Making Bathing a More Independent Experience for Elderly People

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Making Bathing a More Independent Experience for
Elderly People
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With age, what used to be straightforward (e.g.
opening a tin with a tin opener) becomes more of
a challenge than a chore, as we work out how to
adapt our lives to meet the onset of old age and
the pressure it places on our everyday
lives. Relaxing is a break from daily pressures
and, for some, the only place for such me time
may be the bathroom. Having everything available
in a bathroom to maintain independence adds to
the pleasure of bathing or showering and
increases self-esteem and confidence.
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c ustomerservice_at_essentialaids.com Some points
which may seem little in their own right can
greatly add to creating that feeling of
independence, whilst adding built-in safety to
the overall experience. Enhancing the
Experience An inflatable bath cushion gives added
support to the back and neck and the extra
comfort adds to the bathing experience. Using a
bath cushion for disabled people gives extra
peace of mind, as the added support helps keep
the user positioned and therefore more at
ease. Similar to a hand dryer for hands, a
wall-mounted body dryer allows you to dry all of
your body, drying parts of the body that limited
dexterity might make difficult to
reach. Long-handled washing aids allow the user
to reach the feet and also the back without
having to re-adjust ones standing or sitting
position, thus helping to avoid unnecessary trips
or falls. Mounted shampoo and soap dispensers
make bathing a more stress-free experience, as
everything is at hand. An anti-fog mirror has a
special coating which absorbs moisture and so
allows the person to view themselves whilst
bathing or showering.
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• Bath Cushions and Bath Mats
• There are several designs of bath cushions and
  bath mats, all designed to give extra comfort
  and security whilst in the water. Some of these
  include-
• A bath cushion ( measurements tend to be around
  43 cms ( 18 inches) squared and, when placed on
  the base of the bath, they can be inflated to
  give a softer seat in the soothing water
• A cushioned bathmat which is similar in design to
  a sun bed mattress, lying along the base of the
  bath and then also forming a backrest-cum-
  pillow, keeping the user safe from slipping
  further into the water
• Whilst there are many designs of bath lift and
  bath hoist, the simplest and cheapest is an
  inflatable bath cushion, which can lower you
  into the bath and then raise you back up again,
  simply by the press of a button. Once in the
  bath, you can also remove all of the air from
  the cushion, so as to rest on the bath base
  itself to enjoy a more natural soak.
• Bathing or Showering from a Seated Position
• A bath board is designed to allow the user to
  edge oneself into the bath or shower from a
  seated position, thus preventing falling or
  slipping when getting in or out of the bath tub.

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• For stand-alone showers, a shower chair gives
  added safety and
• increased pleasure when showering.
• Wet rooms are not raised from the floor and so,
  for a wheelchair user, are much easier to enter
  than a regular shower unit or bath.
• A wheelchair user can take advantage of the
  shower chair with wheels when entering a wet
  room, which can also be used to move around the
  bathroom itself.
• A bath bench or bath chair will greatly improve
  the bathing experience, as some elderly people
  may have weaker or unsteady frames, or be unable
  to stand due to illness or injury.
• Walk-in bath tubs and the integral seat might not
  be everyones idea of a pleasing bathing
  experience, though they do remove the worry of
  falling or tumbling when trying to enter or exit
  the bath.
• The Popular Whirlpool and Spa Experiences
• If you have health conditions which would benefit
  from regular hydrotherapy sessions, a whirlpool
  bath or spa bath could prove worth its price and
  so somewhat enhance quality of life.
• Some benefits include-
• When soaked in water, your heart is encouraged to
  work harder and so it is kept healthy

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• It can help reduce arthritic pain and discomfort a
  nd so
• increase motion in your joints
• It can improve your confidence and self-esteem
• By allowing you to relax, it can both reduce
  headaches and improve quality of sleep
• It can help reduce blood pressure.
• The pleasure which the moving water bestows upon
  you relaxes your whole being and has quite a
  positive effect on your emotions.
• The main difference between hydrotherapy and a
  spa session is that the spa is about floating or
  sitting, whereas hydrotherapy means putting in
  some hard work, as your body moves against the
  water.
• N.B. Hydrotherapy should always be used with
  caution and, should you have health conditions,
  always check with your doctor if hydrotherapy
  would prove suitable to those conditions, before
  making a purchase.
• Bathroom Hazards
• As many as four thousand people every year drown
  in the bathtub, with the bathroom being one of
  the most dangerous rooms in the house.

