Transfer

II. Bathing

D. Environmental Factors

Some of the environmental factors that can cause the care recipient to be reluctant to take a bath are:

Poor lighting - unable to see the bathtub or shower. Sometime there is not enough contrast between tub and floor which can be confusing for the care recipient. Provide adequate lighting in bathroom, especially during evening hours.

Unable to find the bathroom due to cognitive impairments.
Lack of privacy (especially in institutional settings). Pull down blinds or close curtains and doors to create a feeling of privacy.
Room temperature too cold. Make sure the bathroom is warm and inviting. Adjust the temperature and allow time for the room to warm before proceeding with the bath.
Water too deep. Prepare bath ahead of time. Check the water level. Some people can only tolerate 1 inch of water in the tub; others 3 or 4 inches. Use colored bubble bath or a colored bath mat to make it easier to judge the depth of water (avoid a very dark colored mat – some with cognitive difficulties may think it is a hole they may fall into).
Water too hot or cold. As a safety precaution, adjust temperature setting on the hot water heater so that the water isn't scalding (between 120-130 degrees F). Since the elder person might have an altered sense of hot and cold due to Alzheimer's or from the aging process, adjust the water temperature to his/her comfort. Let the person feel the water before getting into the tub. Sometimes, gently pouring water over hands reassures the person that the water isn't too hot. Saying something like, "The water feels nice," or "This feels good," might help calm the person.
The floor surface can be hazardous. The flooring in the bathroom should be non-slip and easy to clean. Common types of bathroom flooring include ceramic tiles, carpet, rubber tiles, and slip-resistant mats. Light colored flooring that has low reflectance properties (less shine) and/or high contrast against other objects in the bathroom will provide better accessibility to individuals with vision impairments. Throw rugs or edging that is not flush with the main surface can create trip hazards for individuals with mobility and/or balance issues.

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