Dementia Care

Guide On Symptoms Management

Other Supports Management

Hygiene (Refuse to bathe)

Sometimes a person with dementia will start to lose interest in taking care of their personal hygiene such as bathing.

It is important to assist them with great patience and reassurance when helping your loved one manage their hygiene.

Care tips

  • Provide full privacy
  • Improve the bathing environment
  • Make sure bathroom is warm enough so that they don’t feel cold when they remove their clothes
  • Provide adequate lighting
  • Playing their favourite music can help calm them down too
  • Create a routine
  • Guide them
Encourage them to do as much as possible by themselves:
  • Explain to them what you are doing and breakdown the tasks into simple steps
  • Lay out everything nicely for them eg. Soap, washcloth, towel and clean clothes

Continence issue

A person with dementia is more likely to have continence issue than a person of the same age without dementia. Sometimes they may not recognize that they have a
full bladder or bowel, or unable to control them.

Care tips

  • Invite them to the toilet regularly
Try to encourage the person with dementia to go to the toilet on a regular basis (every 2 to 3 hours). After developing the habit, they will know it’s time to use the toilet.
  • Make going to the toilet easy and straightforward
Caregivers can place toilet signs to help them navigate them to the toilet with ease. Be sure to pay attention to the height and placement of the signs.
  • Encourage independence
Wear clothes that are easy for the persons with dementia to remove.
  • Avoid liquids after dinner
After dinner, reduce drinks that can increase the frequency of urination (coffee, tea, etc.) if possible.
  • Safety
An adult diaper can be worn to prevent accidental soiling or distress to the person with dementia when they soiled themselves.
Note : Adult diapers are not encouraged unless its absolutely required as it may cause higher risk of infections to the urinary tract and surrounding skin.
The toilet door must be open out or has a lock that can be opened from the outside, in the event that the person with dementia has difficulty of getting out after locking themselves in the toilet.
To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors
– Tia Walker –

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