Article - Bathing Options For Caregivers

Bathing is a daily activity most of us can handle by ourselves. But when an adult cannot bathe by himself, the help of a caregiver is needed. At first it might be helping to get into and out of the tub. After a while it might involve the full activity of undressing, washing and dressing again.

We cannot ignore the bath routine, for it offers many benefits. Washing promotes personal hygiene, resulting in better skin health and a sense of well-being. If we look good and have healthy skin, we feel better.

When caring for someone who cannot bathe by himself, we are concerned about the person's safety because bathing is the most physically challenging caregiving task, fraught with opportunities for injuries. We are also concerned about the bather's comfort, both mentally and physically. Because of the intimate nature of bathing, a caregiver's participation in the activity can provide the comfort of another person's touch as well as an opportunity for monitoring changes in the condition of the skin. But the introduction of another person into the bathing routine can also cause embarrassment and a sense of lost independence.

In order to keep bathing as comfortable as possible, we need to assess the bather's needs, our needs and the environment before selecting from all the bathing options available. For example:

• What is the level of assistance needed?

• What are the bather's personal preferences?

• What is her reaction to requiring assistance?

• Is the person mobile? If not:

  • Is there a wheelchair to help move him to the bathroom?
  • Is there a transfer mechanism that will not be a strain on you, the caregiver?
  • Could the activity be too exhausting for the bather?

• Is there a bath or shower available? Is there a step to the shower? Something to hold on to in the bath?

Once you have completed the assessment, review the alternatives: tub, shower, sink baths, bed bathing, bathing without water. Also consider aids that make the task easier on both the bather and the caregiver. The appropriate choice might be a combination of alternatives or variations on a theme. Don't be afraid to adapt the alternative, or the routine, to best suit the situation.

The staff at Dynamic Living has outlined some ideas for your consideration:

There are tools to help make it easier and safer to get to and from the tub or shower.

• If the bather is mobile but needs some extra support, be sure to have properly installed grab bars. An alternative to the grab bar that can be placed away from a wall is a floor mounted support rail or bathtub rails. These support rails need to be positioned well so there is no temptation to hang on to a shower door or shower curtain for support.

• If there is some mobility, but the bather is not able to walk to the bath area, a wheelchair can be used with a pivot disk or transfer board to help position the bather close to the tub or shower. A bath transfer bench can assist with getting over the edge of the tub or the step into the shower. The bather sits on the chair outside the tub and then slides his body on the bench, into the tub. The bather still must lift his legs over the edge of the tub, but he can do this one leg at a time from the seated position. When fully in the tub, the bather's body remains above the water (at the same height as the edge of the tub). In addition, if the bather cannot squat in the tub, but likes to soak, a bath lift will lower and raise the bather without any strain on a caregiver.

• For general safety, the bathroom floor should be carpeted to avoid standing water that can cause slippery conditions. Tub or shower floors should have slip resistant surfaces.

A sink bath is an alternative that includes a sponge bath in the bathroom while sitting on the toilet, on a bath chair or in a wheelchair. You can also wash the hair at the sink, salon style (from a seated position), with the help of a Shampoo-Aide™ Shampoo Tray. No neck strain, no water all over the floor.

If the bather cannot get to a bath, shower or sink, you can bring the water to them.

• Hair can be washed by using the EZ-Shower, a heavy duty portable water reservoir that can hang on a bedpost or I.V. pole, and the EZ Shampoo portable wash basin.

• The EZ Bathe™ inflatable bathtub is the solution for someone who needs to soak, but cannot get to a tub.

If handling water in the bathroom is impossible and bringing it to the bedside is also too difficult, there is the No-Rinse Shampoo commonly used by campers. You put it on the hair, wash and towel dry. It even comes in a convenient Shampoo Cap! And for washing, the No-Rinse Bathing Wipes are large towelettes that were designed to leave the skin clean and moisturized.

Regular bathing is very important for a person's physical and mental health. If the task requires assistance, the bather and caregiver should discuss the options available. The caregiver should do as little as possible, allowing maximum independence to the bather. Try to incorporate comfort and dignity issues into the equation, to accommodate the bather's personal preferences and needs. You might choose to vary between the above options to keep the physical demands on the caregiver down while encouraging independence. For example, shower today, Bath Wipes in bed tomorrow. Keep it simple, keep it pleasant, make it easier!