Hello, first of all, thanks so much for the electric shaver advice, we are up and running with that, working good! Appreciate your advice so much.
For today I would like to ask if any of you have any ideas for getting DH into the shower. This is getting to be a difficult tussle between us. He does not want to do it, he's a bit smelly by the time I force it. I am getting tired of the battle.
These things I have tried:
bribery; something he likes afterwards, like ice cream.....
specific threats; such as "you, like John Wayne, don't want to be called low-down and mean-smellin', do you?.....
the ultimate weapon against men; tears.....
last but not least; just plain mean talk and nasty threats!
Anything you might have tried in your journey that might clue me in!
It is slippery.
It is confusing.
It is loud.
It can be cold.
If this is a walk in shower get a shower chair for him to sit on. Preferably with a back for support. (If you can't get a shower chair if you happen to have a lawn chair that might work. Or if you happen to have a commode that will work also)
This will give him a stable surface and less of a chance to slip and or fall.
Provide a hand held shower head/wand so that he can control the water and where it goes.
Start at the feet getting him wet. The head and torso are "vulnerable" areas I was told by a physical therapist. So those get wet last and I let the water go over my husbands shoulders from the back so it was not hitting him in the chest. When it came to the chest I just gave him the shower to control where he wanted the water spray.
If possible turn off the water between the wetting and soaping so there is not the excess noise. (that is if the room seems loud.)
If he gets cold easily a heated towel bar would be nice or just before the shower put towels in the dryer so they are warm when you pull them out after his shower.
If all the suggestions you get do not work you can contact an agency and ask about a "Shower aide" for some reason there are some people that can convince a person to take a shower when no one else can. (The CNA that works for the Hospice I used is able to accomplish that, although never had a problem getting my Husband to shower he LOVED it)
Does he have a specific obkection to the shower? Too cold, water hurts skin, can't stand.
My mom started "resisting" showers in her NH. She became convinced they were going to make her stand!
Everyone here is so upfront and helpful, always with the crux of the matter on top!