While aging in place, seniors face a variety of different challenges and issues that make various normal daily activities more difficult. Many seniors find that they have more trouble bathing or taking showers and may opt to skip these activities altogether. This decision can cause other problems, though, especially in terms of overall health and hygiene. Live-in care providers can help aging adults get the assistance they need to bathe more often.
Dig Deeper to Get to the Cause
There are so many reasons seniors stop bathing. They may feel unsafe in the bathroom or have mobility issues. They could also forget when they last bathed. This can happen even for seniors who don’t have significant issues with memory loss. Sometimes seniors battle depression or have other mental health issues that affect their ability to bathe and tackle hygiene tasks. Sitting down and starting the conversation can help families dig deeper and figure out how to help.
Address Bathroom Safety Issues
Bathroom safety concerns are very real for seniors who are aging in place. Home care providers can help families notice where they need to make changes to help seniors feel safer in the bathroom. These changes might be as simple as swapping out slippery rugs for ones that have non-slip backings. Adding safety rails and using shower chairs can also help. Live-in care providers can be there whenever seniors are ready to shower or take a bath, offering further support to keep seniors safe.
Reframe What Bathing Entails
For some seniors, breaking down the task and reframing what bathing entails helps quite a lot. Simplifying difficult tasks relieves some of the pressure for seniors, allowing them to enjoy the experience. Live-in care providers can use favorite products, soft towels pre-warmed in the dryer, and other pampering ideas to help seniors feel like showers are closer to a day at the spa. Having fun with this activity makes it less daunting.
Talk About Preferences or Needs That Changed
Bathing might be different for seniors because their preferences or needs have changed. For instance, seniors might have showered most of their lives, but now find water hitting their faces to be uncomfortable or even scary. Switching to a bath might not be something they’ve considered, but it can make bathing easier to access.
Bring in Extra Help
The biggest way to ensure that seniors bathe more often is to ensure that they have experienced help with this task. Live-in care providers are there around the clock, helping seniors with all sorts of tasks. They’re there to help seniors create daily routines that work for their needs and preferences, helping them to stay healthy and comfortable as they age in place. This removes a lot of pressure from family caregivers, too, especially if they’re nervous about helping with tasks related to personal care.
Bathing is a task seniors still need to do regularly in order to remain healthy and happy. Figuring out why seniors are avoiding bathing is an important first step. From there, live-in care providers can help families put routines and plans to work for aging adults.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Live-in Care in Babylon, NY, please contact the caring staff at Help at Home today at (631) 859-3435
Help at Home is a top provider of home care services in Islip, Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Hempstead & Oyster Bay, and surrounding areas on Long Island & NYC. We serve Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties.
Whether you or a loved one is recuperating from an illness or a senior requiring care, we can help. Help at Home is committed to providing quality home care at affordable rates. Helping a patient remain in the comfort and security of their home is our goal. We are the best alternative to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Help at Home caregivers
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