While you think that taking a bath is a very simple activity, it may be a different picture for your senior loved one. This is obvious especially when the challenges of aging catch up with them. Our senior loved ones will need assistance in taking a bath as bathrooms are risky places for the elderly. Most falls happen in bathrooms because of slippery floors.
As a home care provider in Calgary Canada, let us share with you some guiding principles when you’re assisting a senior family member in taking a bath.
- Bathe only if necessary.
Bathing for seniors is not necessarily done every day. Their tolerance for cold may not be like how it used to be. As an alternative, you can wipe their whole body with a wet, clean cloth instead. The key idea is that they’re fresh, pat-dried, and clean. - Wash sensitive areas.
When you help your senior loved one take a bath, make sure that their hands and face are washed daily. Clean their private parts as well. If they’re not taking the full bath, at least wipe these sensitive parts clean to keep them safe from infection. - Prepare all the bath supplies.
When you’re already in the bathroom with your senior loved one, all their bathing essentials should be available. It would be risky to leave them alone in the bathroom because you forgot the shampoo or body wash. Having all the bath supplies ready can also encourage your loved one to take a bath cheerfully. - Set the right temperature.
Your senior loved one is not as tolerant to different temperatures as they used to be. Bath water might be too hot or too cold for them, so make sure that the water temperature is just right. - Put on latex gloves when washing with body excrement.
Seniors may not hold their bowels well when they’re bathing. Make sure that you put on disposable hand gloves before you touch any excrement. If there are aspects of bathing that you’re not confident in performing, entrust that to home caregivers in Canada.
Maintaining one’s hygiene is vital in promoting your senior loved one’s emotional health. When they feel fresh and clean, they have the confidence to socialize and the assurance that they’re being taken care of. But remember that they should enjoy a level of independence when they bathe. Let them shampoo their hair, lather the soap, or pat-dry themselves. This level of independence, no matter how little, can do great wonders in improving their self-esteem.
At Passionate Home Caregivers, you can expect us to provide dignified and quality assistance to your senior loved one at home. Schedule an in-home assessment with us today to talk about how you would like your loved one to be helped. Share the love of caring for your senior loved one by sharing this information with another family member.