Bathing and personal hygiene of their loved one has long been a struggle for caregivers. If their loved one has dementia, this issue may further become one riddled with fear and trepidation. While bathing can be difficult for the elderly, it is necessary for skin cleansing and infection control as well as providing an opportunity for the caregiver to inspect the senior’s skin. Socially, a bath controls body odor, enhances social interactions and provides positive touch.  But the question remains, “How can we make shower time less of a strain on your personal relationship?”

§         Communicate Tell your loved what you are going to do before proceeding. “Mom, I am going to help you get undressed for the shower.” Approach from the front and maintain eye contact. If he/she becomes violent, back off and try another time.

§         Schedule Set up a bath schedule and use a calendar. Find a time of day where he/she is less likely to have outbursts. Use incentives to get him/her to bathe, such as telling your loved one that they must bathe before a favorite TV show or a favorite dessert. Once or twice a week is sufficient for seniors if they are not incontinent and keep the genital area clean.

§         Atmosphere Make it like a spa experience. Dim the lights and play relaxing, instrumental music. Use scented soaps/lotions, heated towels (use heated towel bars/containers or pluck them from the dryer) and a warm fuzzy bathrobe.

§         Temperature Turn up the heat one to two hours before the bath to keep the bathrooms warm. Seniors are often cold when we are wearing short sleeves. If there is tile in the bathroom, cover them with a plush bath rug or carpet (watch for falls). If you have an overhead heater, turn that on. Wear a t-shirt so you’re not overheated!

§         Safety Make sure the bathroom is safe - use bath chairs, non-slip mats/appliqués and grab bars. If the senior doesn’t feel safe, he or she will not agree to bathe.

§         Equipment Install a hand-held shower. The water spray in the face is distressing as often happens when sitting in a shower chair. The hand-held shower also allows the warm water to pour over them as they wash resulting in a greater sense of control.

§         Modesty Allow your loved one to do as much bathing independently as possible. Keep the doors closed and curtains drawn. Always cover the genitals with a washcloth or keep a light gown on the body that is not being bathed.

If your loved one still refuses to bathe, use alternative methods. Use no-rinse washcloths and dry shampoo. Try a “weekly bath” with everyday washing one part of her body using washcloths. For example, Monday wash her arms, armpits and back, Tuesday, feet and legs. Ask her to take that body part out of her clothes one at a time to wash, dry and then switch. It takes longer but your loved one may be more open to this. Sometimes you could time it during a trip to the washroom and use that as an excuse to clean the genitals. Use powders, body sprays, etc to help cover the body odor when you just can’t get them to bathe.

And lastly, many home care agencies offer a bathing service so that you don’t have to do the “dirty work”. Hire them and then go out for a cup of coffee to de-stress. Home & Hearth Caregivers offer a variety of packages that include bathing. Call us at 800-349-0663 for your complimentary, no obligation home assessment.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body. It is a natural body covering that protects us from the sun, injury, bacteria and infection.  It regulates body temperature and stores water, fat and vitamin D.  Keeping a seniors’s skin healthy is most important when fighting infections and injury. 

Seniors that are confined to a wheelchair or that are bedbound must be checked frequently for reddened areas and open sores.  Seniors that are confined to a bed should be repositioned every two hours to prevent bedsores.  That is also the case for seniors who aren’t as active. Get them up and get them moving as much as possible.

 Skin cancer is one of the most common problems in the elderly. Look out for moles that grow rapidly or have dark pigmentations, irregular shapes or bleed.  For suspicious skin problems have it examined by a doctor.

What is a Bedsore?

Bedsores or pressure ulcers are areas of damaged skin and tissue that develop when sustained pressure cuts off circulation to vulnerable parts of your body, especially the skin on your buttocks, hips and heels.

Bedsores are most common with seniors for those who are bedridden, uses a wheelchair or is unable to change positions without help can develop bedsores.  Bedsores can develop quickly, rapidly and often difficult to heal.

Four Stages of Bedsores 

Stage I:  A pressure sore begins as a persistent area of red skin that may itch or hurt and feel warm and spongy or firm to the touch.

Stage II: Skin loss has occured, either in the outermost layer of skinor in the skin’s deeper layer.  The wound is now an open sore that looks like a blister or an abrasion.

Stage III: By the time a pressure ulcer reaches this stage, the damage has now spread to the tissue below the skin, creating a deep, crater like wound.

Stage IV: This is the most serious and advance stage. A large amount of skin loss occurs, along with damage to underlying muscle, bone and even joints.

How to treat Bedsores

Treating bedsores can be a bit challenging. Below are a couple of steps to prevent bedsores from getting worse. It may take some time to heal but with most Stage I and Stage II sores should heal within weeks.  Stage III and Stage IV more likely will need surgery.

Change positions often. Carefully follow your schedule for turning and repositioning aprpoximately every 15 minutes if you’re in a wheelchair and at least once every two hours when you’re in bed.

Use support surfaces. Use special cushions, pads, mattresses and beds that relieve pressure on an existing sore to protect vulnerable areas.  

Cleaning.  It’s essential to keep wounds clean to prevent infection.  

Removal of damaged tissue. To heal properly, wounds need to be free or damaged, dead or infected tissue.  

Dressings. A variety of dressings are used to help protect wounds and speed healing the type usually depends on the stage and severity of the wound.  

Hydrotherapy. Whirlpool baths can aid healing by keeping skin clean and naturally removing dead or contaminated tissue.

Oral antibiotics. If pressure sores appear infected, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics.  

Healthy diet. Eating a nutritionally rich diet with adequate calories and protein and a full range of vitamins and minerals especially vitamin C and zinc may improve wound healing.

Muscle spasm relief. This is essential for both preventing and treating pressure sores. Your doctor may recommend skeletal muscle relaxants that block nerve reflexes in your spine or in the muscle cells themselves.   

Information provided by Mayo Clinic.