New ways in nursing - Senior well-being

The St. Katharina old people’s home is located in the heart of the charming city Endingen/Kaiserstuhl. Since 2006, the home offers something very particular to its 129 residents: The Senior well-being. For all three living areas, the supporting initiative and responsible body have invested in nursing lift tubs with sound wave massage and chromo-therapy from Trautwein. The first impression of the nursing stuff is entirely positiv. „The residents sense a bath as very pleasant and are enthusiastic”, describes care-service-manager Bruno Kümmerle the experiences. "Even dementia patients are relaxed and calmed after the bath", confirm his colleagues, Gabriele Grün und Clarissa Lemperle.

Barbara Schnellen, the director, is also very satisfied: „The bath itself plays a more important role nowadays”. It is more than only body hygiene. The positive tendency right after the bath is clearly noticeable. Bed-ridden residents are relaxed and sleep well. Spasticity gets more relaxed. Residents, who cannot express themselves anymore, are showing signs of relaxation.

The positive effect of light on the mood of humans is supported by micro massage, as the music does not come from external loudspeakers, but the tub itself. The bather does not only hear the music, it is felt in each fiber of the body. This makes possible a massage of each cell and thus the entire sensing of the bather is activated. Statements such as: „My backside’s tickling,“ show, that the bathers sense their body more intensive again.

The new form of bathing is honoured very well by the employees .The idea has proven successful. The bathing atmosphere changed completely, the wellness factor is clearly higher. Nothing was changed in the room, only the neon light is now switched off when bathing, so that the colour light of the tub can evolve in full range. The bath tub is used only with sound wave massage, music and colour light and also affects the sensitivities of the employees in a positive way. A sense of well-being is also spread among them. Motivation improved, work got easier. What was felt as stressful before, is now tolerated more.

Many so-called soft factors could not be measured yet. Due to the fact that the residents are more content, work is easier and some of it is finished faster. An oil dispersion bath equipment was also purchased and is now in use. By a special whirling technology, nurturing oil is added to the bathing water in fine droplets. The care effect of the oil is strengthened; the skin turns soft and tender. Depending on the needs, e.g., for dry, flaky skin, St. John's wort oil is added or hot baths with remedies against colds are given. Many residents sense the fine smell of the oil as additional aroma therapy. Particularly positive with the oil dispersion bath is the fact, that the danger of slipping is clearly smaller, as the oil is bound to the water.

Cleaning the body, therapy and nursing are combined when bathing. Additional tasks, like applying lotion and oil after the bath are no longer necessary. Director Mrs. Schnellen is proud of the fact that her house offers something completely special to the residents. Thus her house is setting itself apart from the large number of old people’s home in the region. Residents and their relatives appreciate this.