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She has been diagnosis with Corticobasal Degeneration. And the rare disease is progressing. My mom had a recent fall and is now afraid to take shower standing in the tub. She states that she has a hard time standing for any length of time and is unable to lift her legs into the bath tub. They have a small tub so a shower chair does not fit. She resides with my dad in a rented townhouse.

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Ask her MD about home health aides, PT or OT to help her.
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There are many styles and sizes of shower benches and chairs on the internet. Can you get the measurement of their tub and do some research?
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sounds like to me a nursing home would be best for her in her condition
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Here's the dilemma:

Anyone can probably get by in the short term with a sponge bath. However, in the long term, overall body skin probably needs some water moisturizing and rinsing. And what about the plan for washing her hair, usually done in the shower these days?

You need to figure out what the rate of progression of your mom's CD is because you have indicated it IS progressing. The practical reality may be that a town home, often with stairs, is not going to be suitable in the near future and that the small tub, maybe in a postage stamp sized bathroom, is already unworkable.

There may come a time in the very near future that your mom and dad will have to move to a more compatible location together. It is also possible that your mom may have to be placed. The speed of the rate of progression will probably be the determining factor.

You haven't mentioned their ages or the status of your father. Is it possible they could move to independent living together. Have you heard of or researched tiered facilities, where one can stay under the umbrella of one hey silly, but move between independent living, assisted living, nursing home or memory care as required? Folks who take that route can have their parents still living in the same location, albeit different sections, making visitation, helping out or sharing meals possible for them, avoiding separation.

So, that was the long way around answering your question. If she may have a move in her very near future we're showering is again possible, independently or with assistance, sponge baths may suffice for the time being. They are also almost exclusively used if the patient is bedridden or near the end of life. But at most other times, showering with hair washing is the norm for body hygiene.
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i agree about moving if possible. Sounds like they might do well in assisted living. That way, when she is ready to move to nursing, your dad is already settled.
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Since this rare disorder involved muscle coordination, sponge baths are okay unless there is another medical issue you did not discuss. Mental functioning will also be affected and it is degenerative, so taking a shower is the least of her worries. Give her lots of hugs!
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My MIL lived in a trailer and had a stroke. She removed the tub and put in a walk in shower. Is that a possibility?
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KEEP SINGING

In case our experiences might be of use to others, I want to share personal hygiene methods used to care for my 95-year-old mother who has dementia.

In between showers, I rub down her body with Simple brand exfoliating wipes, followed by an all-over lube job with a nice oil such as argan. I especially like L'Oreal "Age Perfect Glow Renewal" because it's absorbed well and has a light scent. Then on Mom's calves and other especially dry spots, I massage in O'Keeffe's Working Hands cream.

No matter what method is used, she complains that she's cold. She also complains that I rub too hard with the exfoliating wipes, but I explain that we have to get the dead skin off so she won't get itchy and that usually satisfies her. Then she complains that the wipes are wet, that she's wet in the shower, that something dry should be used instead. This often escalates to whining and even wailing at which point I gently sing a hymn and that comforts both of us.

Mom stopped showering long ago. In fact, personal hygiene pretty much is a thing of the past for her, a formerly fastidious homemaker. So there are lots of other personal tasks involved on a daily basis, a key one being to clean her hands with sanitizing wipes after she's been to the toilet (on those occasions when she actually uses the facilities) and before meals. She also needs adult pull-on diapers and recently I found (thanks to a nurse telling me about it) a baby wipe warmer which makes my doing that task more pleasant for her.

Mom used to go to her hairdresser once a week for a wash and set. But we had to cancel appointments so often for one reason or another that I had them take her standing date off the books. Now we just go for cuts and perms as needed. For a while, she bent over the bathroom sink so I could wash her hair, but that's become too uncomfortable. Now I do the hair when I shower her and she hates it but it seems the only alternative remaining. In between full washes (which her hairdresser insists should be at least once a week) I use a dry spray shampoo (the Batiste brand suggested by "ferris1") and of course complaints are associated with this practice too.

