My mum has been diagnosed with the latter stages of vascular dementia. She has a fear of showers/baths/getting wet- saying she was told she could get pneumonia. I ramp up the heating so warm but her mood becomes defensive, emotional and stroppy when a shower is mentioned. Has anybody got any tips as it has become a very anxious time every time we know a shower is due.
Fear of shower and pneumonia
- Thread starter Dawnw67
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- vascular dementia
Hello @Dawnw67 and welcome to this supportive and friendly forum. There is a lot of shared experience of dementia to be found here from members who want to help.
I am sorry to read about your Mum's dementia, and also the challenges you are facing with her showering.
I don't have any direct experience of this I'm afraid, but I am sure that others do and will be along shortly with their suggestions.
Sometimes, just being able to share and know that people understand and care enough to answer can be an enormous help when times get hard.
I am sorry to read about your Mum's dementia, and also the challenges you are facing with her showering.
I don't have any direct experience of this I'm afraid, but I am sure that others do and will be along shortly with their suggestions.
Sometimes, just being able to share and know that people understand and care enough to answer can be an enormous help when times get hard.
Hi Jennifer
I didn’t know there was such a thing -is that in addition to flu jab?
Thank you
yes available for everyone over 65 years. its a one off rather than a yearly booster
@Dawnw67
www.nhs.uk
I've had two, when having a flu jab I was asked if I'd had one at 65, when I said I had the nurse said that as it was over 15 years ago would I like a booster and I said 'yes'
Pneumococcal vaccine
NHS information about the pneumococcal vaccine, including what the vaccine helps protect against, who should have it, how to get it and side effects.
www.nhs.uk
I've had two, when having a flu jab I was asked if I'd had one at 65, when I said I had the nurse said that as it was over 15 years ago would I like a booster and I said 'yes'
Hi Dawnw57
I'm not massively knowledgeable like a lot of people here. I sympathise with you as getting our loved ones out of irrational thoughts and anxiety is upsetting and especially difficult.
Have you suggested your Mum have body washes rather than bathe/shower? She could dry down quicker and in sections. Perhaps you, or somebody else, can do this for her if she agrees?
I believe the pneumonia people with dementia are susceptible to is a type which is caught through swallowing difficulties when the food goes down the wrong way (although your Mum's probably worried in general?) and not from the cold.
My Dad has mixed dementia and has had body washes for a while, mainly because he had trouble getting into the bath anyway. His carers would do this for him but has since gone into a home. It seems to work well, if only a bit fiddly.
Good luck with your Mum x.
i think you mean aspiration pneumonia. my husband had strip washes for 2 years before the bathroom was adapted. hes just survived a few weeks with washes again and neither were very well. he was fine. sometimes thats all they were used to other than the tin bath by the fire on a sunday night. it didnt do them any harm.
I think its a long held belief amongst the elderly that ''You'll catch your death of cold'' or ''You'll get pneumonia'' if you get wet and cold. o course we know this isnt the case, perhaps memories of when houses were colder.
Could you super warm the bath roo and try along with a loo trip ''while we are here in the warm''
Dont tell her the plan, dont pre warm, just spur of the moment
Could you super warm the bath roo and try along with a loo trip ''while we are here in the warm''
Dont tell her the plan, dont pre warm, just spur of the moment
How about a “sit down shower”? Mum sits on a plastic chair (or get a wall seat fitted) and you use the shower head just to shower her body so that her head/face doesn’t get wet.
People with dementia often develop a fear of water. Showers seem like huge, dangerous torrents of water and baths appear so deep they are afraid of drowning.
Strip washes are much less threatening, especially if they are wrapped in towels and only the bit that is being washed is exposed
Strip washes are much less threatening, especially if they are wrapped in towels and only the bit that is being washed is exposed
Do you wash them or do they do it themselves? My Mum seems to have neverending fungal infections (I don’t need to be a bloodhound!) She will not let me help and is adamant she is coping. But she smells - she can’t smell it herself. I have suggested a carer to help with personal care which hasn’t gone down well. I guess if you don’t think you have an issue, you don’t need help!
