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• Keeping clean while maintaining comfort and dignity
Note: This article has been localised for an Irish audience. Alzheimer's disease steals a person's privacy as surely as it steals memory. At a certain stage, your loved one may dimly recall a time when she could bathe herself, but that time has passed. As a carer, it's your job to keep her clean while maintaining her comfort and dignity. Keeping clean while maintaining comfort and dignity The job description will change constantly with the disease. At first, the person in your care may feel embarrassed about undressing in front of you. You can ease his mind by giving him a towel or blanket to drape over himself. He'll also feel better if he can do most of the scrubbing. Just give him clear, step-by-step instructions as he goes along. Modesty wears off with time, but new problems will set in. The person with Alzheimer's may become frightened or confused by the sound of running water, or she may fear drowning in the bath. If she seems alarmed, try changing your approach. For instance, it might help to put water in the bath before she enters the room, or to allow her to watch you run the water. She may prefer a sponge bath to a shower if, for example, the sound of the water hitting the tiles or bath is unsettling her. If bath time is still distressing, consider buying a bath chair and a handheld shower hose. The chair can be a way to help her relax and you will worry less about slips and falls. When bathing a person with Alzheimer's, safety is a very real concern. Check the temperature of the water, keep the bath water no more than six inches deep, install a non-slip bath mat and don't use any slippery bath oils or soaps. Handrails in the bath may also help. Most important, don't turn away for even a moment. Here are some other tips for making bath time go smoothly: • Set up a routine for bathing. If it continues to be a struggle, it's okay to wait a few days between baths. Do spot-washing with sponges instead. |
| •If he claims he doesn't need a bath, don't argue. Just keep giving him clear, simple instructions to help him get ready. |
| •Don't ignore a person's genital or anal area for the sake of dignity. There's nothing dignified about a nasty rash. If your loved one can't or won't wash these areas, gently do it for her. |
| •Make sure the person is completely dry and put talcum powder or baby powder in rolls of skin or under a woman's breasts. |
| •If a person refuses to bathe, use regular sponge baths as a last resort. Keep an eye out for red spots or rashes, so you can treat them before they become severe; consult a doctor if they are long lasting or can't be identified. |
Useful Resources Alzheimer Society of Ireland Alzheimer House 43 Northumberland Road Dun Laoghaire Co Dublin Telephone 01 284 6616 Fax 01 284 6030 Alzheimer National Helpline 1800 341341 www. alzheimer.ie info@alzheimer.ie West of Ireland Alzheimer Foundation Main Street Ballindine Co Mayo Telephone 094 936 4900 Fax 094 936 4946 www.westernalzheimer.ie info@westernalzheimer.ie Alzheimer Support Group / Dementia Support Group Highfield Hospital Group Swords Road Whitehall Dublin 9 Telephone 01 837 4444 Fax 01 837 9013 www.highfieldhospital.com info@highfieldhospital.com This article has been revised by Vhihealthe for its audience and may contain, among other things, information or medical practices that are unique to Ireland. Neither Consumer Health Interactive nor the original author make any warranty as to the accuracy of the article as revised, and assume no responsibility for modified content.
First published May 18, 2004
Last updated February 12, 2007
Copyright © 2004 Consumer Health Interactive
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