We cannot get him to shower. We have waited for the winter to pass, as he is always cold (understandable with age issues); we have gently told him he needs to do this. We know we cannot force him. Would perhaps hiring an outside agency to come in and assist (while we are here also) might help? He has been cheap all of his life and maybe knowing that we've had to pay someone to get him to do something essential might help. SO CONFUSED and feel stonewalled. Has anyone got any ideas that helped them?
I get all the reasons why; I understand how dementia figures into it. The bathroom is handicapped accessible, has a shower seat is is extremely safe (it was modified for just this reason). Thank you for any suggestions!
When it came time for my father's shower, we heated the house and got all his essentials set up for him. We turned on the water and got it the right temperature. Then my mother would sit in the bathroom with him while he showered. We didn't give him the option of not taking one.
When he became too weak to shower alone, we hired someone from a local caregiving agency to come by to give him either a wet or dry bath twice a week. He preferred the dry baths, but they didn't get him as clean.
As much as he didn't like to shower, he always perked up after the shower. I know it made him feel better and kept his skin healthier. I hope you're able to convince your father that taking a shower isn't optional -- it's a necessity.
My wee old house has a huge jetted (doesn't work) tub and, with a hip replacement, I'm afraid to get into it in case I can't get out. In a few weeks it will be taken out and a shower installed as I haven't been able to afford it up to now and I'm so looking forward to it. For the past year I've made do with a wash down. I live out in the country and probably smell like a dead bear by now but my dogs don't care, they like stinky stuff :)