I'm looking for ideas about where to look for someone to give mom a shower at home. I've googled, I've yelped, I've used Agingcare of course and a place for mom. The handful of agencies around me have minimums of 2-6 hours and also a higher rate for those minimums. One even advertises no minimums and that they can do a 30 min visit, yet they told me it was a 3 hour minimum on the phone. So right now, it's looking like $100/shower. Is that just how much it costs?
I'm avoiding picking random people on CL. I tried asking a social worker but she suggested that I ask around people I know to see if they knew of anyone. I'm also thinking about dropping by the local senior center and asking them. Any other suggestions?
Alternatively, do nursing homes, AL facilities, etc offer shower services? Is that it a possibility that I can drive her there like an outpatient?
Is there a safety concern. Grab bars, chair non slip surfaces ?
There are 100$ reasons to do it yourself, self respect, closeness, and you get to know what’s going on on the body, sores, rashes, you never know what. Plus an intimacy, you can clean and massage necks, rub feet and check nails. Trim them, all soft an clean. Shampoos are very relaxing, take your time. There’s no shame in love.
The director told me that the program is partially covered by a grant from the Agency on Aging. That's why they only ask for a small donation. I feel really fortunate to have this available. Hopefully you will be able to find a similar program in your area.
So to answer questions in the order I can remember them.
1) The reason you haven't "heard back from OP" is that this thread has been dead for 4 days. I'm not here 24/7 ready to respond within a few seconds of each post.
2) As I stated, there is no medical need. She can walk and talk and get into the shower just fine on her own. Regardless I have all the prerequisite equipment from shower chairs to a transfer bench. She doesn't need the transfer bench. The chair is a nice to have although she tends not to use it.
3) Why don't I do it myself? In a nutshell, she won't stand for it. Actually she can still physically shower herself. She does it every 2-3 weeks and otherwise washclothes herself. A RN and the care attendant have checked out her skin and said whatever she's doing is doing the job. There's nothing wrong with her skin. So what's the problem? Ideally they still think that she should still shower once a week. My brothers also have it in their heads that she needs to shower more. I'm not so sure about that. The care attendant says now she pretty much does everything herself, she just helps with drying off.
4) So if she can shower by herself what's the problem? The problem is that she doesn't do it regularly once a week. If I ask her to do it. It just makes her do it even less. But if someone shows up to help her, she'll at least go along with it. Well, at least for now. The novelty has kind of worn off and I've noticed she's getting more resistant to it.
JT private care sounds like exactly what I need. Even an hour is more than enough. Now if I can only find anything like that around me. I've reached out to various daycares and adult living places but I haven't heard back from them yet. I'll try to call again today.
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