How do I get my dad out of the bathtub?
Answers
This is a good question becase if your dad can't get out of the tub my himself, he probably isn't safe and secure bathing. It's time for some adaptions. You should try using a shower chair, a sturdy plastic chair designed just for tubs or shower stalls. Shower chairs are sold at medical supply stores. Your dad can sit in the chair while he showers or while he splashes off with water from the tub tap. If he can't do this himself, you can wash him with cups of warm water from the tap. A shower chair will also help your dad get in the tub, and sit comfortably and securely while he bathes. You may also want to consider grab bars, which are also sold at medical supply stores. They can be attached to the tub and bathroom walls, to help your dad steady himself.
In between at home care visits from our at home care nurse, I would use adult wipes to freshen my step father up between bathing schedules. I found that the moist wipes were very handy and they are thick + disposable. They did not dry out his skin because they do not contain alcohol! You can save trips to the store + money if you buy them in bulk! The ones I ordered were from twin med direct...here is the link for those wipes: http://www.twinmeddirect.com/wipes-premoistened-soft-packs.html
The bathroom is the one room in the house that is most often the site of accidents that can seriously limit a senior's ability to live independently, so are are wise to be concerned for your father's safety. If taking a bath rather than a shower is something your father enjoys, there are alternative ways to get him out of the bathtub after a bath. A bath lift is a seat that is at seat when raised and at the bottom of the tub when lowered. They usually operate on battery power or water pressure. If he is OK with a shower, then a shower chair as mentioned earlier is a good choice. I like the ones that bolt to the wall and fold up out of the way when not in use. I would definitely recommend strategically placed grab bars to help him get up off the lift or the shower chair. I hope this helps.
