Tips for Preparing the Bathroom
Elderly Care in Herndon VA
Helping an elderly adult with Alzheimer’s disease bathe can pose a variety of challenges. Seniors coping with this disease might feel anxious and even afraid when preparing to bathe, might not 
understand the purpose of bathing, and may become combative. By taking steps to prepare the bathroom in advance you can make this process less stressful and help your parent to get through it more easily so that bath time does not have to be something that you dread.
Try these tips for preparing the bathroom before bathing your loved one:
- Ensure there are no locks. Privacy continues to be important even for an aging adult who is coping with Alzheimer’s disease. This does not mean, however, that there should be locks on the doors. If there is a lock on the bathroom door your parent might accidentally or intentionally lock themselves inside with you outside, putting them in a dangerous situation.
- Warm the room up. Taking off their clothing in a cold room can be uncomfortable, which might make your aging loved one feel vulnerable and nervous. They might then feel unwilling to fully undress or to get in the water. Warming the room up ahead of time makes the room feel more comfortable and secure.
- Keep dangerous items out of reach. Evaluate the room and find items that might be dangerous to your elderly loved one. Put items such as electric hair tools, razors, scissors, and chemicals out of your parent’s reach so that they do not accidentally hurt themselves with these items.
- Lay out supplies. Keep in mind that the Alzheimer’s will make it more difficult for your aging parent to understand the process of bathing. Laying out supplies for each step of the process in order will help to make bathing make more sense for them and enable them to take more initiative in handling some of the process on their own. Make sure they also have a robe or clothes ready for after the bath or shower.
- Use less water. You might love to sit in a nice, deep bath, but this can be overwhelming and even dangerous for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease. Try putting only a few inches of water in the bath and ensuring that is it the right temperature for your loved one. If your parent does not feel comfortable sitting down in the water, consider having them sit first and then add the water gradually so that they feel more in control.
If your aging parent has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, starting elderly care for them can be an exceptional way for you to help them enjoy a higher quality of life as they progress through the disease. The personalized services of an elderly home care services provider address your parent’s individual challenges, needs, and limitations, and work with them as their needs increase throughout the progression. This means that they are able to maintain as much independence as possible while also staying safe, healthy, and comfortable throughout their later years. Starting this care as early in their progression as possible can help your parent to form a closer relationship with a care provider so that they are able to establish a routine, build trust, and better manage their changing challenges and symptoms as they move through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Herndon, VA, call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. 703-273-8818
Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.
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