Care for my dad but he’s got a funny smell

[TheOpalFox]

im Caring for my dad full time
he showers daily yet has this musky horrible old smell? Anyone else? Thank you

Is he drying his clothes indoors ? I personally hate the smell of washing dried that way

Yes older people can have a 'different' odour. So long as he isn't being incontinent in any way, try Persimmon Soap. It doesn't help with this type of odour.

Sorry that should have read DOES HELP.

Are his clothes washed and aired properly, and frequently enough?
Could he be ill - Parkinsons has a particular smell, as does liver damage and other diseases?

Does he have any skin folds? He might be getting fungal infections in them if so. Would be be willing to let you check?

It's due to an increase of a compound called 2-nonenal that's produced more by the body as you get older.

You can use persimmon soap or get people to eat lots of mushrooms to get rid of it.

There is an explanation for this, it’s the oxidation of lipid acids.
Does he change clothing daily as well as showering? Does he soap everywhere or just rely on the running water, and only soap armpits & groin for example. Exfoliation can help.
It can get absorbed into fabric furnishings and clothes that aren’t washed often, such as jackets.

This. It’s a known phenomenon.

You can buy persimmon soap on amazon.

The different odour is due to a compound called nonenal, unrelated to hygiene but can be helped by a healthy (fresh fruit & veg type) diet and careful washing. Google will offer more advice.

If he's on medication that can make him smell "fusty". Otherwise, it could be his clothes or bedding need washing more frequently.

Nonenal. I didn't know about that!
Every day is a school day on MN.

I read recently that the nonenal smell can be concentrated at the back of the neck, so it's useful to advise/help the elderly to wash there daily.

I’ve noticed my MIL has recently developed the ‘old person smell’ it’s coincided with a sudden loss of mobility and her short term memory seems suddenly worse too, I wonder if the three things are connected at all.

I'm afraid old people often do develop a "musty" smell just as you describe. My dear mother did in her 80's. She'd have been horrified, she was such a clean and well dressed woman. I read about it somewhere and it is a chemical changes due to age and rarely to do with lack of hygiene, clothes or bedding etc. No advice but just to say that it is definitely a thing.

Are they teeth cleaning regularly including dentures. I think it's easy to skip over this day to day stuff.