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Bathing and Dementia

Bathing brings many discomforts. Bathrooms can feel cold and drafty when a person is wet. And running water can be noisy. Nudity makes bathing very intimate, which can be distressing when a modest person needs help and may not recognize the helper.

Plus, bathing is a complicated process with many steps in a specific order. People with dementia may become confused and frustrated. They also may forget about the purpose of cleanliness.

 

Here are some tips to ease bath time:

 

Sponge baths work just as well
In terms of hygiene, all that’s needed is a twice a week wash, and even that can be just the highlights: armpits, folds of skin (under the breast, on the belly), groin, genitals, feet. Remember to keep the rest of the body covered with warm towels to minimize any chill.

 

Get creative

 

Tired of the bathroom battlefield?
As the Roanoke and Lynchburg experts in family caregiving, we at Gentle Shepherd Hospice have developed many strategies and insights that can help you make bath time more pleasant. Make a vote for peace in the household and give us a call at 1-800-789-0586 (toll-free).

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