Practical Washing & Dressing Care Needs
If your partner or family member has been diagnosed with the symptoms and conditions of dementia it is important to remember that their practical care needs will still remain the same as previously. Issues around eating, drinking, getting dressed, bathing and day to day practical care needs are all considerations of note.
However, it is important to identify that the person may well require additional and different support within these mandatory areas of life. In this guidance, we look at two of life’s most important areas – washing and dressing.
Let’s start with the essential area of supporting a person with dementia to be as involved as possible in their dressing needs. As you would wish, always offer a person choice of what to wear, but keep this simple. Offer two choices at most and actually show them the possibilities that are on offer to enable a critically required person centred approach. Assist the person to choose previously preferred styles and clothing, ensuring they are comfortable, well presented in their appearance and are dressed with seasonally appropriate clothing.
Placing clothes on a nearby chair or the bed in the order they can be put on is also beneficial, as is offering repeated and friendly reassurance on the ordering of clothing that an individual is used to, when the person is putting each piece on. Avoid fiddly buttons and zips if needs be and also enable the individual to style their look as they wish. It may also help to name drawers and wardrobes with useful stickers to remind the person what clothing is situated where.
Occasionally, a person with dementia might be unwilling to dress or take off dirty clothing, despite the fact there may be a need for this (e.g. when soiled or at bedtime), so use friendly and encouraging methods to empower them to make needed dress changes.
Personal hygiene and washing is something most of us take for granted as an independent activity. For those with dementia the task can present new, confusing, anxiety provoking and difficult challenges which can lead to refusals in washing appropriately. Use encouraging, positive and persuasive language to encourage personal hygiene needs are met. Try also to never show frustration or impatience within your own manner.
Support the person in a dignified and private approach to either shower or take a bath in a chosen way they previously used or are now comfortable with. Importantly, be mindful of the timing and preferred routines. A person with dementia who previously showered for example may well dislike the experience now, so be prepared to offer a bath as an alternative which is not too deeply filled or hot in temperature.
Be prepared to support the person during the washing experience so as not to provoke potential distress around being left alone or to leave them with desired privacy. Use tactful and understanding support to encourage as much independence as possible for the person to properly and appropriately wash thoroughly. A use of a dignified ‘hand over hand’ technique to help a person guide their own washing is also very beneficial.
- We have a large range of washing and dressing products for sale that will help a person with dementia. Please visit the link below to see a full range of products that will help make washing and dressing easier.
