Avert arguments over taking a bath
Many people who care for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairments find bathing a daily battle. Maintaining a clean body will help your older adult avoid unpleasant body odour, skin diseases, and urinary tract infections.
However, attempting to get them to take a bath or a shower frequently leads to conflict, antagonism, sobbing, or yelling. That makes everyone’s day miserable and causes your stress level to soar.
So what can you do if a dementia patient refuses to take a shower?
We have eight suggestions to assist you in getting through their objections to taking a bath. Try different things to see which of these suits your older adult the best.
Eight ways to encourage someone with dementia to bathe or take a shower
1. Create a daily schedule
Even though older persons do not require daily bathing, it is frequently simpler to develop a consistent daily schedule that includes daily bathing simultaneously.
As a result, there is no doubt as to when or why it is occurring because it is just a regular part of their day, just like eating or sleeping.
Their level of tension and anxiety is decreased by a daily routine, which also increases the likelihood that they will take a bath without protest.
2. Reward good behavior and avoid conflict.
Don’t try to convince your elderly relative that they need to take a shower, that they smell bad, or that it’s necessary to practice proper hygiene.
Reason and logic don’t hold water. Instead, speak in brief, basic terms and emphasise the enjoyable, pleasant activities that follow a bath.
For instance, when the restroom is comfortable, approach your elderly relative, smile, and make eye contact. Ensure they accept your hand, stand up, and allow you to accompany them as they go (toward the bathroom).
Say something like, “Let’s go shower now and then we’ll have a nice snack (cookies, juice, etc.) and do something enjoyable” once they have begun to walk.
Avoid talking or complaining over the shower as you walk by, keeping the conversation on the snack or enjoyable activity. “Aren’t those chocolate chip cookies your favourite? And the lovely birds can help us solve that puzzle.
If you use this strategy often, having a shower starts to be associated with good things, such as their favourite snack or activity.
If they start to dispute and refuse to take a bath, change the subject and find something enjoyable to talk about. This prevents a quarrel resulting in unpleasant feelings that would likely endure. Wait a moment, then give it another go.
3. Use “we” instead of “you”
It’s beneficial to employ a soothing, tranquil voice during the bathing process and utilise “we” rather than “you.”
This creates the impression that you are engaging in this enjoyable activity with them, that they are not doing it alone, and that no frightening things will befall them.
4. Create a warm and welcoming bathroom
Older persons experience cold far more quickly than younger people. Seniors frequently dislike taking a bath since they can only recall feeling chilly and shivering.
Reducing complaints before and during the shower will result in a more enjoyable bathing experience.
To make it less uncomfortable and hard for them to take off their clothes while sitting on a chair or toilet seat, place a towel there.
If you want to create a tranquil, spa-like ambience, you could even wish to play gentle, relaxing music.
5. Make it easier for them to relax and feel secure.
Since they won’t need to stand and balance while soaping and rinsing, using a shower bench or chair dramatically decreases the effort required to take a shower.
They can slide into the bathtub or shower area while remaining sitting and secure, thanks to a shower transfer bench. Some benches, including this one, include rails that let you transfer the seat from the outside to the inside, removing the need to scoot.
6. Make use of a handheld shower head to lessen anxiety
For someone with dementia, the overhead shower spray might be extremely frightening.
According to some experts, this occurs because people can’t see the water coming at them and feel something invisible is coming at their head.
Install a hand-held shower head rather than a standard one to address this issue and have control over when and where the water contacts them.
Get them settled in the shower chair before you turn on the water. Turn on the water and set the temperature after positioning the shower head so it is at their feet level and facing away from them.
Say, “Let’s put our hands (or feet) in the water now,” and then begin drizzling water on those body parts gradually. This will allow them time to get used to the sensation and will let you determine whether the water’s temperature is appropriate for them.
Don’t turn the taps all the way on if the loud sound of the water concerns them; this will lessen the force of the spray.
You can also use a simple shut-off valve to quickly turn the water on and off while washing up to reduce the amount of time the water is on.
7. Verify there won’t be any surprises or guessing required.
It seems sensible that bathing might be burdensome for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s due to the numerous stages involved.
Your older adult will probably still remember how to accomplish it even if they are unsure of what to do next.
Inform them of what will occur at each stage and guide them through it so they can complete as much of it on their own as feasible.
Give children some time to do tasks alone, but be prepared to offer moderate support if necessary.
They gain control as a result, which boosts their confidence. Additionally, if they are aware of every step in the process, they won’t be as terrified or anxious.
As an illustration, you can remark, “Let’s rub the soap on your arm right now. That’s fantastic. We’ll now use water to rinse the soap away.
8. Add more towels for warmth and comfort
Some folks might choose to cover body portions that aren’t being washed while they’re in the shower with a towel. (It’s okay if the towel becomes wet.)
Keep the moist towel warm by misting it with water every so often to keep them cosy.
To prevent them from being chilly after a bath, wrap them in two large, dry towels (front and back) very away.
They can carry out this while still seated in the shower chair. It also helps to keep them warm to get them mostly dry before removing them from the tub.
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