How do you approach her? I found that asking "do you want to get a shower" you get the answer No. F she has a Dementia, they become like toddlers. With my Mom I just pointed her into the direction of her bathroom and said "its time for a shower". Make sure the room is warm. Have a shower chair and a hand held shower head. Do not put her under the shower spray. Rinse her off and suds her up. Those puffs and shower gel is great for this.
It's common for the elderly not to want to bathe. Most likely, she has dementia. Along with this condition goes anger and combativeness. So you may follow the excellent advice here, hire an aide who is experienced in making sure that the patient showers - and then sister becomes angry, starts hitting, kicking, scratching, etc. when they try to shower her. Then you have another problem. What to do?
At that point, many people decide that the only way to deal with this two-problems-in-one situation is to place the loved one in a facility. They must be kept clean or all sorts of health issues can develop, such as skin infections, scabies, or whatnot. At a facility they have many people to assist with showering them. My husband, for instance, is a three-person assist. There is no way I could keep him clean at home, so that's a main reason that he doesn't live here anymore.
Keep in mind that at some point you may have to give up the idea of helping sister at home. You're facing a problem that is more serious than you may have thought at first! Good luck in finding the best solution for sister and for you.
Sounds like your sister has some form of dementia as not wanting to shower is very common with folks who suffer from it. So make sure she has a shower bench to sit on, grab bars, a slip proof mat, and a hand held showerhead, so she feels safe and comfortable while taking a shower. And you or someone else may have to just take her by the hand and put her in the shower and help her wash up real good. You can do this about twice a week and then use the extra large body wipes on her for the other days. It may also be time for your sister to move into an assisted living facility as they will have their folks shower her as needed.
5 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
ADVERTISEMENT
At that point, many people decide that the only way to deal with this two-problems-in-one situation is to place the loved one in a facility. They must be kept clean or all sorts of health issues can develop, such as skin infections, scabies, or whatnot. At a facility they have many people to assist with showering them. My husband, for instance, is a three-person assist. There is no way I could keep him clean at home, so that's a main reason that he doesn't live here anymore.
Keep in mind that at some point you may have to give up the idea of helping sister at home. You're facing a problem that is more serious than you may have thought at first! Good luck in finding the best solution for sister and for you.
So make sure she has a shower bench to sit on, grab bars, a slip proof mat, and a hand held showerhead, so she feels safe and comfortable while taking a shower.
And you or someone else may have to just take her by the hand and put her in the shower and help her wash up real good. You can do this about twice a week and then use the extra large body wipes on her for the other days.
It may also be time for your sister to move into an assisted living facility as they will have their folks shower her as needed.