Elderly Care in Mason MI
More than 5 million people throughout the United States are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and the number of new cases being diagnosed each year is rising. If you are a family caregiver for one of these elderly adults, you know how difficult it can be to handle certain tasks in their daily lives. One of the greatest challenges that caregivers for seniors dealing with dementia face is ensuring that their senior bathes regularly and properly.
It is not uncommon for aging adults suffering with Alzheimer’s disease to resist the concept of bathing. This can create a tense, difficult situation for you every time it comes time for them to take a shower or bath. Understanding why your parent resists bathing can help you to create a course of care that eases their stress, addresses their needs, and helps you to handle this important task in the best way possible.
Some of the reasons your aging parent with Alzheimer’s disease might resist bathing include:
• Not understanding the reason. It is important to remember that Alzheimer’s disease takes away the ability for your parent to reason. This means that they likely do not understand why they need to bathe or why you want them to do it as often as you encourage them to.
• Fear. If they do not understand why they need to bathe, they might not understand the process. Seeing or hearing the water, being asked to undress, or seeing a sponge or other implement can be frightening for them.
• Modesty. Bathing is usually something that people do privately. Older generations tend to be more modest than younger generations as well. The combination can make it extremely uncomfortable for an elderly adult. When a senior has Alzheimer’s disease, they may not have the capacity to understand why they are being asked to remove their clothing, which can make the situation even worse for them.
• Frustration. Even elderly adults who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease may have the awareness of their limitations and the accommodations that must be made in order for your loved one to stay safe and healthy. This can be extremely frustrating for your parent and leave them feeling as though they have no control over their life or that they are being disrespected.
If your aging parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, starting elderly care for them can be an exceptional choice for helping them to live the highest quality of life possible as they progress through their disease. This elderly home care services provider can be with your loved one on the customized schedule that you devise for them, ensuring that they get all of the attention, care, support, and encouragement that they need to address their current symptoms as well as the symptoms that change as they move further through the stages of the disease. When it comes to the need for them to bathe regularly and effectively, this care provider can help your parent understand your loved one’s resistance to bathing, create a routine that is right for them, and guide them through the steps for respectful, dignified, and effective care.
Source
http://www.alz.org/cacentral/documents/Dementia_Care_32-_The_Battle_of_the_Bathing.pdf
http://www.alzfdn.org/AboutAlzheimers/statistics.html
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Mason, MI, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors of Lansing. Call today: 517-332-9953.