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Caring for people with dementia and attending to the personal care of someone with Alzheimer's can be a difficult and stressful task.
People with advancing dementia can find showering and bathing an equally frightening experience.
It can be difficult for caregivers to understand why a person with dementia may not want to bath, a task they've done many times before.
Why is the person resistant?
People with dementia can find bathing stressful for many reasons.
It's important to remember that changes in the brain may mean a person can't remember to bath or the steps involved in showering. Others may have a very real fear of running water.
Many carers fear bathing a person with dementia especially if the person is aggressive. In many cases, challenging dementia behaviour can be related to fear.
Imagine forgetting what having a shower entailed! Having a stranger undress you and drag you under a shower in the early morning would obviously be very frightening.
People with Alzheimer's may find bathing stressful due to;
- Fear of running water
- Fear of falling
- Confusion
- Embarrassment
- Discomfort
Showering everyday is not always necessary. If a person with dementia resists bathing try again later. Using a different approach or technique may help.
Simple steps to better bathing
The good news is carers can learn some useful techniques to help make bathing less traumatic.
Find a routine: What does the person prefer? A bath or shower? Choose the best time, don't drag someone out of bed for a shower in the early morning if they're an afternoon person.
Make it comfortable. Is the bathroom warm enough? Use a heat lamp to warm the room (not a noisy one). Ensure towels, equipment, clothes and any necessary items are within reach.
Use the right equipment. Make the most of hand rails, walk in tubs, shower chairs and handheld shower hoses.
Ensure a person is safe. Control the temperature of the taps to prevent scalding, place a rubber bath mat on the floor. Try placing something in a person's hand if their resisting or grabbing you. Never leave anyone with dementia alone.
Ensure proper lighting. People with Alzheimers can have problems with poor vision and depth perception. A person with Alzheimer's may be reluctant to sit on an all white shower chair in a white bathroom as to them it may look like they're about to sit in a big black hole! Reducing glare can also make it easier to distinguish objects.
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