Bathing Issues

[Clarance]

Hello all, I have started carng for a lady with Dementia for the last couple of weeks and I just can't encourage her to have a wash/shower or bath. The family are relying on me to do this and I have tried several different things but not had any luck. The lady is fully mobile and can still feed, wash and dress herself. It has probably been at least four weeks since she has had a full wash. Any advice for tips and tricks to try would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[cragmaid]

Warm the bathroom, run the bath or set the shower running and say your bath is ready. Can't waste the water...that would be wrong.
Get out the clean clothes and have them ready.....or explain that you are putting the wash on and you noticed her skirt/blouse/ jumper needed a wash.
Tell them they are a bit whiffy...
Write it on the calenday "Bath Day"....

I tried each and every method at one time or another. Sometimes they worked!

 

[daisydi]

I used to say I needed to do the washing and I am afraid I told her she was smelly and I wouldn't take her out unless she had a shower but then she was my mum!

 

[Clarance]

Thanks for your responses, I'll give them all a try, I like the calendar idea!

 

[ClaireUK]

My mother in law hasn't had a bath for at least a few years. We have suggested to my father in law, that he just runs her a bath, and I have used suggestions from here, but I don't think he is accepting any of it. (nor will he accept help). He is burying his head in the sand. We visited at the weekend, and the house smelled terrible. We have mentioned opening windows to air the place, but it falls on deaf ears.

 

[lookingglass]

Yes, good luck and do try the suggestions. But, my mum won't allow any carer or myself to help her wash or shower and she does neither herself. She is not very clean and there is nothing I can do about it. All the carers try but she refuses personal care. I have just had to accept that she will not shower and I just wash her clothes a lot when I can and do a lot of Fabreezeing! Not funny really but what can you do you can not force someone to wash.

 

[Stanleigh]

This is one area that is so difficult. My dad is in a CH, and refuses all personal care, he will let my husband shower him, but it has to be a cat lick! We tell him it will only be quick and then we can go and have a cuppa and some cake, sometimes it works sometimes not. If we can't visit for whatever reason, the shower won't happen....what can we do..I sometimes wash him with a flannel, and that has to suffice. I guess you just have to with the flow....


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