This is a very difficult area, and carers and care homes have to be extremely careful how they manage patients or they could be in serious trouble for assault. I am sure there are many relatives who would be horrified if their loved one had been 'forced' to have a shower by a carer. Daily showering is alien to my parents, who were brought up with bathing once a week. They do allow the carers to wash them daily, but still complain that they don't see why they need to, and I tell them that they have to take extra care of their skin now as it becomes much more fragile as you get older, and they grudgingly accept this. The carers don't ask about washing, its "Let's go and get you washed now, shall we", or words to that effect, nor do they ask about taking prescribed medication "Here's you pills and water". Not sure what they would do if these were refused, but I certainly would not expect them to force pills down their throat! The agency we use is good, and they always contact me if they have any concerns (mind you, no idea what I would do!).
Carers not experienced
- Thread starter 9901dawnb
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I will say however that the Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides indemnity to carers who are carrying out care activities.
Yes in mum’s home they would try with persuasion and if not when the person was soiled an intervention in ‘best interests’ was recorded. I could sometimes hear the protestations but the residents were always settled soon after. Whether staff in a non specialist dementia home would do this or not???
@Jaded'n'faded is right the way you approach these conversations is key. Sometimes where carers are busy / stressed I think asking the would you like a shower is sometimes said as a ‘no’ is wanted!
Also if someone is always very anti washing / personal care calming medication can and should be considered to keep them clean and well.
@Jaded'n'faded is right the way you approach these conversations is key. Sometimes where carers are busy / stressed I think asking the would you like a shower is sometimes said as a ‘no’ is wanted!
Also if someone is always very anti washing / personal care calming medication can and should be considered to keep them clean and well.
Hello everyone
I just wanted to respond in my capacity as a professional carer. It’s sad to read some of the comments regarding loved ones not being washed etc. I agree that persuasion can and should be used where appropriate to encourage a client to take a bath/shower, get dressed, take meds etc. I have a situation with a family of a person I care for, who are insistent upon their loved one having a bath every single day. Most days, we manage to accomplish this. The person is in their 90’s and extremely frail. Some days they are simply exhausted and after breakfast do not want to get dressed in day clothes, but wish to remain in their pj’s and go back to bed to lie down, which is obviously more comfortable in pj’s than day clothes! We do our best to encourage and coax dressing or a bath, but in the end, on some occasions, we do have to respect this persons wishes and allow them their choice. As has been stated, we have to be very careful to allow a person to make their own choices and have some control over their lives, but I do agree there are appropriate ways and means by which to persuade a person to do things (bathe , dress etc). I am always very careful to document a clients refusal to do something that a family is insisting upon and will explain the steps I have taken to try do that. I do find that being able to build good bonds with the client helps, which I hv been very fortunate to be able to do with 2 of my clients that I spend a lot of time with. That certainly helps with managing the issues of personal care for both the satisfaction of the family and the client.
I just wanted to respond in my capacity as a professional carer. It’s sad to read some of the comments regarding loved ones not being washed etc. I agree that persuasion can and should be used where appropriate to encourage a client to take a bath/shower, get dressed, take meds etc. I have a situation with a family of a person I care for, who are insistent upon their loved one having a bath every single day. Most days, we manage to accomplish this. The person is in their 90’s and extremely frail. Some days they are simply exhausted and after breakfast do not want to get dressed in day clothes, but wish to remain in their pj’s and go back to bed to lie down, which is obviously more comfortable in pj’s than day clothes! We do our best to encourage and coax dressing or a bath, but in the end, on some occasions, we do have to respect this persons wishes and allow them their choice. As has been stated, we have to be very careful to allow a person to make their own choices and have some control over their lives, but I do agree there are appropriate ways and means by which to persuade a person to do things (bathe , dress etc). I am always very careful to document a clients refusal to do something that a family is insisting upon and will explain the steps I have taken to try do that. I do find that being able to build good bonds with the client helps, which I hv been very fortunate to be able to do with 2 of my clients that I spend a lot of time with. That certainly helps with managing the issues of personal care for both the satisfaction of the family and the client.
I worked with-day 1, no shower so what! Day 2, no shower, this is not ideal. Day 3, no shower, this is not acceptable so call me.
Worked fine and I was never called but worth mentioning, there were no continence issues.
Meds were different, it was if there was refusal, call me as this was in Mum's best interest.
Inappropriate clothes at home was resolved by asking the last carer to hide the dirties and me leaving out what should be worn the following day. Blow your human rights Mum, you're not wandering around as one carer allowed you to, in your underwear and cardigan.
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