Handwashing

While escorting my fifty year old male patient to the restroom and back to bed, I noticed he started walking back to the bed, passing the sink without using it. I stopped him and told him, "Wash your hands," not giving him any options but to do so. I was standing in the way so he couldn't go anywhere but the restroom or the sink. Of course, he asked, "What?" I just repeated my statement.

That was all it took to motivate him to get some soap in his hands and wash them. Upon completing the simple task, he turned to me and asked,

"Do I have to do that everytime now?"