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48+ Caregiver Tips For Elderly Hygiene Issues And Care

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Personal hygiene can be a very sticky subject to discuss with elderly parents. I am lucky with my mom, as I do the laundry, I buy all the  groceries she needs, and living with her, I know if she has showered or not. And to be honest, I usually just say to her “shall I set up the bathroom for you to shower” and she’s off joyfully splashing around in the bathroom. But I know, for a lot of you, it’s not that simple.

So I have put together my 48+ caregiver tips for elderly hygiene and care from ten years of doing this for both of my parents. From how to approach the subject with your parents, what to do, and how to support them in doing this.
 

What are the causes of poor hygiene ?

 

Tip #1

Cost

Quite simply, the cost of bathing and laundry may be too high for seniors who have very little financial resources, and they cut back where they can on their spending.

 

Tip #2

Not enough time in the day

As a person gets older, they move and do things more and more slowly, and in the end they may just feel there isn’t enough time in the day to get it all done. It then becomes a question of priorities, and they just may not place bathing at the top.

 

Tip #3

Catching cold

Catching cold is a real problem for the elderly.

I know from when I had to help my father shower, he would always catch cold, and we used to have fan heaters wafting warm air into the bathroom, and get him immediately into a heavy towel bathrobe and off to an extra warm bedroom.

 

Tip #4

Lack of energy

Fatigue becomes a big problem as well. I have noticed this with my mom.

Not only does she not have enough time in the day, but she complains a lot of simply having no energy to get things done, and also just running out of energy after a few simple things.

So, your loved ones may simply not have the energy to go through the whole bathing ritual every day.

 

Tip #5

Fear

As mobility decreases, and stiffness and pain increases, some of our parents can become very much afraid of falling in the bathroom.

And this is not without reason, as it is the most dangerous room in the house, with 80% of all falls occurring there.

This fear can lead to elderly parents bathing, and showering, far less frequently than they normally would do so.

If you haven’t yet done so, take a look at my article on bathroom safety. It’s crammed with practical tips and suggestions for equipment which can make the bathroom a far safer place – 54 bathroom safety tips for seniors – A helpful guide

Tip #6

Loss of Dignity

If your parent needs to have help with their personal hygiene this can lead them to feeling undignified, and being very reluctant to wash. 

 

Tip #7

Pain and mobility

With conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and with knee and hip problems, they can be very debilitating, and make washing in a bathtub, or shower, too painful. In such cases, sponge baths may be far simpler and more comfortable. 

 

Tip #8

Depression

Elderly parents may suffer from depression, and simply be losing interest in the hobbies and activities, in which they once delighted.

Depression can also be a reaction to medications that seniors have been given for age-related illnesses, or they may be scared of growing old, as they see their friends slowly die off around them.

There can be many causes, and if you suspect this, you need to address these concerns to their doctors. 

 

Tip #9

Memory Loss

Your loved ones may be among the millions of elderly suffering from short term memory loss.

This can be remedied, to some degree, by them having a chart with a schedule, on which they record their bathing etc. 

 

Tip #10

Fear of losing control

If you are having to repeatedly address the problems of your parent’s personal hygiene, and they continue to ignore you, they may simply  fear that they’re losing control of their lives.

You must try to support them in what it is they want to do.

You may find, that they would prefer a sponge bath.

Try to find an alternative way of doing things, and sometimes you have to accept that they may not bathe for a day or two.

If it goes on for too long, you may need to bring in their doctor to speak with them. 

 

Tip #11

Sight and hearing

Many elderly parents will suffer, to some extent, from a loss of sight and of hearing, which can make moving around very difficult indeed.

The speed at which they move will also cause them to take inordinate amounts of time to complete even the simplest of tasks.

This can be a very common reason as to why they are bathing or showering less. 

 

Tip #12

Loss of sense of smell

With age, your loved one’s senses will dull, and as a result your loved one may be completely unaware that they don’t smell quite so fresh, or that their clothes may be a bit off as well.

