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How do I get my 89 year old father to take a shower?
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Caregiving
How do I get my 89 year old father to take a shower?
<font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="1"><div>In this caregiving message board lean on others for advice, tips or just the proverbial shoulder to cry on.</div><div><br /></div></font>
My Dad is 89 and in good physical and mental health. He is a bit unsteady on his feet. He lives in his own home and we have a gal living in the small house on the ranch that looks after hi
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Cat:8548aeff-cf8c-4e73-ad17-e0a4380e2232Forum:7bd0772e-38a2-437e-9e64-4a31de425465Discussion:cf7ee911-ba26-4399-a8ce-bc2a3d0f566d
Forums » Relationships » Caregiving » How do I get my 89 year old father to take a shower?
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How do I get my 89 year old father to take a shower?
posted at September 12, 2012 1:30 PM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: September 12, 2012 Last: September 12, 2012 |
My Dad is 89 and in good physical and mental health. He is a bit unsteady on his feet. He lives in his own home and we have a gal living in the small house on the ranch that looks after him and the ranch. Recently he has given up showering and needless to say his hygenie is poor. Our gal offers to stay in the bathroom with him while he showers but he refuses. I know he is afraid of falling. Any suggestions? Thanks. Deborah |
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Re: How do I get my 89 year old father to take a shower?
posted at September 21, 2012 8:06 AM EDT
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Posts: 2
First: September 21, 2012 Last: September 21, 2012 |
Sounds to me that what he really needs is not only someone in the room, but a mature male with the correct understanding to help him. What would be "correct"? Well, the ideal would be a male nurse who has specialized in gerontology, the care of elderly people. He apparently needs aid bathing. (If a person doesn't do something that is necessary, they need help, whether they mention it or not.) And I would suspect that he would now be best with bathing in the tube, not showering, and with a male perhaps getting his back, and otherwise helping him; like in and out of the tub, let alone getting it ready and cleaning it up afterwards. He might have developed a skin condition, such as shingles which he hasn't mentioned or is even aware of as such. (A direct, and yes, itimate helper in such situations can take all the pain out of that and many other discomforts, both physically and psychologically. He has to bathe, for whatever skin conditions he may have developed already, they will not get better, and others are likely to develop otherwise as a further consequence. The above is my view, presented respectfully. (Let his doctor know that he is not bathing, and have him or her look at that post.) |
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Re: How do I get my 89 year old father to take a shower?
posted at October 1, 2012 7:47 AM EDT
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Posts: 5
First: October 1, 2012 Last: October 1, 2012 |
Discuss or ask the reasons behind his not bathing. Ask what would help him? more rails to hold on to. Any modifications that could be done that would help? Hand held shower wand -shower chair, bath mat, shower shoes that have grip and netting. And always there is stand up at a sink sponge bath. Hope some of this helps. Compassionate Caregiver-South GA. |
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Re: How do I get my 89 year old father to take a shower?
posted at October 6, 2012 2:30 PM EDT
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Posts: 4
First: October 6, 2012 Last: October 6, 2012 |
Good luck w/that!! My father has lived w/us for 2.5 years. We built him a beautiful walk in shower in his own small efficency apartment and it's used for the kitty llitter box. I have sponged bathed him several times and wahed his hair over the sink. He now wants me to put a bucket between his legs while he's in his recliner and wash his hair that way! I bet he hasn't bathed in 6 years or more. No amount of pressure has changed this man's mind to bathe. Hospice nurse couldn't believe it..neither could his doctor. |
Forums » Relationships » Caregiving » How do I get my 89 year old father to take a shower?
