Dementia Bathing: A Challenge for Caregivers but Guidelines Help
Getting an aging or ill loved one to bathe can be a notorious battle that many family caregivers experience. When dementia is a part of this equation, it complicates things even further. As their condition progresses, a senior with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia may refuse to bathe for a number of reasons. Understanding why they resist can help family caregivers navigate these issues and keep their loved ones as clean, healthy, and comfortable as possible.
How often should seniors bathe?
Because this can be such a difficult task, one important consideration is how often seniors truly need to bathe. Since the U.S. is a melting pot of people and cultures from around the world, there are many definitions here of what constitutes cleanliness. Where I live in the High Plains, many seniors who are now in their 80s and 90s grew up taking weekly baths, often because they lived on remote farms where water was too precious to waste. For others, that routine was just normal behavior.
All of this is to say that if a senior won’t shower every single day, it’s unlikely that their health will suffer. This may seem inadequate to younger generations that shower more frequently, but a change of clothes each day and a weekly bath is usually enough for most elders. However, if skin issues and/or incontinence are part of this equation, then more frequent bathing is crucial for preventing dangerous infections.
The goal is to find a frequency that’s realistic for both you and your loved one. If you need some assistance with determining how often a senior should bathe, don’t hesitate to ask their doctor for advice. They should be able to provide a ballpark answer, discuss the risks of poor personal hygiene, and suggest alternatives to full showers or baths.
Why do people with dementia sometimes refuse to bathe? Symptoms of dementia can derail a loved one’s long-standing personal care routines and make it difficult to provide assistance. Understanding the reasons behind their uncooperativeness is the first step in finding workable solutions.
Memory loss and confusion: Memory loss can lead an elder to believe…
Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. “For anyone having to walk the last segments of life with a loved one, read this.” …Delores
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