Mom fell and broke her shoulder. How do I get her in and out of bath tub?

Wow. Sorry that posted twice. I'm using my ipad.

If your mom qualifies for hospice her doctor could refer her for a hospice evaluation... a nurse and a social worker will come out to your home and ask some questions. If they agree that she qualifies you will be set. They can equipped your house with everything and help with the hygeine care. Hospice is a Godsend. God bless!

If your mom qualifies for hospice the her doctor could refer her for a hospice evaluation....called and request it. If you have hospice a nurse and a social worker will come out to your home and ask some questions. If they agree that she qualifies you will be set. They can equipped your house with everything and help with the hygeine care. Hospice is a Godsend. God bless!

msdaizy, I am not sure what stage she is in or what kind of dementia she has. I was taking her for test, she took one that was to last for 2 hrs but she couldn't hold out but 1 hr. The day she broke her shoulder we were going back for the 2nd test. So now have to wait till she get better to go back for test.

Some of the equipement you can find online and have it shipped to your home. If you have Hospice they can order these things at no cost. Just tell them what you need. But if you were on Hospice care they also would set up CNA to come bath her for you. If your mom has dementia, which stage is she in?
When I was caring for mom with dementia she was in the last stages and we qualified for Hospice. They came to my home, I had a nurse visit once a week, a person for baths 2 times a week. And all the equipement and medical needs for mom. In the last month they brought in a medical bed with rails. It was a wonderful bunch of caregivers that listened and did what they could to help me. I would check with your doctor and ask him about Hospice if you haven't already.

Thank you 2tsnana. The day I found out she had broke her shoulder I went and bought her some short sleeve button up PJs. She stays in them most of the time anyhow. When I took her to her last 2 Ortho visits I just left her pj top and and put pants on her. I told her we don't care what ppl think. Easier then putting long sleeves on her.

Bless your heart.. Wipe downs are fine and maybe a really short hair cut so you do not have much hair to deal with the you could just wipe it down with a rag and rinse instead of washing everytime. It was my right too and it is scary cause it does really hurt. Button up and down shirts and they alway tolds me to put the bad arm in first. Good Luck and you have my thoughts and prayer

The Home Health nurse and PT come out but that is all the help I have. Being her right shoulder it is hard for her to do anything being right handed. I think she is scared of falling again because when I did try to get her in the shower she acted like she was scared so I didn't make her. I have a bench and hand held shower she used before she got hurt. I also bought her a raised toilet seat because she was scared to sit on the toilet because so low.

Is she eligible for Home Health Care. You need some help ;-(

A shower bench and a hand held shower head works great. If you call your local Senior Center that might have a shower seat that someone has donated. I had my right shoulder and arm broken in a motorcycle accident (hit by a drunk driver) It is very painful and I slept sitting in a recliner for about 8 weeks. Bless both of your hearts.

Thanks for all the info even down to the BM because I have this problem with my mom also. She went over a week without a BM so I got her Miralex and after a few day she finally went. Needless to say it stopped up my toilet!!! lol


The no rinse wash is it in the bath soap section or over with baby shampoo and wash?

One more question on something else. Brushing teeth, she will not brush them or even let me. I told her that her breath is really stinking but she don't care. How do I get her to brush her teeth.

Reverse, I'm not sure how others do it, but with mom - she BMs when she does. I don't push her to BM since she's on liquid diet for years now. Her BMs are liquid-form. It's father who is having BM problems because he doesn't drink enough water and insists on taking all these herbals with minimum water intake. I try to explain but he knows best and I need to shut up because I don't know anything. So, he HURTS because the BM is stuck and won't come out...but will not take advice from a mere female.

As for mom, she will pooh when she feels like it. If she does, it's liquid and I need to changer her ASAP cuz liquid poop just oozes down and is easier to spread all over.
I turn mom to her side - AWAY from me. BEFORE I turn her, while she's still on her back, I raise her knees off the bed (similar to how a pregnant woman's position when giving birth). While her knees are bent, I flip her AWAY from me, and quickly stack heavy pillows on top of her hip and upper thighs. I also grab a flatter pillow or elongated one, and push that against her upper back and head - to help maintain her turned position. It also helps to organize her arms to stretch outward to help keep her balance on the side. Then quickly (and I mean quickly) start cleaning ASAP cuz the poop is now oozing and etc...when done, turn her towards you. Use pillows and your elbows to help clean her side. Sorry, have to go now. Lunch hour is over....Book

Thank you BW, I really appreciate the post and read it over and over as I am going to try it tomorrow. I have another question, how do I get Mom to do her BM's? She always does them on the toilet but today she couldnt even stand 3 seconds holding on so I could pull up her pants. Its time for the next stage but I dont have help every day. If I have help in the morning and she does her bms later when I am alone , then what? I cant turn her. I give 1.5 teaspoons of miralax, 4 oz coffee and fruit every morning and then lift her on the toilet and she goes never went in bed before, she holds it I think. Thank you! Sorry to take up space here but I couldnt write on your wall.

I bought the inflatable tub for shampooing but...the cg's prefer their way of doing it. Inflatable never been used, still in the box...

Usually a no rinse formula should not
cause a problem. There are hypgenic kinds.
there are inflatable bathrubs available that
Could maybe make things better

Hi Reverse! I was also glad to see you posting. I figured you would see mine. The CG literally washes mom on her hospital bed because father INSISTS on this. They do not do this with their other clients - which is the sponge bath. Father fought hard for them to literally pour water over mom because in the very beginning, when they did the normal sponge bath - mom had really bad rashes covering large parts of her body. After they left, mom was still soapy. So, after that when he insisted that they literally pour the water, her rashes went away. Now, she rarely gets it.

