Bathing Without A Battle
Bathing Without A BattleWe know that bathing can become a battle between residents with dementia and their caregivers. Using the Comfort Zone® system during bath time will help your residents feel more relaxed and at ease. A must for the whirlpool room, it will comfort your residents and make your job as a caregiver easier. For those residents where a towel bath technique is more suited instead of a bath, Comfort Zone® can help patients stay warm more efficiently and effectively than the typical warm moist towel. The following techniques for towel baths recommended by the authors of the book “Bathing Without a Battle” highlight where the Comfort Zone® system can be used to facilitate bathing difficult residents. Bathing the ResidentExpose the person’s feet and lower legs and immediately cover the area with the warm, moist large towel. Then gently and gradually uncover the resident while simultaneously unfolding the wet towel to recover the resident. Place the covers at the end of the bed. Start washing at whatever part of the body is least distressing to the resident. You may wish to place a bath blanket over the towel to hold in the warmth. Wash the backs of the legs by bending the person’s knee and going underneath. Bathe the face, neck, and ears with one of the washcloths. You may also hand a washcloth to the resident and encourage him to wash his own face. Turn the resident to one side and place the smaller, warm towel from the plastic bag on the back, washing in a similar manner, while warming the resident’s front with the bath blanket or warm, moist towel. No rinsing or drying is required. Use a washcloth from the plastic bag to wash the genital and rectal areas. Gloves should be worn when washing these areas. After the bath
If desired, have the person remain unclothed and covered with the bath blanket and bed linen, dressing at a later time. A dry cotton bath blanket (warmed if possible) placed next to the skin and tucked close provides comfort and warmth. |
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