Perhaps you can see a trend here, about the complaining. Mom has had a habit of negativity as long as I’ve known her. Medications have helped but of course don’t change her basic crabby nature. So it’s not advisable to wait until the impatient patient feels like getting cleaned up and/or gives permission.

Blessings to those who face this challenge. It isn’t easy but is satisfying when Mom is clean and smells good, for as long as that lasts. Good luck and keep singing.
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There are baby wipe warmers which in theory is a good idea but I have found that the wipes cool down the second you take them from the warmer.

There is no-rinse body cleanser which can be applied to a wipe and used during sponge baths and it can also be used as shampoo. If the hair is very thin and so many elderly women's hair is you can use the no-rinse wash on a washcloth and wipe the hair down with it. Make sure you get the perineal area thoroughly.

A shower bench or chair doesn't have to be completely in the tub. Half of it can be in the tub and the other half outside the tub. You'd need a detachable shower head but it can be done.

Lots of towels to keep mom warm while you're giving her a bath and finish off with lotions and nice, clean jammies.
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If your MOM doesn't have grab bars already installed on the wall and on the side (vertically) on the tub wall - that would be a help. Also there are bath tub seats that EXTEND over the edge and outside the tub - so she can sit down and one at a time lift her legs over the edge of the tub as she slides in to the opening of the tub. She should also have a shower head on a hose. I am an Occupational Therapist and we help patients with these issues - often. Check with your local Occupational Therapist and they can do a home visit and give you advise. Good luck!
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I think you've gotten amazing coaching and ideas here! I recently saw a shower chair that was on a glide - it started over the toilet and then the person would just be slid into position over the tub for a seated shower. Probably pricey, but maybe a medical supply place would rent one?
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There is a wonderful product called ConvaTec Cleansing Foam1; it is a multi-purpose bathe and cleanse perineal cleanser, body wash, shampoo, no rinse, pH Balanced. High foaming, non-aerosol and it is made in the USA! My husband (86) who had Alz. did NOT want to be wet - it seems that is a given in most elderly who are disabled. Our Hospice CNA was wonderful giving him what we called a chair bath as he sat on the toilet seat down. She came 3 times a week. He fussed once in a while, but between us we could calm him and the major fuss was about being wet. She managed to bathe all parts of him and he never developed sores or odor or anything. I tried showering him in the bathtub with a chair and the extended shower head to do just parts at a time, but being wet all over agitated him to the point of me giving in and letting the CNA come and do the bathing. She also helped him get dressed - I had all the clean clothes out and it worked wonderfully. If your local pharmacy does not have this product, they can order it for you - it is 8 fl. oz. and kind of a sea green in color. Cost is approximately $9-12, depending on where you buy it. Also available to order on line. Bless all the caregivers - I do know what you're going through; make sure you tell your loved one you love them as many times a day as you can (even when you don't feel like it). Hugs to all.
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I am so sorry for your Mom. My Mom has a very bad back and sometimes her pain is horrific. Some of the other posts have mentioned the no rinse cleansers and I have used those for body and hair with very good results. I also agree keeping her warm is comforting too. You could keep a bucket with warm water while using the no rinse product. There are also good perineal sprays. Take care.
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Many people are bedridden for months even years for whatever their health situation is, and cannot even sit up, much less stand long enough to be put into a shower, and they get by with sponge baths and that's it, just depends on the quality of the personal care aide really.
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My MIL, who has since passed at age 84, only took sponge bathes for as many years as I knew her.....17?? She survived with it just fine. She was not excessively dirty or smelly and though I thought it was not enough, it's actually better for you to not shower on a daily basis. My FIL with Alzheimer's takes an assisted full shower 2 times per week and that seems to work okay for him too. He's not out running marathons and we wet wipe his privates in between so no rashes or smells. I think you just have to do what's best in each circumstance and let go if preconceived vews on what we it should be, let go of unrealistic expectations and do our best for those we care for.
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My 87 yr. old mother has dementia and other chronic health problems along with limited mobility. She needs 24/7 care which my brother and myself share hours spent at her home.
We are caregivers under a caregiver agreement which was executed by an elder law attorney.

