Please or to access all these features

Elderly parents

Getting mum in law to have a wash.

60 replies

gratefulforcousins · 01/01/2024 21:12

My mother I law is living at ours for the foreseeable future, she is unable to remain at home as her care package has failed and she can't function in between visits and is constantly falling. We have a downstairs toilet qnd sink but no shower. She is in desperate need of a wash after being sweaty while she had covid and in the nicest possible way she needs to clean her self everywhere in every crevice. We are waiting for social services assessment to assist but she I refusing saying that she had a wash once a week at home. I have tried being blunt and offered help but she goes into a vapour and gets upset. I will not accept the smell and she is staying here in lieu of a care home so she does have to stick by some level of hygiene so we can live together. We are moving house in the next few months so we can't make any adaptations she can't do the stairs. She needs to wash , how dod I get her to do it.

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/01/2024 22:09

So she's saying she washed once a week at home?

How long has it been since she washed - it sounds like more than a week?

What does she say if you reply to her saying she washes once a week with 'yes, and it's now been 10 days' or whatever?

If I'm honest, I've no idea what you do. I know my DPs have a similar battle with my DGM, that and washing clothes.

If carers in your home are imminent, would she react better to 'the carer on Tuesday and Friday mornings is coming to help you wash.'

Do you think it's that she can't do it alone and is mortified at the thought of you helping her?

gratefulforcousins · 01/01/2024 22:00

It's not so much the washing it's the getting her to do it! Quite honestly it can't go on it stinks and is a disgusting way to carry on. I have a little boy to look after too.

OP posts:
purser25 · 01/01/2024 21:39

3 times a week I get my Mum to sit on a chair in her bedroom i bring in a bowl of soapy water she put her feet in. Then gradually get her to wash other bits. Drying as we go along

Octavia64 · 01/01/2024 21:32

https://www.freshwipes.co.uk/?gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8fD5zZG9gwMVp5RQBh1DOQCKEAAYASAAEgLBbPDD_BwE

Body wipes to help with cleaning.

Nurses are also trained to do a bed bath - use towels and a small-ish bowl of soapy water then clear water.

gratefulforcousins · 01/01/2024 21:31

This is just for an interim, hopefully she will eventually go into a care home carers will hopefully be coming in the meantime till we find somewhere. Local leisure centre have agreed .....she however just won't.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 01/01/2024 21:30

You can get wipes, probably the easiest if she is frail.

Rubbishdisguise · 01/01/2024 21:30

Just to add, I find it helpful to explain exactly what we're going to do beforehand so the person being helped doesn't get surprised or wrong footed. And keep a close eye on them during and immediately afterwards, changing body temperatures during washing can apparently cause blood pressure to misbehave in elderly people and thus increase the risk of a fall.

SquishyGloopyBum · 01/01/2024 21:26

Is this something you are willing to take on? It sounds like you are a sticking plaster - it sounds harsh but you should have let the carers fail so It can be seen how things are.

Rubbishdisguise · 01/01/2024 21:22

"In this house we wash at least every X number of days".

Standing up bed bath (if she's able to stand up while hanging on to something) - stand her on a few bath/beach towels to soak up drips in a nice warm room, then flannel wash top to bottom with warm soapy water. Repeat with warm not soapy water and help her to dry. For dignity, encourage her to wash her private parts herself if it's safe to do so. Do as quickly as possible so she doesn't get cold. Hair can be washed separately over a sink, on a separate day if needed.

newyearnewnothing · 01/01/2024 21:22

Could you use the disabled facility at the local Leisure Centre?
They allowed us to take someone who needed adapted equipment to shower until we were sorted