Senior Care Tips: How to Make Their Washing and Bathing More Comfortable
There would be times when your elderly patient or loved one will resist your attempts to make them wash up, use the toilet, or bathe. If they do this often, chances are they are uncomfortable with the way their bathroom is designed. It could not be fit for an elderly’s needs.
If that turns out to be the case, here are some bathroom modification suggestions and hygiene tips to improve an elderly’s comfort.
1. Have a Working Water Heater
Set the water heater’s temperature to 144° F, and keep the water stored at that warmth level. You can lower it down to 122° F during bathing sessions, as it is the minimum temperature that can kill harmful bacteria. Be sure that they feel comfortable with the warmth, because an elderly’s skin is thinner and therefore more prone to burns.
Ensure that your water heater is functioning as it should. Although a cold bath isn’t bad for seniors, it definitely cannot be done in cold seasons, so once the temperature controls stop working, call an expert in water heater replacement in Orem or any other city.
2. You Don’t Have to Bathe Them Every Day
Once or twice a week of bathing is already enough for seniors to stay clean and free from skin breakdowns and infections. On the days that they won’t be bathing, gently run a warm washcloth all over their body, focusing on the armpits, groin, genitals, feet and other skin folds.
When wiping them clean, start from the head and move down, putting genitals last because they’re the dirtiest. Work on one area at a time and change washcloths between sections to keep it fresh.
If they tend to resist showers and full baths, make their “no-water” bath comfortable and enjoyable, because it might be …
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