As your elderly family member ages, some of the things that she’s always done may change. She may see the situation differently or she simply starts acting out of character. Bathing is one of those issues that can let you know there is something more going on.
She Might Be in Pain
Pain can limit a lot of your senior’s favorite activities, including bathing. She may experience joint pain that makes it difficult to get into and out of the tub safely. You might want to consider adding safety gear to the bathroom, such as grab bars and shower stools. Having help with bathing can also take some of the pain out of the experience.
She Might Be Depressed
Depression can keep your elderly family member from being able to sleep well, eat healthy foods, and even care about hygiene. Pay attention to the signs of depression and talk to your elderly family member about how she’s feeling. Sometimes just having someone to talk to can help quite a bit, but make sure that you seek additional help, too.
She May Have Forgotten
Memory issues can also contribute to irregular bathing. Your senior could genuinely forget that she needs to take a bath or shower. If you suspect that memory issues are playing a role in the bathing situation, it’s important to determine what else her memory may be impacting in her life.
She Could Be Afraid
Fear, either generalized fear and anxiety or fear of bathing in particular, is powerful. Fear that is strong enough can keep your senior from bathing even if she wants to do so. She might have developed workarounds, such as giving herself a sponge bath, but that doesn’t solve the situation for long. Talk to your elderly family member about what is causing her to feel afraid so that you can find a solution.
She Might Think She Doesn’t Need to Bathe Yet
Sometimes the issue isn’t that your senior has forgotten to bathe or that she’s afraid of the process. Sometimes your elderly family member simply doesn’t feel as if it’s time to bathe yet. Many older adults experience a change in their sense of smell and your senior might genuinely believe that she’s not in need of a bath or shower. A gentle nudge in the right direction can help.
Make the time to talk to your elderly family member about what you’re seeing. Approach the conversation lovingly and with an open mind. The solution could be as simple as hiring senior care providers to help her with bathing or other issues that make bathing difficult. Until you get to the root cause, you’re still guessing.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Walnut Creek, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
