Susan Boyette, CNA: In the morning, we have to make sure they’re bathed.
Then you gotta make sure that they brush their teeth,
their hair is washed and combed.
If you give them a bath, they are very alert.
They feel good.
The warm water massages their aching bones sometimes.
Carolyn Coles, LPN: And what you do is that you allow them to do things that they can still do.
You just stand by – you don’t have to do it, just stand by and be there if they need you.
Susan Boyette, CNA: Encourage them to do things for them self… but if they can’t do it, you help them.
Carolyn Coles, LPN: Make everything convenient where they don’t have to try to reach out to try to get something.
If it’s no more than put something to one side where they can just reach
and pick up tissue or wipes or whatever they need or their pullups,
make it convenient right there for them. Make it easy.
If you have a shower with a lip on it,
you know you can buy these chairs now that just kinda slide into the shower
and that way they won’t be afraid of trying to step over something and fall.
Add grab bars inside the shower, something to hold onto.
Even in the bathroom,
when they have to use the bathroom you have the chair lifts that you can put over the toilet.
Little things like that make a difference.
Susan Boyette, CNA: I learned that most parents,
they feel uncomfortable with their loved ones taking care of them.
I like for them to feel like they're in charge.
If they feel like they're in charge, I can do more with them.
Carolyn Coles, LPN: Independent, dignity, they feel like they're doing something on they're own.