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since they are afraid of water, whats the best way

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My mom is in assisted living but only lets me bathe her. She lets me wash her hair leaning over her kitchenette sink and I make sure I get her wet enough so we have to go into her bedroom to change her clothes. As she gets undressed I give her a sponge bath with a foaming no-rinse cleanser on washcloths. I recently added a foot bath that she's willing to soak in while I dry and set her hair. I tried wrestling her into the shower a couple of times and it was just too stressful, so this has worked the best for quite a while. I do it once a week.
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do a bed bath, get a couple of dish pans for the water one for washing her and the other to use for the washcloth to rinse her, they also make dry shampoo for the hair, I had to do it this way for months for my mom when she had vertigo, hope this helps
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I have that problem with Mom she claims that she almost drown as a child and has always had a fear of water and her face getting wet. She fears slipping on the wet shower floor despite the mats and towels on the floor. (when we do use the shower we also use a walker for her to hang on to granted your walk in shower is big enough to accommodate both. The sprayer head is attached to the wall below her head). Our other way of bathing is her potty chair over the toilet it raises the seat for easier getting up and sitting along with having handles to grab. Get the bathroom warm and strip them down sitting on the toilet put towels on the floor and who care if the toilet gets wet. fill the sink with warm soapy water. I give Mom a towel to hang on to if she starts to get chilled. It takes all of 10 minutes max. gather up all the towels and throw the in the wash. There is a shampoo that you can get from the medical supply that is a wet soapy wash that does not have to be rinsed out (I fill the sink with hot water to keep it from being a cold shock to her when poured on her scalp) it also can be found in the catalogs like Gold Violin. I'm not sure how we will tackle this once she becomes bed ridden. I do have Mom at an assisted living and she will only let me bathe her at this point. I hope this helps in some way.
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Many elderly don't care for water over their head so get a hose attachment to easily direct the water over the rest of the body for the major washing. Also my father didn't resist as much when we had a home service provider come once a week (mainly for the shower). My father didn't object as much (and saved the huge fights he was having with my mother regarding showers).
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Use a product that is no rinse. You just use a washrag. The one we used was no rinse brand. There is a body wash and shampoo. Also there Are commercial wipes that you can also use. Check with the pharmacy what they have or Use. I would not recommend spray and wash cleaner.
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I mean "I" can't take the abuse from her. It messes with your head.....
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BS0213, you could ask her doctor for Depakote sprinkles, it saved me from my Mom when she was combative. So sad, they cant help it!
We're all getting old some day, good luck.
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All of the above are really great. IT kinda depends on the persons and facilities available. Keep in mind, whatever soap is used, needs to be gentle on the elder's skin, or it can contribute to more skin breakdowns.
If something says it is gentle, it can be tried, but still watch out to make sure it is not drying the skin too much, or causing itching.

I have a really nice lotion that has MSM in it, and low or no scent.
It has been used for elders with very dry, tender skin, with great results, instead of soap...just put some on the washrag, and do a portion of the person at a time, wipe off excess.
The lotion process removes gunk, while leaving traces on skin that helps heal the skin and stop itching.

I have used warm, damp towels for doing a bedbath, and by removing only part of the cloths at a time...it takes longer, but did allow a calmer elder.
I think the problem is not only bathing, but removing clothes
--they have lost control of so much, that even allowing removing the clothes can really set some off.
There are some messes, though, that require taking everything off all at once, unavoidable. That usually takes more than one person to deal with.
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I know how water can be fearful to an AD person. My Mother died from AD and she used to tell me, I don't want people washing my skin off. A Nurse would bath her carefully with a wash cloth.

But now I am faced with my wife having Alzheimer's and here is a woman 62 years old who used to be a good swimmer and now doesn't want anything to do with water....not on her face or anywhere. she constantly complains of being cold in even hot water. I usually give her a sit down bath in the tub every Sunday evening. She wears Depends and I constantly change them. She isn't incontenent but doesn't wipe herself....and I am careful to keep her clean. I have thought of getting some moist wipes from the Drug Store in an effort to keep her clean. I think we can work with this situation if we are keeping our nose to smell body order. When that occurs it's time to wash with soap.

I could not bring myself to bath my Mother, and I even find it difficult to bath my wife......but I do it....like a dutiful caregiver. I have just assumed that all AD patients don't like being bathed.
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cernahome12, if she isnt incontinent a long Tena or Poise pad will work find in her regular underwear and it might save you some money. Maybe you can put huggies wipes near the toilet and she will use them, they are super thick and work well.
Chimonger, what is MSM in soap? I use Johnsons bath with the lotion in it, no bedsores yet, hopefully never. I also put her on dermasaver pads to prevent them on her chairs.
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