Hygiene and grooming is the most sensitive part of your senior’s home health care. Your senior needs to look and smell good for physical and mental health reasons, but they may not want to sacrifice independence.

Obviously, bathing plays into both of these areas. However, showering and bathing are the most dangerous part of senior home care. There are many obstacles, including accessibility, weaknesses when inside, and slick surfaces. You do not want your senior to fall or get stuck when they are trying to clean themselves.

Moreover, you do not want them to become insecure with a daily task like bathing. Bathing daily is critical for preventing odors, bacterial infections and urinary tract infections. Here are four senior bathing safety tips.

Have a Schedule

Make sure you have a plan for bathing. This can help relieve a senior’s stress about when and how they will wash away the germs and odors on their bodies. You also want to have a time that works for both of you. This will eliminate stress for both parties.

Frequency may also come into consideration. Some seniors need daily baths, but others only need baths a couple of times per week. Each person is different, be sure to keep that in mind when planning a bath for senior home health care.

Lastly, you want to give both of yourselves plenty of time. Depending on your senior’s mobility, bathing takes longer than expected. Completing a senior bathing safely means planning for enough time so that you will not rush it. A detailed plan is critical for in home senior bathing.

Accessibility

The bathroom is the most dangerous place in the house, for any age. However, the bathroom becomes more dangerous when we age. Redesign the bathroom so your senior can safely bathe in the comfort of their home, regardless of their senior home health care plan.

Slip-resistant mats can help them with legs that are less steady. Grab bars, hand-rails and increased lighting can help seniors get in and out of the tub safely. Bath chairs on the side of the tub or shower chairs in the shower will also help your senior become more comfortable as they wash their bodies.

Keep everything in the same place. Keep the wash cloths and shampoo in the same place. Rather you or they do the scrubbing, this routine reduces your senior’s anxiety during bathing.

Remember each person and bathroom is different. Make sure your senior’s bathroom fits their individual home senior care needs.

Open Communication

Beyond talking about a plan, the entire bathing experience should involve open communication. Limit the distractions during bath time. Turn off cell phones and televisions. This will limit anxiety and help your senior focus on getting clean.

Also, talk to your senior during the bathing experience. Let them know each step of the process. This eliminates surprises and anxiety.

Find out what they are and are not comfortable with you doing. This will make an assisted bath less embarrassing for your loved one.

Discuss newly discovered rashes, bruises or bumps. You both want to stay on top of any developing health concerns.

Like most parts of senior home care service, bathing gets simpler when you openly communicate with your loved one.

Remember their Sensitive Skin

As we age, each of us develops more sensitive skin. Stick to simple soaps and shampoos for your senior.

Find products that won’t dry out a senior’s thinner skin. You may also consider products that require less rinsing.

Consider a senior may become more sensitive to hot and cold water. Let them put their hand in the water before getting in.

At the end of the day, your senior is bathing to keep their skin clean and healthy. Just consider that seniors’ skin is more sensitive during the at home bathing process.

Bathing at Home

Bathing is not something that should get left out of senior home care. These four steps should improve the quality of your at home senior care. They are easy methods that should increase the home health care services for your loved one during bath time.

For more tips on bathing for seniors call 877-230-3160 to find the nearest Select Home Care location near you.