Why Do Elderly Adults with Dementia Sometimes Resist Bathing?
If you are a family caregiver for one of the nearly six million people throughout the United States who are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, you know that this condition is far more than compromised memory. Dementia impacts all areas of life, and one of the times when you may notice it significantly, even in earlier stages of the disease, is when it is time for your senior to take a bath.
Senior Care Malibu CA – Why Do Elderly Adults with Dementia Sometimes Resist Bathing?
Not following through with good hygiene is often a very early sign Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and the inability for the senior to maintain a good schedule of hygiene often continues throughout the entirety of the disease. Understanding why your senior might resist bathing as they live with dementia can help you to make changes to your care approach that will help them to fulfill this personal need on a daily basis with less resistance
Some of the reasons why an elderly adult with dementia may sometimes resist bathing include:
- They may not remember why they need to bathe, which can make them feel like you are trying to make them do something strange and embarrassing.
- They may not remember when they last bathed, and think they have bathed more recently, meaning they do not need to do so again.
- They may be afraid of the sound of the water.
- They may be confused about being unclothed and not like the feeling of being vulnerable or embarrassed, particularly if you are helping them bathe.
- They may be afraid of the appearance of the water, thinking it is deeper than it is, and worrying about drowning.
- They may have experienced a fall at some point related to bathing, and fear it might happen again.
Just because your aging parent is getting older doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a high quality of life. Challenges and limitations can keep your senior from being able to pursue the type of lifestyle that they truly desire. Bringing senior care into their regular routine can help your parent to cope with these challenges in ways that keep them safe and healthy while still letting them be them. As a family caregiver, this means you can feel confident your senior is enjoying a high quality of life, living in a safe environment, and pursuing meaning and fulfillment on a daily basis.
Source: https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/bathing
If you or an aging loved-one are considering in-home Senior Care in Malibu CA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hearts Home Care today. Proudly Serving the Los Angeles & Ventura County. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! (805) 371-0033, (818) 593-0094, (310) 230-5601.
Our team is comprised of highly experienced and dedicated professionals who are focused on providing exceptional in-home care services to our clients and their families.We are proud to have served thousands of individuals and families since our inception.
Assisting Hearts Home Care was established in 2008 by two professionals a husband and wife team who started the company after personally experiencing the challenges of caring for their aging parents and grandparents. They experienced first-hand at how difficult it was to find care that worked around your schedule and not the schedule of the agency with caring and dedicated caregivers. Since January 2008 Assisting Hearts Home Care has been owned and operated by Robert Ruetschle.Prior to opening Assisting Hearts Home Care, Robert was in upper management of a national pharmaceutical manufacturing company and he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. Robert is passionate about supporting our older adult community and helping individuals age with dignity and grace in their own homes.
It is our mission to give peace of mind to our clients and their families by providing exceptional care.Our caregivers are also supported by an office staff of Senior Advisors and advanced CNA’s.Our team looks forward to getting to know each client and family personally.
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