This dulling of the senses, combined with the monotony of one day blending into the next, if their routine is very dull, can explain why they may not realize how many days have passed since the last bathing experience.

You may simply be able to help your parent to keep some kind of schedule, as I suggested before, where they mark down their last bath etc. 

 

Tip #13

Cognitive disorders

If your loved one is suffering from some form of dementia, or other form of cognitive disorder, you will need to proceed very slowly with them.

There will of course come a time when you can no longer handle their care, and the need for professionals who are trained in helping people with dementia will be required.

How do I talk to my parent about hygiene ?

 

Tip #14

You are there to give support

I feel the best approach, and this is not my idea, but one that I think most professional carers have been taught, is that you must make it abundantly clear to you loved one that you are not trying to interfere, or take control, but rather to support them in maintaining their independence.

 

Tip #15

Is everything okay ? Don’t ask this straight away

Very often, if you feel that your elderly parent is not being very careful about their personal hygiene, you will be worried that they are somehow not okay. But you need to curb this way of thinking.

Your parent may be perfectly alright, but due to a lack of energy they just have different priorities, as to what needs to be done.

Getting the bills paid and posting the mail has taken their energy, and today there isn’t enough left for taking a shower.

Don’t judge them, they may just be prioritizing what they do with their time – everything takes longer and longer the older you get.

Remember this before you start asking your questions, it isn’t all doom and gloom.

 

Tip #16

Why is it so delicate a topic ?

Personal hygiene is very much fundamental to maintaining an individual’s independence. Activities such as bathing and washing the laundry, when they become very difficult, or too difficult to do, threaten your elderly loved one’s very independence.

This is why you have to go so slowly, as they may feel very much under threat.

The idea for your loved one that they may need help and supervision, and that they may be losing control, can be really difficult for them to face. And pretty darn scary too.

You have to go very slowly with your approach to make sure they won’t react badly.

It is also an issue of a person being allowed to maintain their dignity, and to not feel as though they are being found to be dirty.

 

Tip #17

What do you need me to do for you ?

I would suggest that once you have found that your parent may need help with their hygiene, you find ways of starting the conversation bearing in mind that you are saying to them –

“What do you need me to do for you ?”

This is the best approach to take.

How do I find a way to ask about my parent’s hygiene if I feel they may not like it ?

 

If you need to take a slightly indirect route, for fear of your loved one over reacting to questions about personal hygiene, I have a few suggestions of how to do this.

 

Tip #18

The bathroom safety check

I would suggest that you ask to go to the bathroom, and while there, just take a look around and see if things may be difficult for your parent to navigate.

On returning to talk with your parent, you can say that you are a little worried that the bath, or the shower, may be a bit dangerous for them, and can you perhaps get them some equipment to make it all a bit safer ?

You must emphasize that you are worried about their safety, and not that you think they aren’t washing.

If your parent isn’t washing because they are scared of falling in the bathroom, they may tell you now, as you have opened the door to that conversation.

You can of course just say to them that you worry about them falling, and you would like to help make it safer, it’s an indirect way of approaching asking why they aren’t washing.

 

Tip #19

The laundry

If you think that their laundry doesn’t look washed and is smelling, you can always just find a way of offering to help them with that.

You can always ask if the washing machine is working properly, and if they ask why, you can say that there are some light stains on something – there is no need to go overboard.

You can even suggest they try another detergent, go buy something for them, and then offer to do the laundry with them, so you can see the results together.

And, of course, you can just ask them if they have the energy for doing all the household chores, and maybe offer to pick up their laundry and to do it with yours to save them time.

If their washing machines are in the basement, you can say that you are worried about them on the stairs, and offer to take it home to do it for them.

You will, of course, have to work out how you do it, but there are so many ways to do it with tact, and to do it gently.

You should always be asking, “What do you need me to do for you ?”

If your parents don’t accept help straight away, and you don’t pester them, they will usually come around.

And just say it’s because you worry about them.

 

How often should an elderly person bathe ?

