After his fall, your dad’s required a helping hand with bathing and grooming. He broke his hip and his mobility hasn’t returned as much as you’d like. He needs help, and you’re not sure you should be the one helping him. How do you or your Homecare provider make bath days easy on everyone?

Talk It Out Before Anything Happens

Talk to your dad about what he needs help with. He may not love the idea, but if you give him some options on how to go from here, it’s going to be less stressful for him. Let him have as much input as you can.

Go over exactly how a caregiver can help him get showered and dressed. If he knows the steps in advance, he’s prepared and less stressed when it’s time to have help in the shower.

Get a Sturdy Shower Seat

Buy a sturdy shower seat that your dad can sit on while he showers. Look for one that has handles if he needs them and suctions on the feet to keep it from slipping around while he sits down and stands back up.

Have Extra Towels on Hand

While he’s showering, keep extra towels on hand. Get lightweight towels that dry quickly. While one area of his body is being washed, the towels can cover the other areas of his body. He’ll feel a little less exposed and vulnerable.

Make Sure the Bathroom Is Warm

If the bathroom is cold, your dad’s going to try to rush drying off and getting dressed. Make sure the bathroom is warm enough. A space heater or heated bathroom fan and light can help ensure the room is warm enough to keep him from needing to rush.

Invest in a Hand-Held Shower Wand

A hand-held shower wand is a key to quick, easier showering, especially when a shower seat is needed. Your dad or his caregiver can hold the wand and direct water where he needs it. Make sure it’s in an easy-to-reach location.

When choosing the right one, consider having one that’s part of the showerhead and attaches to the rest of the showerhead by using magnets to hold it in place. These are easy to remove and put back.

Keep Your Dad’s Comfort in Mind

Your dad has told you that he doesn’t want you to be the one helping him in the shower. Respect his wishes. He doesn’t feel comfortable with his children washing his body. If caregivers reduce his stress, make sure you arrange them.

Personal care at home services is a good way to ensure your dad has help with showers without him having to rely on you. He doesn’t want you to be the one helping him when he’s most vulnerable, so put his needs first. Hire personal care at home aides to help him with hygiene and grooming, and you can help him with everything else.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Claremont CA, and the surrounding area, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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