Elder Care in Roseville CA
Independence in the bathroom is often one of the first things that a senior loses when they face the challenges of getting older. Bathing can present a variety of difficulties that can make it hard for your loved one to manage on their own, especially if they are also dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Streamlining this experience for your parent and reducing the anxiety that is often attached to it can make bath time less stressful and more beneficial for your parent, and for you.
Use these tips to help make bathing easier and less stressful for a parent with Alzheimer’s disease:
- Less frequency. The first way for you to make helping your parent bathe less stressful is to not do it as often. Many people have the perception that bathing is something that everyone needs to do every day, but this is simply not the case. Bathing too frequently, particularly in hot water, can leave your parent’s skin dry and vulnerable to cracking, irritation, and infection. Not bathing as often reduces your parent’s emotional stress and also helps to keep their body healthier.
- Convenience tools. Traditional forms of bathing are not always an option when it comes to caring for a senior who is dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Your parent may be afraid of the water or may resist certain steps of the process, making it difficult or even dangerous to try to handle them. Utilize effective convenience and accessibility tools to make this process easier. For example, if your parent does not feel comfortable dipping their head in water to wash their hair, use a shampoo cap that already has the shampoo inside it. These do not require wetting the hair at all and leave it clean and fresh.
- Follow the same pattern. Structure and predictability are valuable when it comes to caring for an elderly adult with Alzheimer’s disease. Establish a pattern for bathing that includes what order your parent washes in, the products that you use, and even details such as songs that you listen to or topics that you discuss. The more familiar the process, the more adaptable your parent will be. Eventually it will become something that they do without thinking about it, simplifying the entire process for both of you.
If your aging parent is dealing with difficulties with bathing, whether or not they are related to Alzheimer’s disease, an elder care provider may be an incredible option for you. The task of bathing is usually a very private personal care task and can be sensitive for those who need assistance. Many elderly adults struggle with the thought of their adult child helping them manage such a task and may suffer from increased mental and emotional health consequences simply from the stress and anxiety of receiving this type of assistance from their adult child. An elderly home care services provider, however, can create a personalized course of treatment designed to offer respectful, dignified care and assistance in whatever tasks your loved one may need. Many seniors are more likely to feel relaxed with a care provider handling such tasks because they are neutral and professional, enabling them to feel more at ease. This not only makes the process less uncomfortable for your loved one, but can also relieve your stress, enabling you to focus more energy on other aspects of your aging parent’s care.
If you or an aging loved one needs elder care services near Roseville, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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