I need some tips for convincing aging parents to maintain good hygiene.

Asked by: Jacqueline Hatch |Posted on: November,19 | Viewed: 318 times

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Convincing aging parents to maintain good hygiene can be difficult, especially if they have memory impairment that affects these normal activities of daily living. In other situations, hygiene decline may be linked to feelings of embarrassment or fear. There are a few ways to help improve hygiene and keep your parents healthy as they age, however. Try these tips to resolve the situation:

1. Hire an in-home caregiver to help with ADLs (activities of daily living). In some cases, an aging parent may be reluctant to give up their independence and allow an adult child to be their caretaker. As a result, they make resist your help when showering or dressing. Hiring some outside help can ease the burden of caregiving and possibly make your aging parent feel more comfortable accepting help.

2. Make the bathroom accessible to aging parents. One of the main reasons that older adults avoid showering is because of a fear of falling when no one else is home. Install grab bars and insert grip pads in the tub and outside of the shower to ensure that this room is safe for older adults. You can also install an anti-scald valve on your shower to avoid injury and help them feel more comfortable bathing on their own.

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