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c ustomerservice_at_essentialaids.com Some
medications can lead to hypertension and
dizziness, which in turn leads to limited
mobility, making bathing independently a little
more complicated. Wet floors can lead to slipping
and the hardness of the floor can lead to
serious injury. Rugs (make sure they have a
non-slip underside) can reduce an injury which
can be incurred by hitting a hard floor. Never
use a towel rail for support, as their purpose is
to hold towels and not to take someones
weight. Bathroom doors which lock only from the
inside can lead to being unable to quickly reach
the person in the bathroom in an emergency.
Locks on both sides of the door can give privacy
but also swift emergency entrance. A temperature
of 54 C / 120 F is an ideal temperature for
bathing. However, due to health conditions,
medications or neurological damage, as well as
ageing and possibly thinner skin, an elderly
person may be unable to register that the bath /
shower water is too hot, meaning that even brief
exposure to such heat could cause scalds and
serious burns. Using a bath can cause spills to
the floor, so adding a weighted shower curtain
(tucked inside the bath) as an optional extra can
help prevent water spilling onto the bathroom
floor.
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Safety Measures Grab rails in a bathroom are
safety handles which are placed near the toilet,
wash hand basin, bath / shower and any other
place deemed necessary, to have something to
hold on to whilst moving from one place to
another, as well as for steadying oneself during
the bathing / showering experience. Bolts should
be used to install grab rails, rather than
suction cups, as bolts offer more permanency. A
bath mat inside the bath or shower allows for
more surety of step, as not all bath and shower
bases have raised imprints to prevent
slipping. Things to Look Out For Weakened
strength or dexterity may mean than twisting taps
on and off isnt an option, so lever taps or tap
turners may prove to be the way forward. Elderly
people who use walking frames might have
difficulty lifting the walking frame over the
door frame threshold even a half an inch / 1
cm. rise making entry into the bathroom somewhat
more difficult. For wheelchair users, widening
the door into the bathroom may need to be
addressed.
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c ustomerservice_at_essentialaids.com Again, for
wheelchair users, attention may need to be given
to the height of wash hand basins and mirrors,
which may need to be lowered to accommodate the
users seated position. Increasing the
Experience for Those with Vision Loss According
to the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the
Blind), around one in thirty people in the
United Kingdom live with some degree of sight
loss and such vision changes can also be
supported to improve the bathing experience.
Consider- Addressing the lighting to support the
type of vision loss the user may have (e.g.
distorted, blurred, or tunnel vision) would
benefit from the installation of spotlights,
floor lights and down lights, to give definition
to areas within the bathroom De-cluttering the
bathroom of any overload of shampoo and bath gel
bottles, so as to make identifying the right one
for user easier, or make use of mounted shampoo
and soap dispensers Removing tripping hazards
such as bathroom scales or waste bins Using
towels which contrast with the wall colours, to
make their location more easily
identifiable Making use of a Smart shower, which
allows the user to switch off the shower by
voice activation, instead of having to locate the
water control point.
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Summary While bathing / showering can be a
relaxing and independent experience for most,
general weakness, reduced mobility, grip and
dexterity, as well as sight changes which come
with age, can bring challenges to performing
this personal task. Even the smallest of changes
will help an elderly person maintain a dignified
level of personal care. A bath cushion for
disabled people gives that extra grip to the
body, lessening any likelihood of sliding down
into the water. Before purchasing a hydrotherapy
bath, check that your health condition is
compatible with using this therapy style
system. Be aware that the bathroom is one of the
most dangerous rooms in your home and tackle
tasks which limited functioning may make more
hazardous, highlighting the need for safety
measures to be identified and addressed. Blog an
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