If most of the trips to the bathroom with your aging adult are silent ones, you might be missing opportunities to help her more fully. Communication is important in so many situations, including bathroom trips.
It’s an Embarrassing Situation
The main reason that most caregivers and their aging adults don’t communicate much about bathroom visits is that it’s embarrassing all the way around. Your elderly family member is embarrassed that she needs the help and it’s embarrassing to do the things you need to do in order to help her. You’ll need to get past that so that you can both do what needs to be done.
Clear, Concise Statements Help
This isn’t about having a conversation or anything like that, either. What you need to be talking about is what your elderly family member needs to know. Let her know when she’s right there at the toilet. Let her know you’re braced and ready for her to stand. Ask her if she’s ready to try standing. All of these bits of information are small, clear sentences that aren’t embarrassing, but keep both of you informed.
Give Your Senior Plenty of Time
These trips to the bathroom might not be as speedy for your elderly family member as they might have been in the past. Make sure that you’re giving her plenty of time to sit down, to do her business, and to get back up again. If she’s feeling that you’re rushing her, she might not accept your help in the bathroom, no matter how much she might truly need it. That can create even bigger issues for her.
Get Some Extra Help
This is a process that can be really difficult to get a handle on, even for an experienced caregiver. Hiring home care providers can help you to learn tips and tricks that make bathroom visits easier for you and for your elderly family member. Ultimately, her safety is the most important aspect of learning new techniques. Your senior may feel more comfortable with home care providers, too. This often happens because of the embarrassment factor.
Communication is essential in all aspects of caregiving. When your elderly family member knows what to expect, she knows how to react. When you get information from your senior about what she expects, you know how you should react. It’s a give and take situation and improving communication is going to make things easier for both of you.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Westwood MA, or anywhere in Eastern Massachusetts, please call the caring staff at CARE Resolutions – (508) 906-5572.
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