 

Before you decide that you are going to discuss your parent’s personal hygiene with them, you should really know a little something about it, and what is considered to be enough bathing, or washing, to avoid health problems developing.

Tip #20

How much bathing is recognized as a minimum ?

Everything I have read about the subject of the frequency of bathing, says that once, or twice a week, is fine for someone who is not incontinent.

As your parent gets older their skin produces fewer oils, becomes thinner and tears more easily, so you don’t want to overdo the washing, and have them damage their skin.

You may have noticed how easily seniors get bruises on their skin. This is a sign of the skin becoming thinner and more delicate.

 

Tip #21

If my parent is incontinent, how often should they bathe ?

With incontinence the issue is not so much bathing, as it is washing the skin which has gotten wet to avoid infections, and not letting people stay sitting in dirty diapers.

If your parent is incontinent, they will need the wiping and washing of their private parts, to be dried and changed into fresh diapers every time.

For women, there is also the added issue of UTI’s, which are much more common. Women should be cleaning themselves from front to back, to avoid getting infections, caused by fecal matter getting into the urethra.

 

Tip #22

Does my parent need special bathing products ?

It’s a good idea to be using very mild soaps without a lot of products that have been added.

You can find soaps for sensitive skin, and also mild soaps for babies.

 

Tip #23

Does my parent need a complete bath or shower ?

If for any reason your parent doesn’t want to bathe in the bathtub, or take a shower, a sponge bath, or a flannel bath is perfectly adequate.

Baths of this kind also permit your parents to wash their private parts themselves, as they will be lying down our reclined, and can’t fall over.

You may see that they find this a little less stressful.

 

Bathroom safety products

 

The best way of dealing with the risks involved with bathing, or showering, for an elderly person is to help them eliminate as many as possible.

As I wrote earlier that I have an article with different types of safety equipment with the suppliers names that you can look for on the internet. You can read that article if you click here.

Tip #24

Non slip treads and tape

You can get non-slip products which will help reduce the risks of falling.

 

Tip #25

Non-slip shower and bathmats

You can find lots of non-slip mats, which are also mold and mildew resistant, to place in the shower or bathtub.

 

Tip #26

Remove any obstacles from the floor

Get rid of any rugs with thick curled up edges, and any objects which simply are creating a tripping hazard – clear out all superfluous “stuff”.

 

Tip #27

Grab bars

One of the best pieces of equipment is the grab bar – bars or rails that you can attach to the walls, which your loved ones can hold onto to stop themselves from falling.

There are vertical clamp-on bars for the sides of bathtubs, floor-to-ceiling poles which can be placed anywhere, bars which stick out horizontally from the wall, but that can be folded back up close to the wall, and all manner of bars that you can attach in the shower.

Personally, I would stay away from the grab bars which attach by suction, as I have had three different ones come off the wall when I was holding onto them. I just don’t think they are very safe.

I am also going to mention frames which you can place around the toilet here as well. Your loved one may be having trouble getting on and off the toilet, so you can put a frame there that has arms for them to hold onto. 

If you are finding it hard to pay for all the home improvements required, I have articles about what durable equipment Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Benefits and State plans will pay for. In particular, I have an article on bathroom safety equipment – Does Medicare pay for bathroom safety equipment ?

 

Tip #28

Walk in bathtubs

If you can afford one, a walk in bathtub is probably your loved one’s dream solution to bathing and showering.

There are no difficult steps, there is a seat (get the design which suits your parents needs), and they can come with a shower unit as well.

The risk of falling is dramatically reduced in a walk in bathtub, and your loved one can really relax to enjoy their washing.

If you can’t afford one check my article “Does Medicare pay for walk in bathtubs ?”, as certain Medicaid programs and waivers will pay for one for people on low incomes, and in rural areas there are rural development grants that will help to pay if it is necessary. All the relevant information is in the article.

Tip #29

Bathtub seats

For those of us who can’t afford walk in bathtubs, or a new shower, there are a few very helpful types of seats that you can use in the bathtub which make it a lot safer.

