Since her stroke, your mom cannot do many personal care tasks independently. She needs someone to help her get showered and dressed. Brushing and flossing her teeth is too difficult. She cannot shave, apply moisturizer to her skin, or trim her nails.

It’s clear your mom needs help, more help than she’ll accept from you. Between your job, scheduling and managing your mom’s many therapy sessions, and your need for self-care, it’s stressful. How can you help your mom with bathing and hygiene without stressing her or yourself out? The answer is personal care at home.

Set Up a Soothing Setting

Sometimes, aromatherapy can be soothing. Have an essential oil diffuser in the bathroom. Scents like lavender, vanilla, and mint may help your mom relax while you wash her, trim her nails, and take care of her personal care needs.

Invest in a Terry Robe

During a shower, your mom may not enjoy being fully exposed. Purchase a terry robe that’s a little larger than she needs. Drop one shoulder to wash that area, pull the robe back up, and do the same on the other side.

The robe will get damp, but it can be dried outside in the sun. Wash it when you wash the towels.

If she resists using a robe, switch to towels. Have several towels that you can drape over her. Remove towels as needed to wash that area and then cover her back up.

Make the Most of Hand-Held Aids

A hand-held shower wand simplifies the bathing process as you direct water where it’s needed. A shower mitt or brush puts a little distance between your hand and your mom’s body, which may be less awkward for her.

When you’re brushing and flossing her teeth, floss picks may be easier to use. An electric toothbrush breaks up plaque better.

Provide Rewards

Consider offering a reward for getting through it. Your mom may not like having to rely on you or a caregiver for help, but you can make it more appealing by rewarding her with something she loves.

After she lets you bathe her and help her get dressed, sit down together for a cup of coffee and carrot cake muffin. She might appreciate a chai latte and slice of coffee cake.

Hire Personal Care Aides

It’s time to talk to a personal care at home agency. With a specialist’s help, you can arrange the personal care services your mom requires. You’ll have peace of mind that she’s in great hands, and she isn’t stressed that you’re seeing her at her most intimate moments.

Jot down a list of the care tasks she needs help with from the time she gets up to the moment she goes to bed. Find out if others in the family can help her with any of them, and if she’ll allow their help. From there, book personal care at home for her.

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Concord, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post Five Ways to Help Your Mom With Bathing and Hygiene appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.

When you work, take care of your dad, and have your own home to manage, last-minute schedule changes are aggravating. You had an appointment scheduled on a day your brother had off, but now it has changed. Your brother can’t take the new day off, so you’ll have to bring your dad with you or find someone else.

As the stress builds, you are snapping at everyone. You don’t mean to, but the pressure is too much. It would help if everything went as planned, but life doesn’t always cooperate. What can you do to handle last-minute changes?

Take a Deep Breath

Before you panic, stop and take a few deep breaths. You can’t change everything, but you can lower your stress levels by breathing. If you’ve never tried yoga before, the breathing and stretches in that exercise and medication program will help you de-stress and relax.

See If It’s Possible to Reschedule

Sometimes, you can reschedule. If the appointment is a quick blood test at your doctor’s, ask if it’s okay to put it off. Your doctor may recommend going to an office that’s closer or having a nurse come to your home for the blood draw. If that option presents itself, take your doctor up on it as long as you get the referral for your insurance.

Some appointments are too important to reschedule. If it’s a screening like a mammogram or a colonoscopy that took months to get, you need to keep it. In that case, it’s time to ask family members and close friends to help out.

Talk to Other Family Members

Now that you’re a bit calmer, talk to others in your family. Explain the situation and see if anyone is free. It’s not always going to work out to your benefit, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. If someone is free, you’ve resolved your scheduling conflict.

What if no one can help you? It’s okay. Don’t take it out on them. Instead, start looking for local personal care at home agencies.

Hire Personal Care at Home Aides to Fill In

Don’t let the stress of last-minute changes get to you. Make arrangements to have trained caregivers stay with your dad while you take care of appointments, meetings, or whatever else is going on.

Focus on what you need to do and know your dad is in excellent hands with his personal care at home. Make arrangements and learn more about the cost of personal care at home by talking to a home care expert.

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Concord, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.

The post How to Handle Last-Minute Changes to Schedules You Thought Were Set appeared first on Golden Heart East Bay.