Does Mom live with you? What makes you so certain that she had not showered? Is there an odor? If that is the case you tell her "Oh, you did? It didn't work so we have to repeat it. " You honestly have to level. Due to his probably Lewy's dementia my bro has no sense of smell. And he hates deoderants. When I visited him when he lived alone I told him that he needed to use deoderant because even a shower was not working and his clothing was becoming permiated with odor. To which he responded "Really, my friend __________ never told me that". I told him that he likely didn't want to hurt his feelings. His response was "Well, I don't LIKE deoderants". That was well and good when he lived alone. He is in assisted living now and it is NOT well enough. He soon got tired of my posters everywhere saying "Mr __________has no sense of smell; if you smell any odors please let him know". Wears deoderant now. If she doesn't live with you, but rather alone, I think that there is little you can do but be certain she has deoderants she loves. Seniors have fragile skin and sometimes can shower TOO much. Things like bidets, sprays, wipes, and such can be good for addressing crucial areas, which isn't the arms and legs and such, if you get my meaning. Good luck and let us know if anything works.
newworlds88, I see from your profile that your Mom is in her 90's and has Alzheimer's/Dementia.
I have noticed for myself [mid 70's] that taking a shower is like going to the gym, and here I use to be a gym rat for many years. It can be very exhausting for many seniors. Especially with your Mom having memory lost, etc.
Another thing, some seniors become claustrophobic when in a shower. Especially if there are glass doors. I know for myself, I need to keep the far door open a couple of feet.
Then there is the fear of falling. If your parent is using a moisturizing liquid soap and/or hair conditioners, it will make the floor of the tub/shower feel like an ice rink, even with a tub mat inside.
Towel drying isn't easy. I find myself hopping around trying to get one foot and leg dry, can be a challenge. So easy to get one's feet tangled up in the towel.
Then if the parent needs to blow dry their hair, that can be tiring on their arms.
Whew !!
A parent doesn't need to shower daily, twice a week or once a week is good enough, unless they are doing hard labor. If a parent is a Depends wearer, baby wipes work quite well between showers.
If she doesn't live with you, but rather alone, I think that there is little you can do but be certain she has deoderants she loves. Seniors have fragile skin and sometimes can shower TOO much. Things like bidets, sprays, wipes, and such can be good for addressing crucial areas, which isn't the arms and legs and such, if you get my meaning.
Good luck and let us know if anything works.
I have noticed for myself [mid 70's] that taking a shower is like going to the gym, and here I use to be a gym rat for many years. It can be very exhausting for many seniors. Especially with your Mom having memory lost, etc.
Another thing, some seniors become claustrophobic when in a shower. Especially if there are glass doors. I know for myself, I need to keep the far door open a couple of feet.
Then there is the fear of falling. If your parent is using a moisturizing liquid soap and/or hair conditioners, it will make the floor of the tub/shower feel like an ice rink, even with a tub mat inside.
Towel drying isn't easy. I find myself hopping around trying to get one foot and leg dry, can be a challenge. So easy to get one's feet tangled up in the towel.
Then if the parent needs to blow dry their hair, that can be tiring on their arms.
Whew !!
A parent doesn't need to shower daily, twice a week or once a week is good enough, unless they are doing hard labor. If a parent is a Depends wearer, baby wipes work quite well between showers.