solves the problem. It looks like a ladies scarf, so is dignified, but has an invisible waterproof layer on the back, is absorbent and has an easy fix Velcro closure around the neck. You can see it at: www.bibetta.com on the Care Designs section. You can add other items on top or underneath depending on how much she is dribbling, such as the Care Designs PRO80 waterproof tabard style bib or the neckerchief, which is thicker and absorbs more liquid.

Hi,

I know nothing at all about this - but I do have a thought about the 'dribbling while eating' issue.

It is such an obvious thought, that I'm guessing it has already struck lots of other people - but, just in case, here goes.

Would it help - to 'reduce the being picked-out factor' - if the staff and carers, who were serving or helping with the meals, ALSO WORE the same 'bib' that the people with the problem, were wearing ? Then the reason for the bib can be moved to a more general 'it helps to keep messy food off our clothes' and away from 'it is because you dribble your food' ?

As I've said, it is an obvious suggestion - so probably of no help, at all !

Dear Mike, thanks for your suggestion. Actually, we (Care Designs) have already done this after some strong customer feedback at a trade show! We changed our PRO80 professional bib to a 'TABARD' shaped bib after comments that our original shape was too close to a baby bib look, and we decided that making it appear like a 'carer's tabard' (with the wide shoulder coverage and back section) was a sensible move. It does not go all the way down the back like a traditional tabard but certainly has the general look, so hopefully this does help residents feel more included. (You can see this product at: http://www.bibetta.com/acatalog/Tabard_style_Bibs.html ). Please let me know what you think, thank you.

Hi Paul,

'We changed our PRO80 professional bib to a 'TABARD' shaped bib after comments that our original shape was too close to a baby bib look, and we decided that making it appear like a 'carer's tabard' '

My point isn't really what the 'tabard' the service users are wearing looks like (although not looking like a 'bib' makes sense to me). My suggestion was that the staff and carers, should also be wearing very similar tabards to the users - I wasn't quite clear, if your post addressed that point.

Hi Mike,
Yes, I think we are saying the same thing!

I meant that we changed our products (adult bibs that used to look like big baby bibs) to a 'tabard' shaped bib/clothes protector so that it looked the same as the tabards that the staff were wearing.

We think this is a good move forward in improving dignity for people who need to protect their clothes.

Thanks Paul,

The idea of preventing feelings of being 'picked out as different' by staff and users wearing the same product, does seem sensible to me (and it seems, to people who provided you with feedback at your trade show).

If tabards are disposable, then ideally I think it would be a case of exactly the same product being worn by staff and users - but I'm guessing that there is a possibility that staff tabards are 'more robust' and hence washed and re-used (or simply made of thicker plastic, to last throughout a full shift before disposal), whereas perhaps user tabards are disposable [and therefore not 100% identical].

But as a tabard could be worn 'while dusting to keep your clothes clean' even if the same tabard worn by a patient was for 'dribbling food', there is some scope for this approach. Although it might go against 'refinement for the task' - there might be necessary compromises, in a multi-purpose tabard.

Anyway, good luck - Rita's 'but she feels she is being picked out' is likely to upset quite a few people.

I worked in a SEN school for children and young people with Profound and Multiple LDs. It proved difficult to sometimes to find clothing protectors for older children which were 'cool' and age appropriate. A range of Neckerchiefs made from a durable, wipe clean material would be great. Ones with cool, teen designs would be very favourable.

Personally I use a traditional serviette as I find any of the bibs on the market degrading.

Dear Vicki,
Thanks for your message. There is a ladies' scarf style clothes protector on the market which looks nothing like a bib.
The 'Pashmina Scarf Style Protector' by Care Designs looks like a ladies silk scarf, so is dignified, but has an invisible waterproof layer on the back for protection, it is absorbent and has an easy fix Velcro closure around the neck. You can see it at: www.caredesigns.co.uk . Please let me know if this solves the problem. Thanks.