Archive for January 15th, 2010

Posted on January 15, 2010 - by Nurse Virginia

Caregiver Tips: Bathing the Elderly, Confused Patient

What could be more personal than bathing another adult?

This healthcare worker consistently receives high praise for the shower or bed bath she gives. Patients have said:

“You have an angel working here, and she gives showers.”

“I never feel embarrassed when she gives me a shower.”

“I just had the best shower of my life, it made me feel so good.” This from a cancer patient.

Actual praise for getting another adult totally undressed and bathing them?

What is so special about this healthcare worker’s showers?

She uses the same shower products; soap, towels, shower chair and shower stall. The equipment is the same as everyone else’s.  The patients are usually straight from the hospital after recent surgery, and are still hurting. They may be confused due to their recent hospital stay and the aftermaths of medication or suffer from ongoing cognitive decline.

Whatever the situation, when it comes to the most intimate area of caregiving, the shower, this healthcare worker not only is competent but provides a special experience.

Here are the princiles she follows:

• Talk to the patient, get to know them before you suggest undressing and bathing them.
• Get all of the supplies ready before you bring the patient to the shower. At least four towels and four washcloths, soap, shampoo and clean clothes.
• Get the area warm, turn on warming light and start running warm water.
• When the patient is undressed and in the shower, ask them if they would like to wash their face. Give resident wash cloth with just plain water and let them wipe their face.
• Starting with the top of the body, ask the patient if they would like to wash their arms and offer a wash cloth with soap on it. Or would they like you to “help” them? There is a difference between doing somthing to someone or asking if they would like your “help.”
• Take your time and let the patient know that their shower is important to you. This is not just a chore you want done quickly, and out of the way. For this time you are totally with them and attending only to them.
• For every body part ask the patient if they would like to do it themselves.
• When the caregiver does the washing, she folds the soapy washcloth into a envelope she puts over her hand. She never just splashes around with a flying loose washcloth. But she carefully and slowly soaps the body part with her folded cloth.
• She keeps the patients private areas covered with small towels throughout the shower time. And only washes the patients private areas when they are unable to do this themselves.

The big four principles of a great shower

1. Keep the patient warm.

2.  Take your time. You might give four showers today, but this is the only one this patient is having.

3.  Provide privacy for the patients private areas, as well as the shower area.

4.  Use the word “help” often.

5.  Most important, spend some time getting to know the person, before you do something so sensitive as undressing and bathing them.

Virginia Garberding, R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com