This is a call on the Collective Brain of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. Please use the comments box to add your thoughts, opinions, insight and advice....By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
I'm over on this so called expert website were the so called expert, an M.D., starts by saying
Helping your loved one with Alzheimer's disease with bathing is arguably the most challenging aspect of Alzheimer's caregiving.Say what? One of the Most challenging aspects of Alzheimer's caregiving. I wish it was. If this were true Alzheimer's care giving would be a walk in the park for me. You?
I am not sure where giving my mother a shower ranks on the list of difficulty; but, I know it doesn't rank in the top 10.
Poop, pee, urinary tract infections now your talking. Degree of difficulty off the chart.
The M.D. goes on to write;
Issues of privacy, modesty and humility don't decline in importance as Alzheimer's progresses, and they play a major role in the bathing process. Self-consciousness is common when a person undresses or is naked in the bath or shower, and for a parent the role-reversal of having a son or daughter bathe them may be very difficult. Starting the bath with some of your loved one's clothes on (such as a t-shirt or undershorts) may help.What!!!
I tried to imagine what it would be like trying to get a wet T shirt off my mother. I have this crazy image in my head of her arms flaying all over the place and the difficulty of trying to get her neck out of the T shirt and over her head. I can hear her yelling -- are you trying to kill me.
I could also envision her getting bent out of shape and completely disconcerted if I had to get her out of a wet T shirt while in the shower. Bent out of shape? Disconcerted? When this happens it leads to bad day back here on the farm.
Let me gets this straight. If I take my mothers' bottom clothing off, and leave on her shirt this is a better more effective approach to giving her a shower or bath? Hmm. Wouldn't it be the other way around? Doesn't matter, I still believe its a bad approach. A kind of dumb, dumber approach.
I decided to try it on myself. I got into the shower and got my T shirt nice and wet. How hard was it to get it off? I felt like I was wrestling a rattle snake. Ever try it? Let me know.
I am interested in the insights, feedback, and opinion of people that read this blog. What are you thoughts?
I admit. When it came time to give my mother her first shower I was filled with feelings of trepidation.
When I was done? I was filled with feelings of self fulfillment. I had a feeling that I had just accomplished something important. The importance of good hygiene aside.
It was not anything like I thought it would be.
I understand that everyone is not as fortunate as me. My mother had no real problem with her nakedness and she was cooperative.
There were two big upsides.
First, my mother looked like a shiny new penny. Really clean. I washed her hair, gave her a shower, and then I put some stay in conditioner in her hair and brushed it. I even gave her a flip in the back. It looked great if you ask me.
An additional upside was that she seemed really pleased. I know from experience that efforts like these tell the person that has Alzheimer's you really care. Even if they can't tell you this themselves. You can also use this occasion to reinforce the importance of cleanliness. Let's face it, a typical person in a later stage of Alzheimer's disease would never take a bath or shower on their own.
Second, I was really proud of myself. First and foremost, I did it. I really felt good about myself as an Alzheimer's caregiver. It filled me with a sense of accomplishment. It did make me yearn for someone to give me a shower. Let me tell you, it seemed to me it is easier to give someone else a shower/bath then it is to give one to yourself.
Especially when you are really focused in on making the person look and feel like a "shiny new penny".
I admit the thought of son-mother in the shower was a bit difficult for me to envision. I didn't know how I would feel. I thought that it was going to be a very trying experience. Like many things in life you really don't really know how you are going to feel about something until you actually do it.
The bath/shower is a good example of how an Alzheimer's caregiver can allow themselves to feel a wonderful sense of accomplishment. All you have to do is allow the feelings to come in.
Andrew Rosenzweig, MD, wrote the article I am referring to on About.com. If you would like to read it -- go here.
Did Dr. Rosenzweig ever give someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease a bath or a shower? Don't know.
Did Dr. Rosenzweig actually discuss this issue with any "real life" Alzheimer's caregivers"? Doubt it.
I am interested in hearing your reaction and about your experience.
Maybe they will publish our advice and insights on About.com. One thing is certain, these will be "real life" experiences from people that actually had the experience.
This is a call on the Collective Brain of the Alzheimer's Reading Room. Please use the comments box to add your thoughts, opinions, insight and advice.
Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,880 articles with more than 95,100 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.
- 60 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room
- Alzheimer's CareGiving -- Insight and Advice
- Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)
- Communicating in Alzheimer's World
- Worried About Alzheimer's Disease -- You Should Be
- What is Alzheimer's? What are the Eight Types of Dementia?
- Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
- Alzheimer's Disease Statistics
- Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?
- Ten Symptoms of Early Stage Alzheimer's
- Ten Tips for Communicating with an Alzheimer’s Patient
 The Alzheimer's Action Plan |  300 Tips for Making Life Easier |
Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room
