As the disease progresses, some daily routines become more and more difficult for your loved one to complete on his own. Tasks such as feeding himself, getting dressed, and bathing may become too difficult for him to manage and he’ll need assistance from family or Alzheimer’s home care providers to complete them.
Bathing can be one of the toughest responsibilities for a family caregiver to take on. Your loved one might not feel comfortable with a family caregiver providing help in the shower or bath. He may physically or verbally resist, making the entire event extremely stressful for everyone involved. Alzheimer’s home care might be a better option.
Having a Game Plan for Bathing Can Help
Your goal is to keep your loved one safe during bathing and while it might not be the most positive experience of his day, you want it to be calm and without undo stress. Planning ahead of time can help the experience, as can getting Alzheimer’s home care for your loved one.
Here are six Alzheimer’s home care tips to help you plan for a smoother bathing experience:
- Have everything ready beforehand. You don’t want to be running to get more shampoo because it just ran out, or have your loved one get out of the shower only to realize there isn’t a clean towel. Reduce stress by preparing the bathroom ahead of time.
- Prepare the Bathroom. Speaking of preparing the bathroom, think about how to make the environment more welcoming for your loved one. Do you have proper supports such as railings to hold onto or a shower chair to sit on? Is the temperature of the bathroom comfortable? You might even want to include some calming music for him to listen to as he bathes.
- When it’s time to bathe, don’t beat around the bush. It’s better to be direct and make a statement instead of a question. Say, “It’s time for your shower,” instead of, “Are you ready for your shower.” You can still offer choices about if he wants a shower or bath or what kind of music he wants to listen to.
- Schedule bathing time at the same time each day it’s offered. It can help to base that time on when your loved one is the most calm. For some, that’ll be in the morning. For others, it’ll be before bed.
- Include your loved one in the process. He might be able to wash his hair, but he can hold the shampoo bottle for you. You can also offer him his own washcloth to use to scrub up, and then you can follow up on the areas he missed.
- Have a small reward ready. It might be a cup of chamomile tea right after the bath or having a story read to him. Remind him of that reward if he gets upset during the bathing.
Alzheimer’s Home Care Providers Can Step in and Help with Bathing
Sometimes, it just becomes too difficult for a caregiver to provide bathing care. An Alzheimer’s home care provider can be scheduled to visit the home and help with baths several times a week.
If embarrassment or shyness is making your loved one combative during bath time, he might appreciate having an Alzheimer’s home care professional assist him with bathing instead of a family member. They can help make sure your loved one gets the personal care he needs while honoring his feelings about who should do it.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Silver Spring, MD, please contact the caring staff at A+ Personal Home Care. Call (443) 660-8757, After Hours: (443) 796-5241
A+ Personal Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving the Baltimore and DC Metro Area, with offices in Pikesville and Gaithersburg.
At A+ Personal Home Care, our mission has always been to provide exceptional care, compassion, and a nurturing environment for our beloved community members. Over the years, we have strived to create a place where individuals can find solace, engage in meaningful activities, and receive the highest quality of medical attention.
A+ Personal Home Care is always striving to improve and exceed expectations. We welcome feedback and suggestions from our clients and their families, as your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our care programs. We want to ensure that we continue to meet your needs and remain a trusted pillar of support within our community.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all the families who have placed their trust in us. Your support and loyalty inspire us to continue providing exceptional care every day. We are committed to fostering an atmosphere of love, respect, and dignity, and we consider it an honor to serve you and your loved ones.
Should you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any member of our dedicated team. We are here to listen, assist, and ensure that your experience at A+ Personal Home Care remains fulfilling and positive.
Thank you once again for choosing A+ Personal Home Care as your partner in care. We look forward to sharing many more moments of joy, growth, and healing with you and your loved ones in the days to come.
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