[LiteraryLark]

I am a caregiver and just bathed my first client yesterday. She was great. The day before I was trained on how to give baths to someone who was weak and bed ridden. She was not, and the bath didn't go as the training went. I did my best but here's the thing... I had never given a bath before and I was almost hyperventilating on the way there I was so nervous. So she sat in a chair and I took a washcloth and did my best and missed a lot of steps because she didn't want her hair, face, genitals, or feet washed (which was great for me, I did not want to touch her private parts) and we skipped putting on the pull-up because she had just put on a new one. It was difficult because I was hoping to do exactly as what I was trained for, and I was worried the client would complain to my boss because it wasn't "perfect" or "exactly as the training" and that the whole bathing process took only ten minutes. The hardest part was dressing her, but luckily I DID get trained on that as my coworker who played the mannequin had a form-fitting jacket and the client had a form-fitting nightgown, and I took my time to make sure I was as gentle as possible and we both cheered when we got the nightgown on. I thought overall I did great for my first time even though it wasn't perfect. I literally talked out the steps in a calm voice, "We'll start with your shoulders, now your back, now I'm going to dry, now this, etc" and the client was used to this so she did great. I was nervous about seeing an old person naked, but she had her pullup on and her breasts did not bother me at all, and I focused on washing her instead of looking at her naked and took it one step at a time. I feel next time I'll be more prepared to do it more "correctly" because I was soooo nervous and missed a few steps (I was supposed to wash each area twice and I didn't use soap and they only provided one washcloth for bathing and one for drying and they wanted me to use the sink instead of a container), but I think I remembered the most important parts.

Here is a question: I am most nervous about the touching the vagina/penis. I've never babysat an infant so I have no experience with cleaning the private parts. In the training they just said "front to back". Any tips on how to clean this area? When I clean myself in the shower I use feminine wash and use my fingers to get into each area...No way am I doing that on someone else. Obviously, I'll be using a washcloth or a baby wipe...how exactly do I clean this area?

[BooMonster87]

If they are able to wipe their own genitals, hand them the wash cloth and have them wipe themselves. If you have to do it yourself, you just wipe front to back like they say, no "digging" required. I know I use my fingers to get everything clean too, but when bathing the elderly, you literally just wipe front to back. On a male, start at the tip and work your way back.

Source: nursing student, experience bathing elderly and sick patients in clinicals

[Frankbtl]

Hi LiteraryLark

Well, you have the answer there to the technical part , so moving on..........

The feeling of "discomfort" you have: that can be completely natural if you haven't done it before so try not to let that get to you too much.
I'd say you've got exactly what it takes to work past that with a little more experience.........you did so well with the things that are so very important on your first time of helping someone bathe!!
And they included treating the lady with caring, sensitivity, dignity and respect, so massive kudos to you!!!
And just the way you treated her shows that IMO you're going to be able, with experience, to see past "just parts of anatomy" (those that might bother you a little right now) to the person inside..........it is a whole person with a whole lifetime of experience, real wishes, preferances and feelings you're supporting in the best way possible for them to feel comfortable in the situation they're in, and a little less a "clinical duty", right?? If that makes sense...........??
As for the training, well real important that you follow training for so many reasons, but if things don't go according to that completely..........relax.........."one size" of support won't necessarily fit everyone, afterall people are people and are going to have different ways they like things at times, that's just about being human, so got to be some flexibility right?!
But if you have any concerns about how things are going for/with someone, like they aren't accepting the support they need, just raise it through whatever channels you have. And don't feel uncomfortable at all about doing that, chances are that you won't be the only one that's happening with.

Alison

It sounds like you did great! I've survived a few sponge baths myself and you say you described everything you did before you did it - which is good for the person being bathed, knowing what will happen before it does - and you respected her wishes when she didn't want you to wash certain parts of her body. Well done!

You sound like you did great and I agree the talking through is so important, it sounds like you treated this lady with respect the most important thing.

[LiteraryLark]

Thank you everyone!

That means so much to me!

[LiteraryLark]

I had my second bathing experience...this time with a male and it was a great experience.

I have come to balance a detached fondness...detached from my fears and a fondness that I am not only washing a body but a human being. It was a lot easier to bathe him because of the connection I had made with him before the bath (I had two shifts, so the first shift was a get-to-know-you and the second shift I gave him the bath)

I was nervous seeing the male client's private parts, but he washed it himself and I didn't stare and kept my inner awkwardness to myself and remained calm and confident.

If at all possible I would like to avoid washing the private parts of either gender if they can do it themselves, but if need be I know I can do it with confidence.

[Frankbtl]

Hey LiteraryLark

Really well done!!! And really pleased for you!!!

And you're going to carry on doing SO well if you keep this attitude:

"If at all possible I would like to avoid washing the private parts of either gender if they can do it themselves, but if need be I know I can do it with confidence"

to all the support you give them, whatever that is.......personal care, eating, drinking, anything!!!

Real important to help them maintain whatever control/independance they have/can utilse in their lives........and for some.......they may not be able to do all of a task but they may be able to do part of one, so keep up the encouragement..........just as you have been doing

And.........for today..........GO YOU!!!!

Alison

[HALLIEBETH87]

I worked with intellectually and developmentally Disabled adults for a while and did baths-most were elderly. My first bath was actually supervised and I was a nervous wreck! You know what? Ya get used to it quick. I've seen more naked bodies than I thought I ever would hahah

It's easy to get used to-promise.

[sabby]

What a great learning experience you are having LiteraryLark! Caring for the bedridden and elderly can be a tough but very rewarding job!

One thing I learned while I used to care for the developmentally disabled, both young and old was that any time I needed to "touch" them in any way shape or form was to wear exam gloves, yes, even while bathing them.

In doing this, the process to the individual then becomes a kind of "medical" process and not something personal as in skin touching skin. It can also help the aide in seeing things in the same way which can lead to less stress/anxiety while doing any washing or other procedure.

I wish you continued success!

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by sabby

What a great learning experience you are having LiteraryLark! Caring for the bedridden and elderly can be a tough but very rewarding job!

One thing I learned while I used to care for the developmentally disabled, both young and old was that any time I needed to "touch" them in any way shape or form was to wear exam gloves, yes, even while bathing them.

In doing this, the process to the individual then becomes a kind of "medical" process and not something personal as in skin touching skin. It can also help the aide in seeing things in the same way which can lead to less stress/anxiety while doing any washing or other procedure.

I wish you continued success!

Yes, gloves are a must.