It's Possible

Ralph served as a Colonel in the US Air Force. He was a proud man, right up until the end of his 90 years on earth. He was also very fond of jokes; both good and "questionable". We shared one, which I would like to share with you.

One morning little Johnny was getting ready to go to town with Mother.
"Johnny, did you wash up?" asked Mother. "Yes, Mother. I washed up as far as possible, and down as far as possible."

Bathing and Toileting Elderly With Dignity

How do you get your elderly relative or client to allow you to assist them in the bathroom? This can be tricky. Here are a few tips:

• Approach it as naturally as you approach making them a meal. Your relaxed and matter-of-fact approach will make it part of the routine.
• Assume they will accept your help. I swear this works wonders. If you assume they will fight you; they will. If you assume they will let you help them, they somehow sense this is the right thing to do.
• Look into their eyes while assisting them. Make every effort not to openly stare toward private areas. This takes a little practice!