Caregiver Tips – How to Make Bathing Easier for Elderly Parents (and Less Awkward)
Home Care Services in Vienna VA: Caregiver Bathing Tips
If you are new to caregiving, you are probably experiencing a lot of feelings. You may feel happy and proud to be able to help the parent who did so much to help you become the person you are today, and you might feel a bit sad that they have lost their independence, and their health is on the decline. You might also feel slightly embarrassed, because now you have to help them with things that are normally private, like bathing.
Many elderly men and women are nervous about bathing in general because the tub can be a dangerous place. The bathroom is one of the riskiest rooms in the house when it comes to potential falls, and it isn’t crazy for your loved one to worry that they might slip and fall getting in and out of the wet shower stall or tub.
Another reason why elderly men and women might not love bathing is because now their caregiver has to help them with it. This can be awkward for everyone involved, no matter how close you and your parent might be.
Here are a few ways to cut down on that awkwardness and make the experience more pleasant for everyone involved:
Don’t do things that your loved one can do for themselves – One of the best ways to embarrass someone is to make them feel like you think they can’t do something they are perfectly capable of doing. It is quite possible that your aging parent can wash most of the front part of their body, and they only need you to wash their back or hair. Ask them what they need before you just jump in and take over – this will make it feel much less invasive for them.
Consider a cover-up – If you and/or your loved one are feeling embarrassed about you seeing them totally naked, they can use a cover-up to keep their privacy and dignity intact. You can have them wrap a towel around their waist and pin it in place, or you can even have them wear an apron to keep things covered up.
Have everything prepared beforehand – Don’t go into the bathroom with your loved one without a plan. Get everything set up before you go in so that everything will be prepared and on-hand when you need it. Then, tell your loved one everything you plan to do, so there won’t be any unwelcome surprises.
Get the right kind of soap – Using liquid soap from an upright soap dispenser on a sponge or loofa can make bathing your loved one much easier than trying to use a bar of soap. Remember to use a mild soap, though, and to be gentle – the same goes for shampooing.
The most important thing to keep in mind when helping your loved one to bathe is that they are probably feeling as nervous (or more so) as you are. Talk to them and reassure them that there is nothing weird about what is going on. You might even try joking about it! Nothing makes things less awkward than acknowledging the awkwardness and having a good laugh about it.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care services in Vienna, VA, call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today.
Contact: 703-273-8818
Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/natalie-strouth/caregiver-tips_b_4555079.html
Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.
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