Bathing every day may be something your senior is not happy doing and there could be solid reasons. The problem is that you do want her to bathe somewhat regularly. That’s important for both health purposes and for general well-being. So what can you do in order to find a happy medium in this situation?
Not Bathing Regularly Is a Big Deal
The first thing to understand as your senior’s caregiver is that bathing is incredibly important. It helps to remove bacteria, germs, and other potential problem-causing entities from your senior’s skin. Bathing helps to remove body odor and keeps skin fresh and clean. Taking regular baths is absolutely something your senior needs to do.
But Bathing Every Day Isn’t Necessary
On the other hand, though, bathing every single day isn’t as essential as people want to believe. Your elderly family member may be able to bathe every other day or every couple of days and still be fine. What’s really important is that her skin is healthy and that she’s not dealing with skin problems because she’s bathing less often.
Make a Bathing Routine
Having a routine is especially important, because it keeps your senior in the habit of bathing, and it helps her to remember to do it. Try to come to an agreement about how often your senior will take a bath or shower. You’re probably both going to have to compromise to an extent. Once you’ve decided on a routine, put it on the calendar and stick to it. If you find later the routine needs adjusting, do so.
Troubleshoot the Bathing Process
Resistance to bathing typically means that there’s something not working in the process. Take a closer look at what’s going on. If your senior is willing to talk about it, talk to her about what’s not working for her while bathing. Things like the temperature of the room, feeling nervous about the water or about falling, and even concerns about modesty are all valid and they’re all something you can adjust.
If your elderly family member is fighting you really diligently about bathing, you might want to talk to her doctor about the situation. It’s possible that you can back off a little bit and still help her to get clean when she needs to. That’s a tough battle to keep fighting as a caregiver and it’s one that you need to assess for your senior.
If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Red Lodge, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.
