What is your best advice to get an alzheimer pt to shower? Its getting harder each day. I dont try every day, but do want him to a couple times a week.
Boy, that's a hard one. We went for months with that battle and then after a while I realized nothing was happening when he did get in the shower. By that time he was totally urinary incontinent. Then I told him I was going to help him wash his back. After a while I was washing all of him without much protest. Not much help to you because you have to get him in there first.
I've never had any trouble getting my DH in the shower but he doesn't know how to wash himself anymore. I finally had to just take over and bathe him. He is very compliant, though, and fine with me doing it. He's also forgotten how to wipe himself....had to start doing that too. At least he's still using the pot. Ha, I'm trying to count my blessings.
They are afraid of the shower enclosure (even if it's a bathtub with a shower curtain and they are afraid of the water coming down on them. It makes it very difficult to get them in the space because of the fear. My husband is afraid to get even near the bathtub, so we make a game out of it...like marching, singing, etc. With some coaxing we get him to sit on the shower chair (I highly recommend for safety reasons because they feel more stable) and his aide now washes him from a pail because DH is afraid of the water from the shower head. It is always a struggle...he gets a good bath like that probably 3 x a week and washed in certain areas the other days. Good luck, it's a difficult challenge.
I agree with LFL re the enclosure. For DW I always had the water running at the correct temp thru the hand shower NOT the over head shower. before seating her on a shower chair. Water too cold or too hot!! now there is an association an Alz patient will remember and cause avoidance for weeks to come. KEY POINTS Once I got her in and seated. I would always start with her feet and work my way up to washing her hair last as she became accustomed to what was going on. Everything had to proceed slowly and with a verbal description of what area was going to be washed next. No surprises
Making a game out of using the blow dryer to dry her hair and body (after toweling off) was something that always got a laugh/ Used to say I never thought I'd turn out to be "MR TIM the hair stylist while blow drying her hair
Marty, that's really good advice on the process - D. still showers on Saturday nights (like the old days), still washes himself (I think!), but when things change, I'll have to remember what you said. The showering thing was a really big deal for me in the beginning, but I've relaxed now - once a week is fine. Sometimes there's a small confrontation even about that, but so far, no refusal, once he got into that routine. There was only one time that it was a stretch of two weeks! Eeeek!
Thank you all or your thoughts on "the bathing issue". My DH will not let me help. He even locks the door. But I can get in and do, to make sure he's chgd underwear and etc. in 43 yrs of marriage this man was never modest. He just will not let me help, denies he needs help. He is still in denial and in stage 6! I've relaxed a lot, I x awk would be fine, but we have some dribbling and incontinence now, so it must be more frequent.
KY caregiver: For reasons far too numerous to mention, the most obvious being the inevitable trip and fall in the shower, get rid of the bathroom door locks
When I had this problem with my husband I had a shower chair and I would place a towel on the chair which made him more comfortable. Our master bathroom was large so I first kept the chair in the middle of the room and hand bathed him with his shorts still on or a towel across his lap. He actually enjoyed this after the first few times when I would just wash his face, arms, legs and back. I would usually start with his back. Everyone likes their back rubbed.
I would talk to him constantly when bathing him and ask him if he could bath me too. (Which was a joke, but made him feel like he wasn't helpless). In a matter of weeks he was liking it more and more and I was able to move him into the shower area. I also would shave him which he really liked.
When Lloyd could no longer bathe himself, I just took him in the shower with me. It worked great for us. Of course, there was no personal space and I smelled like men's Avon for a few years; but it got the job done and done right. I did everything for him - haircuts, brushing his teeth, shaving. It was the only way to do a good job. There were times it took me 3 days to cut his hair. One day I would do the top, the second day I would do the sides, and the last day I would do the back. He just couldn't hold still for very long. Then maybe once every 3-6 months, I would take him to a salon and get it done professionally.
I bathed my DH in the tub/shower for the last time this week. He can no longer step over into the tub. I know there are bath seats they can sit on and bring their legs across but he is so unsteady, I'm afraid I'll let him fall off the seat. I'll try hand bathing him in a basin of water if I can learn how to rinse all the soap off.
Dazed sorry to hear of this new dilemma. remember to try the no rinse products if its a problem - you can find at local cvs or walgreens. like soap but don't have to rinse the hair or body. I use them everyday.and I add a body spray when done and its great!