Okay, for mom's hospital bed, it has the heavy duty all-over plastic cover in which you zip the closing. Since covers wear and tear, I added a cheaper version (really cheap quality - couldn't find the heavy duty one) all over the heavy duty one. I'm doing this to protect the mattress from getting wet.. Then I went and bought an air mattress....When the CG comes, they take away all the pillows/blankets. They use the original beddings and towels to soak the water as they literally use a small tupperware bowl to pour warm water over her.
1. They start with mom on her back. They roll up a towel and place it under her neck. Then, they take the 13 gal. plastic bag, and attach it under her head so that when they pour water over her head to wash her hair, the water will flow into the trashbag. My father also INSISTS that they put cotton balls in mom's ears so that the water/shampoo don't go Inside her ears. We use baby shampoo so that if the shampoo accidentally goes in mom's eyes, it won't hurt her. When done, they wipe her hair vigorously with a dry towel and then place that towel under her wet head.
2. Now they use the wash cloth, pour body wash on it, and wipe mom all over her top body from face to toes. Even her private area. We do use lots of face cloths per parent. When done soaping, they take the small tupperware and pour warm water over her - washing off the soap. Again, original beddings and towels will soak up the excess water.
3. Turn mom to her left (or right) and they soap as much as possible on her back side. Rinse with water. They roll the wet bedding as close to her as possible. Use the towels to soak as much water as possible.
4. When they turn her on the right side, her body goes over the wet bedding. Since they cleaned all the front and back, all that's left to clean is her right part of the body. Every time they turn her, they use the towel to wipe up as much water as they can.
Reverse,when they first started doing this, water was all over the floor. But once they got used to it, they found ways to keep the water on the bed - using lots of towels!!
By the way, it still takes 2 people to wash mom.

Hey Book, nice to hear from you. Tell me, how do they pour water over them in bed without soaking the bed? I am still trying to turn my Mom but she resists and is a bugger!! I am lifting her still and my Morning caretaker I pay comes 3 mornings which is a help . Hope you are doing well, drop me a line sometime. Funny you mention itching, I used that aloe vera no rinse stuff on my Moms hair because I was in a hurry and she woke up scratching her head ! lol
RR

I was also thinking a bed bath due to her injured shoulder. You can use regular unscented body wash (less chemicals the better) or the No-Rinse Wash. The visiting caregivers use the regular body wash, I use the No-Rinse Wash. They pour the body wash on the face cloth and wipe down the body. Then they use another wash cloth to wipe off the body wash as they POUR warm water over my parent's body. Very important to make sure all the soap is off or it will cause rashes. I'm not as thorough as them, so I use the No-Rinse wash. I pour some into the bowl of warm water and just literally sponge bathe them...no pouring of water on top.

When I was on antibiotic IV for 8 weeks, I used the No-Rinse Shampoo. That sucks. My head got itchy quickly. So, I learned to shower without wetting the IV thingy that was stuck in my left arm. Couldn't bend my arm because the IV thing was poked at the inner elbow and UP to my shoulder. But I did succeed in using regular shampoo...

mpatricia, can you please tell me where to buy a bath lift and can you use it on a toilet. I am killing myself lifting my Mom too. Thanks!!
RR

and you can use a blow dryer on very low to dry her hair and body in bed also.

I suggest you stick to bed baths until her shoulder heals. You can also buy an inflatable shampoo basin to wash her hair in bed. To give a bed bath: change the sheets to clean sheets. on top of clean sheets put a waterproof mattress pad over them. also put some towels or paper chucks to also absorb water. use a basin and soap and water and then rise water. This gives almost as good a bath as a shower. just make sure you get all the soap off. When done towel dry and remove the wet mattress pad and you have dry clean sheets underneath.

Thanks again. Just wiped her down good today, she seemed fine with. But still have to do something better till her shoulder gets better.

My mother hires a CNA to bathe her. We find having a trained lady is the best answer.

I bought a bath lift, I think it was about $500 and weight 20 pounds. It was the best $500 I ever spent. A transfer bench can be bought with it, but we just use the lift. It has a battery and gently lowers the chair nearly to the bottom of the tub. I was buying all kinds of barrier creams and diaper rash creams for my mom as I was only using the shower bench. This has prevented all of those problems and her skin is great now. I was killing myself trying to lift her, this saved my life. I know it is expensive, but what a difference for us.

You can get a bath bench for the shower
For about $100.
If you want a little water involved get
Some no rinse products. There is no rinse
brand along with others (convatec). Pour
Some into a pan of warm water and go
to work,..you will soften the skin and
Have the clean feel of a bath. Then towel
Dry...unlike regular soap that will cause
problems when not rinsed

NASA uses it !

My local pharmacy the hair shampoo is 3.69
the body wash are 5.65 (both are enough
For 4 or 5 baths), the convatec all in one
Allow is 3.99 and that's good for 5 baths.

Wouldn't hurt to try!

Thanks for your help. I think I will try on toilet to bath her. I bought some dry shampoo and going to try that also for her hair.

A shower bench is a great idea, however it depends on your Mom. My Mom stopped walking and I lift her onto the toilet to bathe her. I sit her forward with a cushion behind her upper back and wash her back and bum well and rinse. Then I move her back on the toilet and wash her front/peri area well. I bought hair dying bottles and use them to rinse her well, they work great. You can buy that aloh vera foam cleaner you dont have to rinse also, but I rinse, dry and powder her regardless. We have no other choice and it works well. I bought 3 small bathroom rugs and put on the floor around the toilet to catch the water spills and I use 2 large warm water buckets to refil the peri bottles. Good luck.

It sounds like she could use a transfer bench. With a transfer bench, she can sit down on the outside, then put her legs over the tub and scoot over. Transfer benches are expensive, but less so than installing a walk-in shower. It won't help if she wants to take an immersion bath, but she can shower on the bench.