Bathing for Older People - Part IX - By: George Bentley

Many family care-providers experience very high levels of mental stress from providing care to their relatives. Emotional stress is the most difficult part of being a family care-provider, who sometimes are themselves older and have other family responsibilities. In addition to looking after other family members, many work outside their homes as well. Consequently, they feel pressured to meet their obligations. Most of them are exhausted from providing constant attention and are burdened from having to contend continually with family care. Often, lack of acknowledgment from the one receiving care greatly escalates the level of emotional stress.

Client-related stress varies with:

• size, shape and physical condition of the client, and •the level of nervousness, cooperation, and willingness the client may display during bathing.

Environment-related stress is dependent on:

• the availability of transferring devices, and •physical features of the bathroom such as the tub height, presence of sliding glass doors, bathroom layout, narrow width of clearances, floor conditions and low lighting level.

Care-provider related stress is a function of height, weight and physical condition of the care-provider, and the time pressure resulting from trying to complete all tasks quickly.

Conclusion

Safe and accessible bathing is not solely a concern of the elderly, disabled and those caring for them. It is of utmost importance to all people irrespective of their age, sex and cultural background. Eliminating accidental deaths and injuries is of prime importance in creating a safe bathing environment. To provide greater stimulation, control and personal empowerment for bathers and care-providers, the following design principles should be observed when making modifications to existing bathrooms and the design of the future bathing equipment. It is important that individuals consult their therapist and evaluate their needs before making modifications or purchasing devices.

1. Enhance Security

Bathing safely and with comfort is largely an environmental issue and is guided by the quality and physical characteristics of the environment. As we know, the incidence of falling while bathing threatens all persons regardless of age but specially those with poor balance. In addition, falling while providing care threatens the safety and well being of care-providers.

Recommendations for Existing Bathrooms:

•Emergency Rescue Devices

Install emergency devices such as telephones or intercoms within effortless reach of the users. These devices provide greater personal security. They can alert monitoring individuals about accidents, advise accident victims about how to get out of a crisis, and help individuals in the rescue operation. •Better Illumination
Low illumination together with poor vision makes it difficult to detect articles scattered around. Better illumination will direct attention to potential threats from protruding objects and other hazardous conditions. This can be achieved through:
•additional light sources in the bath area, •natural daylight via appropriate size window, •light colored walls in the bathroom, and •using a transparent curtain.

•Storage
Accessories lying around create hazardous bathing conditions. Provide greater storage space through wall-mounted shelves. This will prevent accidents from bumping objects into and skidding from articles scattered around the floor.

Recommendations for New Bathing Equipment:

•incorporate easy to use rescue device and locate them in a strategic position
•consider smart devices that will alert the central monitoring system at the time of an emergency •build-in lighting fixtures into the design of the equipment
•allow for adjusting the illumination level
•offer a choice of direct or diffused lighting
•build-in storage into the design of the equipment
•enable individuals to alter the location and size of storage
•round all edges and soften all corners to reduce the chances of injury in a fall
•give a safe appearance to the surroundings through recessed fixtures and rounded edges
•install anti-scalding device

2. Making Safe Transfers

Getting in and out of the tub is the most critical aspect of bathing independently. It is also the most difficult aspect of providing care. Poor balance and fear of falling greatly affects people's ability to make safe transfers. Awkward tub shape, inadequate maneuvering space and slippery floor conditions greatly adds to problem.

About the Author

George E. Bentley, Esq. is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and known nationally as the "Consumer's Advocate and Attorney." He is the leading expert on walk-in bathtubs, ADA guidelines and independent living issues in the US, and author of "The Ultimate Guide to Buying Walk-in Bathtubs". They can be reached by email at George@BentleyBaths.com or phone at 800-688-0055. The company website is http://www.BentleyBaths.com.

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