Personal Care
Providing personal care, particularly bathing persons with dementia, can be a challenge for both family and professional caregivers. The simplest way to view this necessity is from the patient's point of view. Take into account the abilities of a person with dementia and customize care accordingly. For instance, knowing a person's bathing preferences (bath or shower) is very important. Creating a spa-like experience using a towel bath instead of a shower or tub bath may lead to greater success. Pay careful attention to room temperature, appropriate padding on shower chairs, and not baring the body all at once. Distractions such as singing, background music, tastes of chocolate, or talking about a favorite subject also can be helpful. For more information on bathing, please refer to the Dementia Digest, Bathing Issue.
