I was shocked to find my usually 'clean' mother has cut her showers down to once a week, if that. She has a walk in shower with a chair, she gets in and brother washes her, as much as she will allow. He is frustrated b/c she will use a dime size dollop of body wash (to save money!) and it does not get all of her clean. I know it's hard for her to do even this, and want her to accept 2-3xs a week aides for this exact thing, but she won't.
Subsequently, she is pretty rank smelling after a couple of days. Urine being the prominent smell and it's really bad some days.
Brother is tactful about her needing better hygiene, but she is exhausted just doing once a week. She'll also lie to him and say she showered, but the shower and towels are all dry, so he knows she's not being honest.
I have no idea how to get her to bathe more often, or even to do a washcloth bath every day---she is noseblind to all odors, the cats can come into her apt and poop all over and she cannot smell it. Luckily brother replaced her carpet with wood floors, so it's not as bad----but I cannot go into her apt due to the smell. She will not allow us to clean for her anymore, so it gets BAD before somebody in the family simply shows up and bleaches the heck out of the place--while she's away. She doesn't notice.
I wish she'd accept outside aide, but she won't. The smell actually is bad enough that everyone who visits her has commented on it. YB is mortified, but he cannot force her into showering.
RosaVista, bathes/shower for an older person isn't easy on them, it's like going to the gym.... the bath/shower is a real work out. I don't know how many times during the week the parent does bathe/shower, it doesn't have to be daily. I remember growing up Saturday night was bath night :) Use toss away wash wipes between showers.
An elder can also be reluctant as baths/showers can result in a fall, and there is no soft landing. Today's body washes and hair conditioners can make the floor of the tub, even with a mat, slippery.
Shower chairs are helpful, gives the elder a more secure feeling. It's just trying to use the shower hose without soaking the whole bathroom.
Also with an elder, some will develop claustrophobia in a shower. If the shower is in a bathtub, and you have glass doors, leave the back slider door open a bit.
The parent might feel less scared taking a bath, but the huge issue is sitting down in the tub, then trying to get back up. No easy task. Believe me, been there, done that for myself.
I have all the above issues for myself. The more I see ads for those walk-in tubs, the more I understand why :) Just wished they weren't so expensive.
Is she tired? In pain? Fed up? Cold? Does she dislike having someone else in the room?
Is it essential for her to bathe or shower?
If it's a matter of maintaining her normal routine, then the best time is whenever was normal for her. Say she always took her bath at eight o' clock on Saturday evenings: you prompt her by recalling that this is her habit and you are here to help her carry it on.
Subsequently, she is pretty rank smelling after a couple of days. Urine being the prominent smell and it's really bad some days.
Brother is tactful about her needing better hygiene, but she is exhausted just doing once a week. She'll also lie to him and say she showered, but the shower and towels are all dry, so he knows she's not being honest.
I have no idea how to get her to bathe more often, or even to do a washcloth bath every day---she is noseblind to all odors, the cats can come into her apt and poop all over and she cannot smell it. Luckily brother replaced her carpet with wood floors, so it's not as bad----but I cannot go into her apt due to the smell. She will not allow us to clean for her anymore, so it gets BAD before somebody in the family simply shows up and bleaches the heck out of the place--while she's away. She doesn't notice.
I wish she'd accept outside aide, but she won't. The smell actually is bad enough that everyone who visits her has commented on it. YB is mortified, but he cannot force her into showering.
An elder can also be reluctant as baths/showers can result in a fall, and there is no soft landing. Today's body washes and hair conditioners can make the floor of the tub, even with a mat, slippery.
Shower chairs are helpful, gives the elder a more secure feeling. It's just trying to use the shower hose without soaking the whole bathroom.
Also with an elder, some will develop claustrophobia in a shower. If the shower is in a bathtub, and you have glass doors, leave the back slider door open a bit.
The parent might feel less scared taking a bath, but the huge issue is sitting down in the tub, then trying to get back up. No easy task. Believe me, been there, done that for myself.
I have all the above issues for myself. The more I see ads for those walk-in tubs, the more I understand why :) Just wished they weren't so expensive.
Is she tired? In pain? Fed up? Cold? Does she dislike having someone else in the room?
Is it essential for her to bathe or shower?
If it's a matter of maintaining her normal routine, then the best time is whenever was normal for her. Say she always took her bath at eight o' clock on Saturday evenings: you prompt her by recalling that this is her habit and you are here to help her carry it on.