Hi there
We have recently moved my parents-in-law (dad 88 and mum 80) to live nearer to us in Brighton so that we can provide more support for them. As such, I am going in to their bungalow once a week to clean and am therefore more privy to how they are coping day-to-day than I would be if I just visited for a cuppa.
What has come to light is their lack of personal hygiene and I don't know whether this is something that we should try to enforce change. As I am the only one who puts the washing machine on, I know for a fact that she only changes her pants once a week and I have only washed a pair of his underpants once in 8 weeks! Neither of them shower or top and tail wash - Mum has gone for 4 weeks without showering and then has only done so because we have threatened that we won't take her out unless she does so, but she pulls a face and is reluctant. I should say that this is a woman who used to embarrass my husband as a child because she was so immaculately turned out when she picked him up from school and stood out from all the other mums! Dad shaves now and again at the sink but I'm pretty sure that he doesn't shower regularly. Both seem to clean their teeth however. I should also add that the shower is kitted out to make the experience easier for them - shallow tray to step into, grab rails, seat and easy to operate shower head.
There are lots of other signs of their memory not being quite what it should and odd behaviors but it is the personal hygiene issue that bothers me most.
Can anyone offer any advice or perhaps been through the same situation?
Thank you
We have recently moved my parents-in-law (dad 88 and mum 80) to live nearer to us in Brighton so that we can provide more support for them. As such, I am going in to their bungalow once a week to clean and am therefore more privy to how they are coping day-to-day than I would be if I just visited for a cuppa.
What has come to light is their lack of personal hygiene and I don't know whether this is something that we should try to enforce change. As I am the only one who puts the washing machine on, I know for a fact that she only changes her pants once a week and I have only washed a pair of his underpants once in 8 weeks! Neither of them shower or top and tail wash - Mum has gone for 4 weeks without showering and then has only done so because we have threatened that we won't take her out unless she does so, but she pulls a face and is reluctant. I should say that this is a woman who used to embarrass my husband as a child because she was so immaculately turned out when she picked him up from school and stood out from all the other mums! Dad shaves now and again at the sink but I'm pretty sure that he doesn't shower regularly. Both seem to clean their teeth however. I should also add that the shower is kitted out to make the experience easier for them - shallow tray to step into, grab rails, seat and easy to operate shower head.
There are lots of other signs of their memory not being quite what it should and odd behaviors but it is the personal hygiene issue that bothers me most.
Can anyone offer any advice or perhaps been through the same situation?
Thank you