| This ElderCare Skill
Builderä is intended to give the eldercaregiver background information on special skills
that caregivers may need on a daily basis. While these guides are primarily intended for
caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s Disease, they can be used for any frail or
dependent elderly person. When caring for an elderly loved one, always treat them as an
adult, with dignity and respect. You should use this guide for
educational purposes and as a supplement to any professional training, guidance from a
home care provider, or instructions from a qualified health care professional. As a
caregiver, you will likely be the first to notice any important changes in physical
attributes, eating habits or health status. Please notify a qualified health professional
immediately if you notice any changes.
Bathing
Things That May Cause Problems With Bathing
Tips and Techniques
Undressing Tips and Techniques
Grooming
Tips and Techniques
Hair
Shaving
Make-up
Nails
Teeth
Bathing
Things That May Cause Problems With Bathing
- Depression, that often causes a lack of interest in personal care.
- Presence of an illness.
- Temperature of water or room that is uncomfortable.
- Inability to find the bathroom.
- White tub, white tile, white floor, white shower stall could cause
confusion.
- Lack of privacy.
- Embarrassment about having someone else in the bathroom.
- Fears, such as falling, fear of the sound of running water or the
water itself, fear of soap, fear of shampoo and its purpose.
- Belief that the bath has already taken place.
- A change in daily routine.
- The sense of being rushed.
- Being kept waiting too long while the caregiver prepares the bath.
- Forgetting how to perform the task.
Tips and Techniques
Bathing an individual may be an awesome task if the caregiver is not
alert to some of the common problems. The caregiver must adapt to the special needs of the
person receiving the care. Bathing should be a regular routine, done at the same time of
day, and using the same steps. Some techniques that may help with bathing include:
- Many people prefer a shower to a bath – it’s easier and
feels safer. If you use a tub, fill it with four to six inches of water and stay with the
person. If the person is startled or agitated when they enter the tub without having seen
it being filled, let them stay in the room while the water fills the tub. If running water
frightens them, fill the tub with four inches of water and lead them to the bathroom and
into the tub.
- Stay calm and take it step by step. A bath may take all morning.
Remember that if only the important parts get washed, the bath is a success. Some people
in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease enjoy being in the tub. If you put a
comfortable chair in the bathroom, their relaxation time may give you time to relax as
well.
- The sound and feel of the shower may frighten some people. Others
enjoy the soothing relaxation of the water.
- After a while some people with Alzheimer’s Disease lose depth
perception. They may not realize that the water in the tub is only four inches deep. They
may fear drowning and refuse to get into the tub. Keep the tub drained of water and use a
rubber hose shower nozzle.
- Sometimes it is a question of modesty and as long as a person is
covered with a towel or shower blanket, he or she will tolerate bathing. Helping from
their side rather than from the front may feel more natural, since a person’s own
arms was from the side. Sometimes bathing needs to be limited to a weekly session with
sponge baths the other six days.
- Don’t use slippery oils or bubble bath.
- Provide support – handrails, a bench, non-slip strips, etc.
- Wash in the same order every time.
- Make sure the bathroom is warm.
- Have everything ready ahead of time – bath water, towels,
clothes, etc.
- Provide adequate lighting.
- Keep the bath area safe by removing electrical appliances, using
non-slip bath mats, using a bath/shower chair and removing locks from the bathroom door.
- Allow the person to do as much as s/he can for him or herself. Give
simple instructions, not long explanations. Modify assistance as needed.
- Avoid forcing or arguing.
- Wash genitals thoroughly – sponges or mitts may help. This area
needs to be kept clean, even if it’s the only area you clean that day. Tell the
person that you are going to wash their private areas before you go ahead and do it.
- Help the person wash and then dry in the same order from top (head)
to bottom (feet).
Undressing Tips and Techniques
Try some of these suggestions with a person who resists getting
undressed for a bath:
- Sometimes a person can be encouraged to undress to prepare for a
reward or a nice experience, such as a refreshing bath or a cool, comfortable bed.
- Distract with a simple, funny story or a song. As soon as the clothes
are off, they should be taken from sight, following the rule, "Out of sight, out of
mind." Only the clothing to be worn next should be in view.
- When a person clutches clothing so it cannot be removed, put
something in his hands to distract. Drinking juice or looking at a book can draw attention
away from what else is going on.
Grooming
Tips and Techniques
Good grooming is important to a person who is elderly or has
Alzheimer’s Disease and to his/her caregivers. Here are some tips for making grooming
easier:
Hair
- Keep hair in an easy to care for style. Washing hair at the kitchen
sink may be easier than in the tub or shower. Get a hose/spray attachment to make rinsing
easier.
- If the barber shop or beauty parlor has been an important part of the
person’s former routine, continue having him/her go to the same place, at a regular
appointment time. Visits to nursing homes or other care facilities can be arranged with
some salons.
Shaving
- It may be difficult to shave the person, so try to supervise the
shaving as long as possible. An electric razor may simplify the job.
- In addition to helping women shave their legs and underarms, you may
need to help those who have facial hair either pluck or shave their chins.
Make-Up
- Most women stop using make-up early in the disease. But a woman who
has always worn make-up will feel better about herself if she continues using it.
- Use light tone lipstick and a bit of powder. Eye make-up is too hard
to attempt.
Nails
- Encourage people with Alzheimer’s Disease to continue trimming
fingernails and toenails. When you take over, do it twice a month.
- You may get more cooperation if you trim nails while the person is
watching television or listening to music.
- Difficulty with toenails, bunions or calluses may cause discomfort or
problems with walking. A visit to a podiatrist every six months might be helpful and may
be covered by insurance.
Teeth
- Encourage twice-a-day brushing.
- If a person has dentures, encourage continued care and regular
check-ups. Ill-fitting dentures can contribute to poor nutrition and result in
constipation or mouth sores.
- Schedule regular visits to the dentist.
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