Elder Care in Tequesta, FL
Refusing to bathe is a behavior that is not uncommon among the elderly, especially those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Oftentimes, this becomes a cause for stress for many family caregivers and adult children. When your parent refuses to bathe, you may begin to worry about their health and hygiene, if this puts them at risk for illness or infection, or if it signifies other health problems. If you’ve made your honest concerns known to them, and you still find that they are refusing, here are a few things you can try to get them bathing regularly again: Make the Bathroom Safe Has your parent recently experienced a fall or a close call? If so, the idea of putting themselves at risk by walking on a wet, slippery surface can be frightening enough to cause them to avoid it altogether. As the concerned adult child or caregiver, it is important that you are sensitive to their anxieties about falls in the bathroom. Discuss with them their fears and see if you can work out some possible solutions together. Would they feel more secure with a grab bar in the shower? Or, a shower seat? If so, installing these safety features may be enough to make them feel comfortable bathing once again. Get Help From a Home Care Aide Home care aides are trained in helping elderly adults bathe. If your parent needs help bathing, but feels apprehensive about having you do this task, a qualified home care aide might be the perfect solution. Contact a local home care agency to see if you can hire a home care aide to come to your parent’s house for this purpose on a regular basis. If you have been wanting to get your parent used to the idea of having a home care aide come help them for other tasks as well, this is a great place to start. Check in With the Doctor Is there an underlying reason why your parent is refusing to bathe? If you believe that this is the case, but the reason isn’t clear to you, it is always a good idea to check in with the doctor. If you believe that your parent may be suffering from depression which is leading to their lack of self-care, a doctor may be able to help you guide your parent into a proper treatment. In addition, if your words have not worked in convincing your parent that bathing is a good idea, hearing this advice from a doctor may help them to see its importance.If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home elder care in Tequesta, FL, contact the caring staff at BrightStar Care of Jupiter. Call today (561) 741-1200.