Seats with a lift and a swivel seat – these go in the bathtub, and can go up and down into the water. There is a swivel seat to make getting into the tub easier.  Some people may require a little assistance, but they make getting into the bathtub much simpler.

Another form of seat, is a Sliding Transfer Seat which is half in the tub, and half out of the tub.

Your loved one would sit down on the seat outside the tub, and you would help lift their legs, as you slide the seat over and above the tub, finally lowering their feet into the water. The difference with this seat is that your parent is sitting above the water and can’t be lowered into it.

 

Tip #30

Hand held shower head

A hand held shower head for washing and rinsing in the bathtub is a great advantage for those with limited reach.

 

Tip #31

Walk in showers

You want to avoid showers that have steps, so you may need to have a new walk in shower if your parent has one that they have to step up into.

 

Tip #32

Showers seats

A shower seat is a great way of cutting down the risk of someone falling in the shower. You can get seats which fold down from the wall, benches or chairs.

A little tip here is that if you have a portable commode chair, you can remove the bowl part, and use the seat if it fits in your shower – and if it’s waterproof.

 

Tip #33

Hand held shower head

This makes it much easier for people with limited reach and mobility to wash and rinse themselves in the shower.

You can put up hanging shower caddies and keep everything that is needed in one place where your loved one can get to it all easily, without over reaching and loosing their balance.

 

Tip #34

Non-slip tape on grab bars

 

If your loved one finds a grab bar is a bit too slippery, you can just add some non-slip tape.

 

Tip #35

Soap on a rope

If your parent isn’t using a gel soap in the shower, try to get soap on a rope for them, so that if they drop it they don’t have to bend down to pick it up, and risk losing their balance.

 

Tip #36

Sink Safety Rail

 

If your parent likes to stand at the sink and wash here, you may want to put in a safety rail for them to hold onto.

Elderly hygiene products

 

This is not a tip, it is simply a list of products that I, carers on forums, friends and their parents find very helpful –

 

  • Cetaphil products
  • Olay body wash
  • Beckman Brothers Goats Milk products
  • Mirai Body Wash
  • Aloe Vesta moisturizer, body wash and hair wash
  • Oatmeal body wash and soaps
  • Bend Soap Company Goats Milk Soap
  • Dr Bonner’s Castille Soap
  • Lubriderm moisturizing lotion
  • Evoo moisturizing lotion
  • Senset Cleanser
  • Glycerin and Rose water lotion
  • Olive Oil as a lotion
  • Vaseline

 

 

My parent wants me to wash them, how do I do that ? Personal hygiene checklist

 

Firstly, if you are going to wash your parent, you need to make them feel comfortable about it.

Don’t let them know if you are embarrassed, as it will just make things worse.

Remember that you are there to help support them in maintaining their independence in their own home.

I have a long article on how to make bathing easier for your parents, covering all aspects, and which goes into far greater detail here.

 

Tip #37

Don’t take over

Before you actually do a thing, you need to know what your parent is able to do, and what they are not able to do.

More importantly, you need to know what they will need you to help them with.

By asking them what they need from you, they will see that you are supporting them, which is really important for things to go off smoothly.

 

Tip #38

Allow privacy

Give your parents as much privacy whilst washing as possible. You may be able to leave the room as they wash certain areas of their body, and they may want to have certain parts covered when you are there.

Let them take the lead on this and guide you.

You just need to keep asking what they want you to do.

 

Tip #39

Make a schedule

A schedule is a great way to start the bathing process. Your parent will know when to expect you, and will not feel as though you are interfering, as this is the time they agreed to do this.

To do this, you need to get your parent to give you the times that they want to bathe, which fit with your schedule.

Again, it is all about supporting them, and not taking over, which will just lead to them feeling frustrated.

Remember, don’t go crazy with the schedule, it’s okay for an elderly person to bathe just once or twice a week only.

Try to be flexible if they don’t want a complete bath, or shower each time, and would rather have a sponge bath.

 

Tip #40

Install any safety items that you need to make the bathroom safer

If your loved one has asked for your help, you can sit down with them and find out all the ways in which you can make the bathroom safer and the process easier with bathroom safety equipment – grab bars etc.

