One of the most critical services Home Helpers provides is Personal Care. Many seniors with physical and mental health conditions often need assistance with basic aspects of personal hygiene including dressing, toileting, and bathing, and caregivers provide the necessary support to help manage proper hygiene and prevent bathroom accidents.
Bathroom falls send more than 200,000 seniors to emergency rooms every year, and since January is Bath Safety Month, I felt it was worth diving into some very important bathroom safety tips for seniors in an effort to prevent bathroom accidents and injuries.
Caregiver Magazine, a Chicago-based caregiving media resource, shared these statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “One in four people over age 65 falls each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bathrooms are a prime place for injuries, with falls causing about 80% of bathroom injuries.”
I find these statistics quite disturbing, which is why I have chosen to review Caregiving’s important bathroom suggestions for seniors in an effort to prevent aging adults from becoming one of these alarming statistics while making the bathing experience a more soothing experience.
“Wet conditions, slick tile, and a wide assortment of hard surfaces to land on, such as the edge of the sink, toilet, or tub, can make the simple act of practicing good hygiene into a frightening and harrowing experience,” says Peter Ross, a member of the Home Care Association of America board of directors and the Healthcare Leadership Council.
Certain bathroom safety modifications can make activities of personal hygiene a much easier, enjoyable, and safer experience for seniors.
Fall-Proof
Have sturdy grab bars professionally installed near the commode, as well as inside and outside the tub or shower. Put non-skid mats or rugs outside the shower, and use a non-skid mat or strips on surfaces that can become slippery when wet. Nightlights with sensors are also a great idea to illuminate dark areas, especially bathrooms.
Private
Let’s face it. Many seniors are modest and prefer to manage their bathroom activities alone due to the sensitive nature of bathing, toileting, and dressing. They may even balk at the idea of having anyone help them with these tasks.
However, for the elderly and seniors with physical or mental issues, there may come a time when their safety and well-being become jeopardized in the bathroom. That’s when a compassionate caregiver can lend a helping hand with the utmost discretion.
A skillfully-trained caregiver understands how to ease any embarrassment even the most modest senior may feel. Experienced caregivers provide support for seniors with mobility issues and they know how to properly clean and bathe aging adults using towels to cover private areas.
Furthermore, after assisting seniors in safely getting seated on the toilet, caregivers will usually give them privacy unless there are reasons for which they should stay present with them.
Clean
There are two issues involving cleanliness that require attention: personal hygiene and bathroom cleaning.
Seniors do not require a bath or shower daily, because most do not do dirty jobs or perspire profusely. Cleaning the body with a washcloth is acceptable in most cases in conjunction with a shower or bath a couple of times a week.
Ross says. “For seniors, at a minimum bathing twice a week will help them avoid skin breakdowns and infections.”
In cases of post-surgical or post-injury wound care, a professional in-home caregiver may be the best option to ensure proper healing.
“Wounds and incisions heal more slowly, even haltingly,” says James Dan, MD, a geriatric clinical adviser and member of the Senior Helpers board. “Because of this, meticulous skincare is a must.”
The cleanliness of the bathroom environment is also an important consideration. For seniors with vision impairment or a diminished olfactory system, this may be more of a challenge, because they may not see or smell areas that need cleaning. Furthermore, seniors with physical and mental health issues are less likely to be able to clean as thoroughly as they once did, which could lead to other problems.
“Exposure to a living situation rife with infectious agents is simply dangerous, and attention must be paid to ensuring a clean living situation,” Dan says.
A professional caregiver can make life easier for these seniors because they can assist with bathing or showering, and they also perform light housekeeping to keep the bath and home environment clean and safe.
Soothing
I know how much I enjoy relaxing and luxuriating in a warm bath or shower, but many seniors are reluctant to bathe regularly for any number of reasons, including fears of falling. Ross recommends allowing seniors to choose which days they bathe which gives them a little more control over the situation.
“This is especially important for seniors with dementia, as trying to force them into something is a huge stressor for people suffering from memory issues,” Ross says.
Try making the space more soothing for seniors as a measure of encouragement for seniors to shower or bathe. Playing relaxing music, regulating the temperature of the bathroom so it’s warm, and having a comfy robe and slippers ready can make the experience much more pleasurable.
Bathroom safety is important. Keeping bathing safe and soothing can prevent a fall from happening and keep an aging loved one clean and comfortable.
The compassionate caregivers at Home Helpers are highly trained to look for and address safety hazards in bathrooms and provide personal care and light housekeeping services to help make bathing a more safe and soothing experience for seniors.
I am happy to offer a FREE Assessment to discuss specific ways Home Helpers® can be of service. After my assessment of needs, I will create a Cared-4℠ Custom Care plan and choose the perfect caregiver to make bathing easier and more inviting for seniors.
Home Helpers® Wheaton & Naperville is proudly Making Life Easier℠ for veterans and those with disabilities, illness, or recovering from injury or surgery in Aurora, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estate, Roselle, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Schaumburg, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton, and Winfield. Our team is honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice, and the Employer of Choice Awards 2022, as well as the 2022 Super Star Award from Caring.com. Contact our award-winning team today if we can help make life easier for you or a loved one: 630.800.3837
Source:
Caregiving Magazine
