Arguing with Your Senior about Bathing?
Bathing and taking a shower may never have been something that you thought your senior would fight you on, but it’s surprisingly common. Here are some things that you can do to help to reduce the fights and convince your senior to work with you.
Home Care in Southport IN: Your Senior and Bathing
Put Together a Routine You Both Agree On
Having a routine is important for so many situations, but particularly for bathing. Sit down with your elderly family member and see if there’s anything at all you can both agree about when it comes to her and bathing. Perhaps a daily shower isn’t something that you can agree on together but having a bath three times a week is. Work with the situation the best you can.
Look for Ways to Adjust the Bathroom
Very often the bathroom is the problem. Your senior may feel insecure in the tub, for instance, or a shower may have been soothing and comfortable in the past, but now it’s scarier or the water splashing feels weird. The temperature when she’s undressed may be too cool, even when it feels warm to you. Assess as many of the variables as you can and adjust what you can.
Use Positive Reinforcement Rather than Negative Reinforcement
Arguing is a negative reinforcement for your senior. In fact, argue too much and she may not ever want to talk about bathing again. What you really want to do is to positively reinforce the actions and reactions that you want to happen. When your senior agrees to bathe, find a way to reward that behavior that is enjoyable for her. That might mean doing something fun together or some other positive response.
You’re in This Together
Remember that you and your senior are in this together. If you’re using a lot of “you” statements, your elderly family member may start to subconsciously feel as if you’re picking on her or working against her in some way. Use “we” statements instead, to help reinforce to your elderly family member that you and she are a team and that you’re going to get through all of this together.
Step away from the bathing issue completely if you need to. Senior care providers are a better option for some seniors when it comes to bathing simply because it’s embarrassing to have family members helping with these tasks. Give the idea a try and see if it works for your elderly family member.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Care in Southport, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where she was the In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
- Home Care Differences Between Grooming and Hygiene - April 24, 2023
- 4 Senior Home Care Tips to Get Out of a Food Rut - April 13, 2023
- Elder Care Tips For Managing Senior Stress - March 21, 2023