Family caregivers who care for a senior parent often have to do things that might be awkward or uncomfortable. When you’re suddenly put into a caregiver role, it can be difficult to navigate the emotional issues that can arise. Personal care, like helping your senior parent bathe or get dressed, is something that makes many family caregivers uncomfortable.
In-home care is a great service for seniors. Because it allows them to have the dignity they deserve, without putting family members in awkward or embarrassing situations. Seniors may also prefer in-home care to help them with personal hygiene, makeup, shaving, and other personal tasks.
If you are going to do some personal care for your senior loved one, you can use these tips to make it more comfortable for both of you:
Give Your Senior Parent Tools For Independence
One thing that can make personal care less embarrassing or awkward for you both is to ensure that your senior parent has tools to be independent. Keep incontinence briefs stocked and in a place where your senior parent can easily access them. Leave baby wipes and other easy to use hygiene products in the bathroom in easy reach. Allow your senior loved one to do whatever they can on their own. However, you should be ready to help when they need it.
Adaptive Aids Can Help
If your senior parent has trouble getting dressed because of arthritis, there are adaptive aids that can help. Seniors can use adaptive aids to put on shirts, button or zip up pants, and put on their socks. Talk to your senior loved one about what tasks they are comfortable doing. Then discuss what tasks they need help with. If there is an adaptive aid that can help them perform a task, get it for them.
Acknowledge The Situation
A great way to defuse the tension and awkwardness surrounding personal care for seniors is to acknowledge that it’s an uncomfortable situation for everyone. When you and your senior parent laugh at the awkwardness and use humor to deflect the embarrassment, it makes helping your senior parent with personal hygiene much more comfortable for both you and your senior parent. Laughter is a great way to make awkward things less awkward.
Communicate Openly
Another thing that can make personal care at home easier for family caregivers is to communicate openly with your senior loved one. Let them know if there is something you’re uncomfortable helping them with. Ask them if there are things they would rather have an in-home care provider help them with instead of you. By communicating clearly, you and your senior parent can avoid hurt feelings, embarrassment, and resentment when it comes to hygiene, dressings, and other personal care tasks.
Providing exceptional In-Home Care for seniors and families in the Northern Virginia area, including Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Reston, Burke, Ashburn, Centreville, Springfield, Manassas, and Oakton. Call today to speak with our caring staff: (703) 272-8838.
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