toileting bathing info plz

Replies

By Greebo

Re: toileting bathing info plz
Mon 14 May 2007 23:07

You should be trained first if you'll be doing carework. If the place doesn't provide training, run like the wind.

To do some of the more, er, personal work you need to imagine yourself in the place of the person you look after. If you couldn't wipe your backside, you'd want somebody to wipe it wouldn't you? The same goes for every other body part.

Also, this is a site for carers, not careworkers (check the homepage). There is a difference.

By fender62

Re: toileting bathing info plz
Tue 15 May 2007 12:43

thanks for reply, i thought as it was a cares's site it would be ok to ask a question on the topic and not just for working in a respite home but just as a carer

By Pysie

Re: toileting bathing info plz
Tue 15 May 2007 13:13

Hi, Fender,

Care-working is not a glamourous job but it all depends on who you work for as to what you'd be expected to do. If you are considering paid work in this field, have a word with the United Kingdom Home Care Association:

www.ukhca.co.uk

020 8288 5291

They will be able to explain your options and advise you of the best way forward.

Good luck,
Pysie

By fender62

Re: toileting bathing info plz
Tue 15 May 2007 15:59

thanks Pysie, there's a respite type of hotel lodge
nr where i live, and there looking for care assistants. i thought
of applying.

By Pysie

Re: toileting bathing info plz
Tue 15 May 2007 20:21

Hi, Fender,

Best to go and have a chat with them and see exactly what they expect of their care-workers.

I don't think you'll get much advice from this site as it is set up specifically to support un-paid carers who look after close family or friends. We do it for love, not money. We are the people who turn to respite homes and care-workers to give us some paid help when we can't cope.

It's generally accepted that a 'carer' works for nothing, but a 'care worker' is employed in a paid job. The UKCHA mentioned above may be able to recommend web-sites designed to support care-workers and will certainly give you all the advice you need.

Love
Pysie xx

By llizzie

Re: toileting bathing info plz
Tue 15 May 2007 20:32

Can I add a little bit? Toiletting and washing were very 'sore' points with me and the Domiciary care that came before I got them to depart. As a nurse, I have always abhored the way that, to save time, they would wash the client whilst sitting on the toilet! This made me really angry. In the elderly especially, when someone presses down on them to wash the upper body, they have neither the strength of muscle or the protective fat on their bottoms to sit comfortably for long, certainly not long enough to wash them. What made me angry was the fact that they would not listen to my explaining that my husband had had two laminectomies (spinal operations) and had hardly much bone left on his lower back. In their book only the Parkinsonism was noted, as if that was all they wanted to know.
Something else: I supplied pads, gloves, aprons, (and a few masks for those with colds) and some hand sanitiser before the hospitals insisted. They flatley refused to wear them. In fact I have a letter from Social Services saying they do not have to unless the client has MRSA. They coughed and sneezed over him, used his towels for themselves, despite my supplying them for them. My husband had chronic chest and eye infections. The eye hospital told me if I did not keep the infections under control he would not be able to have his cattaracts removed.When I finally was able to stop them coming, I employed people who used protective clothing, and his chest and eye infections are almost non-existent. Also I have learned that all the things I complained about (and some were upheld by the governing body, are now standard practice and the S>S> provide them. He rarely gets pressure sores now, either.
I have known for years that you can get aidryers for the disabled - some are body length and fit in the corner of the bathroom. If I think my husband is not dry, I use the hairdryer plugged in the bedroom. It has many settings, and if I put my hand to deflect the heat I can judge how hot it is. Love, care and comfort. Those three words cover it all.

By fender62

Re: toileting bathing info plz
Tue 15 May 2007 21:14

thanks llizzie, for your very kind infoi appreciate love and care come first.

By Greebo

Re: toileting bathing info plz
Fri 18 May 2007 20:02

I was in a relatively big branch of WHSmith today, and nestled in with "Nursing Standard" and "Nursing Times" was a magazine called something like "Health Care Assistant's Journal". It's very new, the copy I saw was volume 1 issue 2, and it had an article about bathing. Didn't buy it as not a healthcare assistant and pretty skint until Tuesday, but it may be worth getting for anyone already doing this job or considering it .