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Personal Care at Home Tips for Bathing the Elderly

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Elderly Bathing: Personal Care at Home La Jolla CA
Elderly Bathing: Personal Care at Home La Jolla CA

Sometimes it can be uncomfortable to help your elderly mom or dad bathe. It’s vulnerable and it feels like an invasion of privacy. Luckily, there are professionals who can care for your seniors and may make this situation much easier. Personal care at home professionals can help your mom or dad age in place while keeping up with their daily hygiene.

Bathing is so crucial to the health of your seniors, but when they stop being as mobile or have a hard time in the bathtub, it can be a chore. With the help of personal care at home, you can use these tips to make senior bath time easier.

Talk About it First

The most essential thing you can do for your loved one when they age in place is to communicate openly with them. You may start to notice a funky smell, but it’s important not to judge. Ask about their bathing habits so you know when to get them help or if there are other changes that need to be made. If they are scared, they may not need someone in there to help them, but they may need tools like shower mats and handles to grip onto. If they need help, it’s important to develop a routine together so they understand and know what’s coming.

Allow Privacy

You should always respect their privacy even if you’re needed in the bathroom as they shower. Communicate when you’ll open the shower curtain and explain the steps you’ll take. This is a vulnerable position for your senior, and it is still crucial to respect boundaries and privacy. It can also be important to interview personal care at home and develop a trusting relationship before a senior ever allows it to get to this point. Respect, trust, and privacy will be massive things to consider when helping your loved one bathe.

Prepare Things Ahead of Time

If your senior hates being in the bath, that doesn’t mean that they can skip washing themselves. Instead, if getting them undressed and then preparing everything, prepare everything first. This means getting the water running to the right temperature, opening the conditioner and shampoos, and preparing the body soap and towels. This will help your senior breeze through their bath, and they may need less help. If your senior has memory issues, set up the products in the order they are put on so you can walk your senior through the steps without invading their privacy.

Always Create a Routine

Even if your loved one hates bathing when they have a routine, it won’t come as a surprise when personal care at home comes to help them bathe. They are more likely to accept the situation when they are the ones in control of their own routines. They may like bathing more. If nothing else, this will help them understand what to expect so there are no surprises. This will work for many seniors.

For more information about how caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents stay in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable Personal Care at Home in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.

Brittnei Salerno

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