Elder Care in Spring Valley NV
Being able to take a bath or shower on their own is one of the first elements of complete independence that many elderly adults lose. Even if they are still able to manage all of their other activities of daily living and are not suffering from cognitive limitations or serious health complications, mobility problems, arthritis, and the lingering effects of injuries can make it so that handling these tasks on their own is difficult and even dangerous. Offering assistance ensures that they can stay healthy, clean, and comfortable, while also staying safe.
There are many ways that you can make bath or shower time easier for your aging parent, but one of the most effective is preparing the room ahead of time. This saves time and effort during the bath or shower, and also allows for greater modesty and independence throughout the experience.
Use these tips to prepare the room ahead of time for bathing:
- Warm up the room. The cold of a bathroom before and during bathing or showering can make your senior feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. Place a space heater in the bathroom and close the door so that it can heat up for several minutes before your parent actually goes in. Remove this heater before they go in, however, to prevent burns and potential fire hazard.
- Lay out supplies. Ensure that the room is properly equipped with everything that your loved one needs for their bath, including their washcloth, favorite bathing products, towels, and either clothing or a bathrobe. This will prevent your parent from having to stand or sit and wait for you to find what they need while they are already in the bath or shower.
- Start the water. If your senior has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia and has developed a fear or aversion to bathing or showering, the water itself may be largely to blame. Many adults who are nervous about bathing or showering dislike the sound of the water rushing into the tub or shower. By turning the water on ahead of time and adjusting it for temperature, your parent has a chance to get accustomed to a more muffled version of the sound from outside of the room. They can then open the door and step inside, gradually introducing louder versions of the sound for a smoother, less stressful transition.
If your parent needs assistance with personal care tasks such as bathing and either your or your parent is not comfortable with you handling these tasks, elder care may be the ideal solution. An elderly home care services provider can provide your parent with personalized care designed to manage their needs in a way that is safe, effective, and efficient, but that also promotes greater independence and autonomy. Many seniors are more comfortable with the idea of a professional care provider managing tasks such as this than they are with their adult children doing them, which means that they can experience greater mental and emotional health throughout their later years. This also takes emotional stress and pressure off of you, allowing you to focus more on the other elements of their care.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME ELDER CARE IN SPRING VALLEY, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY 702-800-4616.