Bathing an elderly parent or grandparent may be difficult enough. However, it becomes a lot more complex if they have dementia and lash out. Here are a few tips to make the process easier.

1. Prep the Room ahead of Time

They don’t want to sit, half-naked, while you gather everything together. They will get cold and feel exposed. Prep the room ahead of time by gathering bottles together, putting down safety mats, and getting the shower chair in place. Make sure the room is nice and warm ahead of time. Have their favorite soothing ambiance noises playing in the background.

2. Have Them Tell You a Story or Sing Together

Have them tell you a story about their childhood, their time in the war, or some funny incident that happened. If they love a particular topic, have them pick up and continue it only during shower time. This way, they get attention and are rewarded during their least favorite task with you.

3. Wash from Clean to Dirty Areas, in that Order

Begin with the cleanest parts of their bodies. Have them soap and rinse their faces and shampoo their hair because this is easy for them to do by themselves. While they are doing this, you can wash their back, lower legs, and feet. Have them wash the folds in their skin and their groin and areas last. Wash out the washcloth with soap immediately after they do this.

4. Soap Up Folds between Skin

Mold can easily grow in the folds between their skin. The most common places are under their arms, under their chest or breasts, in the folds of their belly, and in the folds of their groin. Have them wash them with soapy washcloths. You don’t need to rinse afterward because the soap will help kill off any mold or bacteria that tries to grow after the shower.

5. Chairs, Safety Rugs, and Large Towels create Comfort and Safety

Make sure they are never able to slip in the bathtub or getting in and out. They will feel more energized if they can sit during the process, so keep a rubber-footed shower chair in place at all times. 

Embarrassment is high when bathing family members, even if you are of the same gender. Save yourself and your loved one the stress by using Comfort Keepers Senior In-Home Care in Santa Clarita. We want to make the process easier, safer, and far more enjoyable by taking care of your loved one for you.

Comfort Keepers of Santa Clarita is the largest provider of home care services in the Santa Clarita Valley, with over a decade of experience with senior home care. It is our mission to support families in need by offering services that range from part-time to long-term. Your aging senior deserves to stay in the comfort of their own home, and with our help, you can rest assured knowing that they are in safe hands. Each trained caregiver is a professional making sure your loved one is safe & happy. One of our Care Managers would love to answer any questions you may have, so give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our wide range of services for both you and your senior loved one.

Comfort Keepers of Santa Clarita
23900 Lyons Ave
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
(661) 417-0904
www.homecaresantaclarita.com