Does anybody have any advice for how to actually perform a sponge bath for a frail elderly women with some skin abrasions? My grandmother has been asking for assistance, but I am scared to touche her- her skin tears very easily.
I think once or twice a week is good. My father sounds like the other people that wrote here. If he had his way, he would never shower. He uses disposable wipes every evening before bed to wash himself off a bit. I never feel that he is really clean. I have been talking to my mother about getting a home care agency to come in once a week to give him a good bath. I do not want to bathe him, because neither he nor I are comfortable with him being naked in front of me. It is a chore I don't want to take on.
My 94 yr old father-in law take a sponge bathe twice a week if he need it our not( according to him) he uses no soap and he does it himself. He has a open wound on his hand that I clean everyday with soapy water, but I can't get him to shower. He is under a doctor care for wound. He tells that he takes a bath 2x's a week (not a sponge bath) I sure this no showering has been going on for a while. He wears disposable underwear and has to have a walker to get everywhere. He is unable to stand for any lenght of time show I know that he can't be cleaning himself properly. His undershirt is changed every 3 days, he use the same washcloth for couple weeks or more. I can't help but feel that this sore is very slow at healing because of this.. How do you make he understand that he needs to take a shower at least once a week.
I'd love some ideas on HOW to get my Dad to agree to take a shower even once a week. It's a knock down, drag out fight to get it even every ten days. I thought I had a good plan: "Dad, I won't drive you to that appointment when you smell like that." But today it didn't work. Having accidents doesn't even warrant a sponge bath, in his mind. There is a lot that drives me around the bend about this adventure but the lack of bathing is the biggest problem.
In my home, we usually gave my Mother a shower every day, due to her waking up with urine soaked bed and overnight disposable diapers. At least put in shower and rinsed off well, then dried and moisturizer applied. In the care home I inquire how often they are giving her a shower and they reply, "Every day, of course." I appreciate this. Her hair is always clean, too, and I think they do a better job than I of moisturizing her entire body. Being an American Boomer, I do prefer our current bathing habits to those of the olden days, or those from other continents who cling to ancient bathing rituals:) I love the smell of Zest.
I usually ask my 85 year old mom to shower daily. She gets whiffy pretty quick otherwise. It also gives her something she knows how to do and does not seem to bother her skin.
My husband's gotten along fine with weekly showers for several years. (With additional if accidents happened.) But now we have a walk-in tub and he finds that very relaxing. I also find it easier to help than the shower was. So he bathes more often, for the pleasure of it.
I care for my 82 year old father, and I give him a good shower once a week. When I'm done, I put lotion on his skin to keep it hydrated. However, I have CNAs come in every morning to give him a sponge bath to wash his face and all of the necessary areas.
Older people have dryer skin. Once a week should be fine. A sponge bath is good between, but if you think back, decades ago everyone took a "weekly bath." They would all have thought us wacko for showering daily. Europeans tend to think we're nuts, too. For health issues, weekly showers should be fine, and if you think a sponge bath is needed that can help.
Be sure the shower has a mat, probably a stool and a hand-held shower head. There are many aids available to help.
Be sure the shower has a mat, probably a stool and a hand-held shower head.
There are many aids available to help.
Carol