 

Tip #41

Set out the bathroom and bedroom

Have the whole set up ready before you are going to bathe your parents, since you don’t want to be wandering around finding stuff while they get cold.

And you don’t want your parents over reaching to pick up things they need, so place stuff close to them.

You may also want to heat up the bathroom considerably, as the elderly catch cold very easily. I always used to heat the room up for my father, who got cold really quickly.

I would have a towel on the bed, and take your parent through there to do most of their drying off there. You can have them wear a towel robe through the bedroom.

Heating up the bedroom is also a good idea so that they don’t get cold when drying and dressing – this can take your loved ones quite a while.

Tip #42

Take the bathing or showering slowly

Only do what your parent asks you to do, and if they are able I would let them wash their private parts.

Talk and move slowly throughout, as they may not hear things correctly, or be able to move fast enough to keep up with you, and this can be frustrating for them, and also can cause accidents.

 

Tip #43

Take the bathing or showering slowly

Only do what your parent asks you to do, and if they are able, I would let them wash their private parts.

Talk and move slowly throughout, as they may not hear things correctly, or be able to move fast enough to keep up with you, and this can be frustrating for them, and also can cause accidents.

 

Tip #44

Have some kind of towel or cloth on hand to cover up with

You should always have something for your parents to cover themselves with when bathing.

They may lose their nerve at some point and get shy, or they may get a bit cold, so have something extra to hand when you set up the bathroom.

 

Tip #45

Moisturizer

Don’t forget that after drying, your loved one may need to use some moisturizer to keep their skin in good condition – moisturizers will help keep the skin soft and hydrated.

Moisturizers with antioxidants and vitamins C and E can also be beneficial.

 

Tip #46

Don’t forget the feet

If you are only washing your parent’s feet, you can just use a bowl of warm water.

As with bathing, you will want to have them check the water temperature, after you have, to make sure they are happy with that.

If they have arthritis, you will want to wash them slowly because you can really hurt them if their joints are very swollen – you will find it easier with some kind of cloth, but it may catch on toes, and cause them to get pulled on which can be painful. 

 

Tip #47

Drying the toes

Go even more slowly here, as you will not have the water as a lubricant, and the towel may bunch up and hurt your parent’s toes.

If your parent has very swollen joints, you may just want to dab the feet with a towel, and then dry from a distance with a hair dryer set to cold air – always test this first, so you don’t burn their delicate skin.

 

Tip #48

Foot creams

As you are already washing your parent’s feet, you may want to also take the time to moisturize them.

There are all sorts of foot creams out there.

There are abrasive ones if you wish to remove dead skin which is getting a bit thick.

If your parent is developing a cracked heel, you can do what I do for my mom which works well, which is to apply the moisturizer and then to put plastic wrap around the feet overnight.

You can use Vaseline if you just want to keep the moisture in their foot, as it seals the skin.

And I would use plastic wrap to stop the grease getting everywhere.

Tip #49

Pedicures for fun

If your parent enjoys being spoilt and having a pedicure, you could go have one together.

You can turn it into a fun time out together, which makes it much more enjoyable for your parents, and they get to socialize a little as well.

 

Tip #50

Don’t forget dental care

I would suggest that you take your parent for regular check-ups with their dentist, and they will tell you if you need to help.

 

Tip #51

Use a soft brush

If they aren’t able to, you will just have to slowly, and gently, brush their teeth for them, or guide them through it.

It can be a little tricky brushing someone else’s teeth for the first time, so use a soft brush while you and your loved one are learning to do this together.

It will mean you don’t hurt their gums.

 

Dementia and hygiene issues

 

If your parent is suffering from dementia, the reasons for their lack of personal hygiene can be related to a number of specific things –

 

  • short term memory loss
  • having difficulty organizing tasks
  • an inability to remember to perform what were once familiar tasks
  • a fear of water
  • becoming easily angry and frustrated
  • an inability to recognize their own reflection
  • an inability to make appropriate choices even when performing simple tasks
  • have difficulty standing, walking, standing up and sitting down

 

Tip #52

The Routine

Try to stick to the same routine for bathing, or showering, that the individual suffering with dementia has always had i.e. if it is a bath in the morning, or a shower in the evening, try to do the same.

