So much can keep your elderly family member from taking care of her personal hygiene in the way that she always has. First, it’s embarrassing to admit that she needs help. But there can be other issues at play, too. She may have cognitive issues that interfere with decision-making abilities and she may simply feel as if she doesn’t need to bathe. Issues like incontinence can just make everything more complicated.
Communicate with Your Senior
Keep the lines of communication open with your elderly family member. Explain to her why you’re insisting that she needs to bathe or to change her clothes. It’s important that you listen as well. She may not flat out tell you that she’s embarrassed, but that information might be in between the lines of what she does say to you. Let her know that you’re there to help her as much as she’ll allow.
Make Hygiene as Easy as Possible
Make sure that you’ve got tools, fresh clothing, and anything else you might need ready to go. If your elderly family member is already nervous about bathing and other hygiene tasks, waiting for you to get everything together is the perfect opportunity to bolt and you don’t want that. Get prepared and then you’ll be ready to go.
Pay Attention to Her Reactions
If your senior is still resisting bathing, there may be a good reason. Encourage her to at least change clothes if you can’t get her to bathe and do what you can to get to the bottom of the problem. You might need to enlist the help of her doctor to figure out why she’s unhappy with the idea of showering or bathing. Some medical issues, such as pain in joints or elsewhere, can make bathing genuinely painful or terrifying.
Get Someone Else to Help if All Else Fails
There’s no rule that says you have to be the one who bathes your senior. She might even feel more comfortable with a stranger, oddly enough. Having someone who knows and loves you can be more embarrassing in the long run. Elderly care providers are experienced and they have the skills needed to make this situation no big deal while also keeping your senior safe.
Keeping your senior clean and comfortable might feel impossible in the beginning, but as you both listen to each other and you accommodate her needs, you can find answers. Don’t let one or two setbacks run you down, either. This is something that you and your senior can solve together.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Greenwood Village, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Denver. Call today: (303) 756-9322.
