How physically disabled is your mother following her stroke? And how mentally disabled?
The physical effects matter because they will give you an idea of just how uncomfortable bathing might be for her. Modesty is an issue, of course, although it's one that the aides should be trained to handle appropriately; but on top of that make allowances for possible discomfort verging on actual pain - it depends how her mobility has been affected.
Her mental/cognitive function is important because if she is unimpaired then it is entirely up to her how often, or indeed whether, she takes a bath and NOBODY has the right to decide for her. In that case, if she is in charge, the correct approach is to keep offering, reassure her, and show her how this can be done in a way that she will find acceptable. Talk it through with her and see if you can find out what is stopping her. I appreciate that communication is difficult because her speech is impaired, but you can still explain things to her and then gauge her response by facial expression and body language. Remind her that she will feel better and more like herself once she is clean and comfortable, to encourage her to make the effort.
How is her continence care currently being managed? If she is coping with changes all right, and getting used to that, it might be possible to introduce some "mission creep" during the procedure without upsetting her.
Twice a week. If a patient or family member insist, then maybe they will add one more a week. And on the other hand, if a competent patient declines a bath, they will skip it for now (patient's rights), but the staff should be asking them at a later time if they want it now. I've seen patient's decline to bathe for weeks and there was really nothing that staff could do.
Where I live 2 baths a week are mandated. "Bathing 33. (1) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that each resident of the home is bathed, at a minimum, twice a week by the method of his or her choice and more frequently as determined by the resident’s hygiene requirements, unless contraindicated by a medical condition."
This depends on so many things. Actually, for SENIORS there are only a few places really important for cleansing. I will go no further. You already know those places. As to all the rest of skin, for the most part cleansing is not a good thing, robbing the skin of oils that are already way too scarce. Making the skin dry and even more fragile and it is already becoming. Good gentle cleansing wipes for the important areas, and to be honest anything else is not good, robs them of needed nutrients to their skin, protective oils already in short supply. If you have an obese person, then you have other issues, yeast forming in folds of skin.
My mom got two whirlpool baths a week, if she requested a bath in addition to the scheduled two, she got it. I had Residents who refused their baths. I worked Evening shift 3:00 PM-11:30 PM. Nurse Manager tried doing their bath on Day shift and the Resident would be more compliant.
When my mom was in the NH for skilled nursing rehab they bathed her a couple of times a week.
They should do a sponge bath in bed if the patient can’t or won’t get into the shower. Some homes also have whirlpool bath areas for certain patients with certain conditions.
The perfect nursing home will assist the resident to bathe as often as the resident wishes and is used to doing.
There are, of course, all sorts of variable factors in the answer to your question; so could you explain why you ask? It will help us come up with something more useful :)
she had a stroke - so all modesty is down the drain and she is very modest. I think she tries to avoid it and I was wondering if she can really do that- do they insist- she definitely should have several at least as she wears the adult diapers and has no control over her kidneys.
The physical effects matter because they will give you an idea of just how uncomfortable bathing might be for her. Modesty is an issue, of course, although it's one that the aides should be trained to handle appropriately; but on top of that make allowances for possible discomfort verging on actual pain - it depends how her mobility has been affected.
Her mental/cognitive function is important because if she is unimpaired then it is entirely up to her how often, or indeed whether, she takes a bath and NOBODY has the right to decide for her. In that case, if she is in charge, the correct approach is to keep offering, reassure her, and show her how this can be done in a way that she will find acceptable. Talk it through with her and see if you can find out what is stopping her. I appreciate that communication is difficult because her speech is impaired, but you can still explain things to her and then gauge her response by facial expression and body language. Remind her that she will feel better and more like herself once she is clean and comfortable, to encourage her to make the effort.
How is her continence care currently being managed? If she is coping with changes all right, and getting used to that, it might be possible to introduce some "mission creep" during the procedure without upsetting her.
"Bathing
33. (1) Every licensee of a long-term care home shall ensure that each resident of the home is bathed, at a minimum, twice a week by the method of his or her choice and more frequently as determined by the resident’s hygiene requirements, unless contraindicated by a medical condition."
They should do a sponge bath in bed if the patient can’t or won’t get into the shower. Some homes also have whirlpool bath areas for certain patients with certain conditions.
There are, of course, all sorts of variable factors in the answer to your question; so could you explain why you ask? It will help us come up with something more useful :)
Compliant residents two or three times a week.