 

Tip #53

Prepare the bathroom

With any elderly adult that you are helping to bathe, whether they suffer with dementia or not, you will want to have the bathroom prepared –

 

  • heated to a nice temperature
  • the water at a temperature that the bather likes – always let them check it before you start
  • all the tools for bathing within reach, especially for the person if they still do some washing themselves – you don’t want people standing and stretching on wet surfaces, especially if they have mobility issues
  • everything that you need in the bathroom should be there ahead of time
  • you also don’t want to have to leave the person alone in the bathroom if they require supervision

Tip #54

Prepare everything logically

To simplify the bath, or shower, the drying and dressing, if you have the space, set out all the items in the order that they are going to be needed.

 

Tip #55

Create a relaxed atmosphere

If your loved one gets frustrated easily, or anxious about bathing, you may want to play some of their favorite calming music to relax them – this is also nice for anyone where you are bathing a parent, and it’s a little uncomfortable.

 

Tip #56

Talk quietly and describe each step before you take it

Talk quietly to your loved one, and let them know what each step coming up is going to be. This will help with any confusion, and if they are tense and afraid, a quiet calming voice will help to relax them.

 

Tip #57

Have the bather hold onto wash cloths

If your loved one has a tendency to violent outbursts, it is. a good idea to give them a wash cloth in each hand, as they will have to drop it before they try to strike out, and this can give you time to move away.

 

Tip #58

Towel bathrobe

I always found with my father, as he moved very slowly, that it was best if I wrapped him in a towel bathrobe, and then walked him to a heated bedroom where I  could help him get dry. This stopped him from getting cold, and the towel bathrobe also made drying him afterwards a lot easier.

 

Alzheimer’s hygiene products

 

The products below are more specifically for dementia sufferers who have –

  • a fear of water
  • problems with incontinence

 

Tip #59

Rinse free Shampoo

This is simply a shampoo which doesn’t require rinsing afterwards, which makes it ideal for those with a fear of water.

 

Tip #60

Rinse free bath concentrate

This is a body wash which again doesn’t need water and can just be wiped clean with. a damp towel.

 

Tip #61

Shampoo in a cap

These are no-rinse shampoo and conditioner in a cap.

You simply put on the cap and then lightly massage the hair through the cap for 15 – 20 seconds, until the hair is fully saturated.

After you towel dry the hair.

Tip #62

Waterless bathing gloves

These gloves are intended for waterless bathing, which can be very helpful for caregivers and elderly adults suffering with dementia who are afraid of water.

The gloves are for a single use only, require no water, no rinsing or towel drying.

The gloves are pre-moistened using hypoallergenic washing lotion, which is perfectly safe for elderly adults.

An example  of these gloves are “Aqua Wash Gloves”.

 

Tip #63

Shower visor

Shower visors will keep water off the face of the wearer, and again for dementia sufferers who afraid of water, it can make the bathing experience go more smoothly.

 

Tip #64

Adult diapers

For dementia sufferers with incontinence, adult diapers are vital if you are using washable pants.

 

Tip #65

Washable pants

Washable reusable pants for incontinence.

 

Tip #66

Bidet toilets

Bidets can make cleaning after using the toilet much simpler for people with dementia, and for the caregivers.

 

Tip #67

Padded Toilet seats

Padded toilet seats just add a little comfort to the toilet experience, and make life a little more pleasant for dementia sufferers.

 

Round up

 

Take everything slowly, and make it clear that you are supporting your parents in maintaining their independence, and it should all go well.

I hope this has been of help to you.

 

 

I’m Gareth, the author and owner of Looking After Mom and Dad.com

I have been a caregiver for over 10 yrs and share all my tips here.

Gareth Williams

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