Are you have problems encouraging an elderly person to bathe?

Are you having problems encouraging a loved one or patient to bathe?  Shower struggles can be a common issue for elderly caregivers, with many refusing to bathe.

According to Safer Senior Care, while it’s easy to attribute this rejection of personal hygiene to pure stubbornness, there are often a number of reasons why seniors refuse to bathe, from fear of falling to isolation and depression.  In many situations, a family member may turn the topic of a senior’s personal hygiene into a battle. They might cajole, argue, intimidate, or even ridicule a loved one in a desperate attempt to get them to bathe. However, these methods are rarely effective.

Possible reason why elderly individuals may refuse to bathe

Depression:

If a loved one suddenly stops taking care of themselves, it’s wise to rule out depression first

A check-up with a doctor is a good idea if low energy seems to be part of the change in behaviour or if they just don’t seem interested in anything anymore.

Lack of smell:

As seniors age, their sense of smell can weaken and they may become oblivious to scents like urine, sweat, and other bodily odours.

Fear:

Covered in hard, slick surfaces, the bathroom is a major spot for falls, making even a simple trip to the bathroom that much more intimidating (especially paired with the process of undressing, stepping in and out of the shower or bath, reaching for shampoo bottles, etc).

The difficulty and danger around showering and maintaining personal hygiene can result in mental fear and distress as well, when a senior considers the prospect of losing their coveted independence due to their inability to bathe themselves. This can also result in seniors implementing a number of stop-gap measures like utilizing baby wipes that – while helpful workarounds – cannot be substituted for a regular bath or shower.

Lack of Energy & Discomfort:

Because bathing becomes such an obstacle for elderly seniors, some feel they simply don’t have the energy to bathe. To some, the process simply doesn’t seem worth the effort, especially considering the physical risks involved.

And then of course there is the joint pain and mobility impairment that makes all kinds of daily tasks difficult, from bathing to folding laundry and putting on a fresh set of clothes. Many seniors experience pain simply from bending or standing, which makes bathing that much more exhausting.

Isolation:

With many seniors isolated from many of the social activities they used to engage in, whether due to fewer social connections or limited mobility, some find showering pointless. Why bathe when you won’t be seeing anyone? This sense of isolation can also be a contributor to depression.

Forgetfulness:

Some elderly individuals are forgetful and simply don’t remember to bathe. For these individuals, adding calendar reminders can help a senior remember when they’ve last bathed.

Cognitive Impairment / Dementia:

Poor personal hygiene is a common symptom of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. An elderly individual’s cognitive impairment can bring with it difficult behavioural changes, sensitivity to stimuli, and an inability to keep track of time.

To make matters worse, dementia tends to amplify confusion, fear, and physical discomfort, making it especially difficult to convince a dementia patient to shower. When helping someone with dementia bathe, always exercise empathy and understanding. Recognize that they are not trying to be difficult, but are genuinely confused and scared.

How to Convince an Elderly person to bathe or shower

Exercise Compassion:

Try to see the world through their eyes. Many tasks healthy adults take for granted are extremely challenging and stressful for mobility-impaired seniors. Be patient, kind, and do your best to validate and work through their fears, rather than write them off as silly or irrelevant.

Make it a Team Goal:

Instead of seeing the issue with an “us vs them” mentality, try to present the bathing problem as a team effort. Avoid phrases like “you need to shower” or “you have to bathe to stay healthy” and try exercising more we-oriented language such as “let’s heat up some towels so you’ll be nice and cosy for our shower today” or “we should make sure to shower today before we go out to lunch.”

This kind of language allows the senior to feel like you are on their side and are a cheerleader rather than an enemy.

Make Plans for After the Shower is Done:

It can help to make plans about the fun activities you’ll be able to do after your loved one takes a bath. This gives the senior an activity to look forward to that they’ll enjoy, which helps them avoid fixating on the shower itself.

Making Bathing Easier with Bathing Aids and Shower Equipment:

There are many bathing aids on the market that can make showering much easier for seniors, such as:

• Shower chairs
• Bath lift
• Handheld shower attachment
• Bathtub rails and handles
• Grab Bars
• Tub / transfer bench
• Non-slip bath mat
• Tear-free shampoo or no-rinse shampoo
• Extra-large sponges
• Liquid soap dispensers

Use Positive Reinforcement:

When it comes to learning, punishment is never as effective as positive reinforcement. Yelling at an elderly relative for not showering will only reinforce in their minds that they should not consult you for help or talk to you about their self-hygiene issues.

When an elderly loved one finally does take a shower or bath, try praising them by saying things like, “Wow you look great today!” or “Is that a new shampoo you’re using? You smell wonderful!”

Consult a Trusted Person (Like a Doctor):

Many elderly seniors tend to trust authority figures like their doctor over family members – this is especially true if the doctor has been seeing the elderly patient for many years.

You might try asking the senior’s doctor to mention to them the importance of regular bathing. Or, alternatively, you can tell the elderly individual that their doctor said it was important to bathe at least once a week (or whatever amount of bathing is necessary).

Consider if there are any other authority figures the individual looks up to who you can enlist for help, such as a pastor. Elderly individuals also tend to have tremendous respect for news stations, so you can tell the individual “I heard on the news the other day that it’s recommended we bathe twice a week to stay healthy.”

Respect the Senior’s Privacy:

Many elderly seniors greatly value their privacy, which is why requiring assistance bathing can be so disturbing for them. In fact, some seniors will refuse to bathe simply because they know they’ll need assistance in order to do so, and they find that prospect very upsetting.

If it’s safe to do so, you should shut the door or close a curtain and step out of the bathroom while the individual bathes. You may consider placing a chair outside the bathroom door and reading while the senior bathes so you are present in case they need help.

While employing the use of certain tools or installing certain equipment may allow some seniors to bathe independently, others will need some assistance, regardless.

For those who do need an extra hand, there are a few ways you can maintain a certain level of privacy for them:

• Make sure they have a cosy robe to wear before and after bathing.
• Put a towel over the individual’s lap or their shoulders so that they don’t feel so exposed. You can then use a washcloth to clean them underneath the towel.
• Give them a washcloth to hold themselves, for something to occupy themselves with and so that they can help bathe themselves in addition.

To give the individual as much privacy as possible, consider if there are certain parts of the shower or bathing process where you can leave the bathroom and allow the individual to care for themselves independently – if it’s safe to do so.

You can offer to stand by and have them call you in for assistance when they need help with certain phases, such as getting in and out of the tub.

Bathing Alternatives for Elderly Seniors

If taking a bath or shower simply feels like an impossible task for a senior, there are other options available.

Sponge Bath

While showering or bathing in the tub is usually the easiest option for a complete cleaning, if an elderly senior has completely refuses or has limited mobility, a sponge bath can work fine too.

To give a sponge bath:

• Start at the top, with the senior’s face and head
• Move down the body, saving the private parts for last
• Only uncover one part of the body at a time as that area is being washed to keep the bather warm and maintain privacy
• Wipe down one area at a time and change washcloths for each new section so that you aren’t wiping down the individual with a dirty cloth.
• Be gentle when rubbing an elderly individual’s skin, as aging skin is much thinner and more sensitive. Also, be sure you are using mild bath products that won’t irritate sensitive skin.
• Finish off the bathing session with a moisturizer to prevent skin from drying and cracking.

Wipes

While wipes are not a substitution for bathing, they can serve as a good quick clean-up option in between full bathing sessions.

For more information and tips your can read the full article on the Safer Senior Care website: https://saferseniorcare.com/convince-elderly-senior-to-bathe-shower/