Tips To Help You Get Your Elderly Loved One To Shower

Many caregivers find themselves in the position of arguing with their elderly loved ones about bathing and showering.

Here are 8 reasons why elderly may not shower often and some tips on how to manage that if your senior loved one is refusing to shower or bathe.

More details in our article:

Information about daily showering habits around the world:
#caregivertips #caringfordementia #seniorsafetyadvice

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[christinewaterman]

You forgot to mention that taking a shower when you are very old uses up so much energy. Energy that old people don't have.

[joannestepp]

I am 76-year-old female and I hate to get in the shower the reasons are I am afraid of falls so I put it bathing chair I sit on I have bars in the shower and I turn on the heat when I shower; I get short of breath I get short of breath; but I keep on truckin I drink it can a mountain dew and I shower once a week;; hand wash during the week;; under my arms and so forth;; this is life and it's my way of staying fresh and clean with no orders; take it or leave it;; it's just my way Joanne😅😂

[josephinerimmer]

Showering exhausts me, but the thought of smelling bad gives me horrors

[jeanettekulick]

When I was an aide in an early dementia unit, I learned a few things that are helping me in my own life as I age. Music activates a different part of the brain than speech and I would sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game with them - I found they often could not understand yet knew all the words to the song. I was able to bathe and dress them for bed. At bedtime, we would lay out fresh clothes and undies for the morning. Often I would sing them all the way to the dining room and back to their rooms.

[sandrataylor]

Thank you. As a 67-year-old woman with many chronic diseases, I have difficulty with some of my ADL's. I live with my only child and her family, and I am afraid that if I reveal that I need help of any kind that she will place me in a nursing home. I am a retired nurse and have worked my nearly 30-year career in ER's and nursing homes. I've seen families drop off their older family members in the ER and leave them, refusing to come and get them. In nursing homes, I've seen the neglect, not only from staff but family members that refuse to come visit them, leaving the resident heartbroken. I've had two great aunts that were tricked into going to a nursing facility for rehab only to find that their homes were sold and all that they had was gone and that the nursing home was now their final home. They gave up and died within 3 months. It's scary when you have your good mind, but your body is rapidly declining. Thank you for the baby wipe trick and the not having to bathe as often. I have trouble in that department at times.

[Christine-jb]

I am over 70 and have mobility problems but I shower usually twice a week, in hot weather more when possible, it is difficult for me and I am afraid of slipping so I have aqua non slip shoes and a seat in the shower, it is difficult getting in and out because I can't stand for long and have a tremor in my legs but I manage by grabbing onto pipes on wall etc then sit quickly on toilet to dry myself. I use an empty washing up bottle filled with water from the sink and a bar of sanex soap to wash my privates every day in the morning after using the toilet and before bed. It works well to freshen up . I don't think I smell and I know when i really do need a shower and a shampoo .I wear clean underwear every day and fresh clothes., I use tena pads for leaks. It is horrible getting older and I don't want to smell.

[deborahgrimes]

Bettie Grimes here. I'm 81yr old and i absolutely hate to showering. Its exhausting for me. I dread the feeling of the water on my skin. 1 to 2 times a week is fine.

[francesca]

Not sure if you mentioned fear of falling. This is very common in the elderly and a major reason my mother refused to shower, despite repeated entreaties from me, her caregiver. There were many safeguards in place. We even got a shower chair, but then she became focused on the difficulty getting up from the seated position, despite help. Looking back now as I age, I can understand how vulnerable she must have felt.

[myopinion]

A bidet is the best answer! It’s perfect for the non-showering/bathing days. Definitely worth investing in. It’s less expensive than other options and doesn’t take up your energy to use. I was surprised to not hear this as a helpful option.

[nukyrg]

I on the other hand, love taking a shower . I am a senior citizen and love feeling Fresh. It's like all My worries and stress just goes away with the water. Bad energies and depression, whoosh ! Out it goes!! Makes me feel soooo good it Will sometimes be hard to keeping me from showering two and maybe three times a day when the weather is too hot. I have a very good feet pad that Will not let me Slip and two great safety handles within My reach so I am not scared of falling. Also wear My crocs to make it Better.
The Best is the after feeling of being clean, Fresh, and without Bad vibes stuck to My body, !!! 👍😄

[veronicaannedarby]

Here in UK many elderly people are afraid to use a shower or bath because of the cost it takes to heat the water. Electricity and gas prices are high and one elderly lady told me that she boils a kettle and uses the water to have a strip wash every day so that is how she keeps herself clean. These things are increasingly difficult for OAP’s trying to live on a State Pension.

[janielittlehorse]

Almost 70. I look forward to a warm evening shower and a squirt of Channel perfume. You sleep better.

[maried]

I have very fragile skin. There is always an area that is irritated. My doctor told me not to bath every day. Every 2 to 4 days is fine. If I get sweaty I will take a quick shower. For some reason, about 20 years ago, I began to hate taking showers and I think it was depression. I would go nearly 2 weeks without bathing and then go at it very quickly. Now I am 75 and I shower about 3 times a week and wash my hair once a week. On cold wet days, I dred taking a shower. I have learned to rely on baby wipes to keep my private area free of odor between shower days. I do take quick showers to cool off in the summer. I don't feel depressed anymore so I tend to shower more regularly.

[kerriecu]

Just give a hot towel wash like we do for a bed bath in hospital. Three towels, about 500mls of hot water for each towel, . Use some QV wash or similar, or some moisturiser, add a few drops of a calming aromatic oil. Just put the rolled towels in a bowl or plastic bag, add the water and just wash the body in bits. One towel for the face and upper torso, one towel for the legs and one for the back and groin. You don’t get wet, just like the hot towel you used. To get on some flights before meals. You only need to expose parts of the body at one time, so they don’t get too cold. Give it a try.

[beckygleasman]

What has happened to sponge baths. We took them as children.stand in front of the sink, wash privates, pits and feet. Done.

[RitaWachs]

I use a 3 drawer plastic unit on wheels in the bathroom. I wheel it conveniently, facing me when I am sitting on the toilet. Top drawer: different size wipes and deodorant under arm products. Have paper towel available too.
Second drawer: incontinence pads. i favor Poise products. Third drawer: freshly washed under pants. This is very convenient and i have a waste basket near by. This helps on days that I do not shower.

[lilymack]

NOTE: Meidcare will pay for an aide to come to the home for shower care, IF the persom is "homebound", meaning they can't leave the house on their own. Your physician doesn't have to order it. Call a visiting nursing nursing agency & they'll send a RN to assess your loved one & determine care needs. They'll ask a family member to be there for that visit. The agency's physician will write the order for Medicare & they'll interface with your doctor. You may also get assistance with medication administration, nursing or PT; whatever is necessary & you agree to. They can be a godsend. Great video, BTW.

[tiffanyb.]

I agree, so many reasons why seniors don’t want to bathe in a shower or tub. Having osteoporosis in both hips can be very scary thinking there might be a fall. Especially when walking is already unstable.
✨Thank You for this helpful video. 😊

[saries]

Many of us don't have walk in showers. If you have the shower in the tub, like me, it can be very difficult and scary to have to lift yourself over the tub to even get in, especially if you have arthritis. I have a shower chair and a hand held shower head plus bars to hold onto and they help a lot.

[doonewatts]

Thank you for mentioning depression and the fact that this is one of it's physical manifestations. For the oldest among us any mental illness carries with it a huge stigma, absolutely huge