My 88 year old father has advancing Alzheimer’s and his main carer is my 83 year old Mum. She has identified that he is having difficulties getting in and out of a bath. He currently gets in and kneels whilst he washes but then struggles to get off his knees holding onto the taps and a grab rail whilst my Mum tries to help him as much as she can (Usually pulling on his left arm). We have tried an inflatable bath cushion but they didn’t get on with that.
My father is showing signs of increasing physical and mental frailty and Mum and I have identified that converting one bathroom into a shower room would provide many benefits even more so as his occasional continence mishaps increase.
My Mum is in favour but my father is blocking the work. We have tried discussing it from all angles and he acknowledges that we are well intentioned but blocks it on the grounds he can still get in and out of the bath now. Any attempt to look ahead to meet his future needs are blocked.
What should we do? The prospect of leaving him in a situation where ultimately he is going to fail to be able to get out of the bath seems wrong because its like watching a potential crisis unfurl. Mum and I could go ahead with the work but that will mean overriding him which I know will leave him feeling very angry and frustrated which is perfectly understandable.
I know other families must have faced a similar problem and I I would really appreciate your advice. Thank you.
My father is showing signs of increasing physical and mental frailty and Mum and I have identified that converting one bathroom into a shower room would provide many benefits even more so as his occasional continence mishaps increase.
My Mum is in favour but my father is blocking the work. We have tried discussing it from all angles and he acknowledges that we are well intentioned but blocks it on the grounds he can still get in and out of the bath now. Any attempt to look ahead to meet his future needs are blocked.
What should we do? The prospect of leaving him in a situation where ultimately he is going to fail to be able to get out of the bath seems wrong because its like watching a potential crisis unfurl. Mum and I could go ahead with the work but that will mean overriding him which I know will leave him feeling very angry and frustrated which is perfectly understandable.
I know other families must have faced a similar problem and I I would really appreciate your advice. Thank you.