The problem I am facing with my mother is that she responds differently with my brother than myself. I spend 10 hrs. per day with her and she does not want to walk, exercise, or eat when I am with her. She has stated that I am trying to boss her. She just wants to sit in a chair and sleep or complain that she is to tired to walk . My brother takes over in the afternoon and she responds to him much better and will walk on the walker and seem to eat more food.
We have always had a good relationship over the years, but since her dementia diagnosis she seems to resent my trying to help with her everyday needs.



Please help with any advise on how to deal with this difficult situation.
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My 91 year old mom lives with me. Very bad knees and walking problems. I get her into the shower every two weeks to wash all over including her hair. I have the bench that she can sit on outside of the bath and slide over into the shower. It seems to fit better than a shower chair. I have a hand held shower nozzle so she can spray herself. We shut ourselves into my bathroom which is pretty big. I have a small electric heater that I turn on. I don't care how hot it is in the house, she gets cold when she's wet from the shower. It takes a lot out of her to have a shower and wash her hair but she feels so much better afterwards and then it's time for us to sit down together with a glass of wine. That's how our weekends work.............
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Forgot to add, that in between the showers, I use a wipe or spray to keep my mom clean and smelling good. If your mom is not have medical issues from not bathing, such as urinary tract infections, then, don't worry about it. Taking a shower is a very stressful thing for our older parents to do through.
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In any case in which the patient is incontinent (esp.bowel movements), you must take any measures necessary to insure that the liquid and solids do not remain on the body.The result is irritation, inflammation and pain when you attempt to clean. I use toilet paper, paper towels, and wet warm wash cloths. Not pleasant, but necessary for the health of your loved-one.
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Taking care of elderly loved ones as home is a matter of compromises .Ideals may have to be changed to suit circumstances.
A bath or shower 3 - 7 times a week may seem to be essential when the caregiver tries to impose personal standards on their loved one but in reality as long as the skin is cleaned on a regular basis by any of the suggested means it meets the standard of care. Using lotions on the skin keeps it moist and comfortable and paying attention to the genital area with wipes or plain soap and water will keep the area clean, sweet smelling and free from irritation. It is important to do any bathing in a warm draught free area and expose the skin as little as possible. Use clean warm towels and have warm clothes ready and if possible a freshly made clean bed.
Elderly people are often like young children and frequently have a favorite blanket of lap robe. These become easily soiled and the patient becomes agitated if the item is removed for laundering. The solution is to have two if possible identical blankets so one can be slipped away when necessary and the second substituted.
Breaking try not to be upset about you mothers attitude but turn it into an advantage. I assume your brother is with Mom overnight so arrange the main meals of the day while he is there. A good meal late afternoon and a nutricious breakfast. While you are there offer drinks and snacks and maybe high protein drinks which should be adequate. Let brother do the exercising and walking and you take care of the bathing. Many older women respond better to sons than daughters. They are used to taking orders from their husbands. You just have to go with the flow and don't question if something is working and both caregivers are satisfied with their roles. Be very thankful that your brother is prepared to be equally responsible for your mother. Most caregivers here would give a lot for such co-operation from a sibling.
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Americans seen so hyper-vigilant about being extremely clean at all times. My Canadian grandparents had a well, where the water tasted like water down rocks. No running water so the only solution was to take sponge baths. They didn't have central heating (a bot bellied stove) either nor could afford lotions (mom and I to her on holidays). Grandma lived into her mid-90s with never a skin issue.
CVLRadar, it will be ok.
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Hand rails are a great idea, there is a round tub/shower chair that should fit in a smaller tub/shower. As we age our skin becomes dry, showering to much can make it worse. Install a hand held shower which will make it easier to shower. I also agree that a sponge bath can work just as well, uncover only part of the body at a time, wash and dry. Wipes can be a great alternative to a sponge bath. Use oils or lotions made for dry skin (if she has dry skin) will help keep her skin moisturized. Have her physician order a PT/OT consult, check with your local Area Agency on Aging, senior center or aging services office for in home help, she may respond better to a professional caregiver (no reflection on your care). Aging services is a great resource-don't hesitate to call them for information.
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