Daily dressing and grooming are such important activities for someone with dementia. Feeling fresh, clean and well groomed can go a long way in boosting self-esteem and feeling comfortable.
Here are some tips that can make this a seamless and enjoyable daily experience:
- Simplify choices: Too many choices on what to wear, what to eat or other activities can be difficult for someone with dementia to process and there by leading to frustrations.
- Consider comfort: Too tight or too baggy clothing might restrict movement and require constant re-adjustments that might cause anger and frustrations.
- Praise: Give a thumbs-up for a job well done. This act may encourage the person to finish up with the dressing and grooming more seamlessly.
- Speak clearly, simply and friendly: Be willing to meet the person from where they are at and not from where you would wish them to be.
- Show it with actions: Demonstrate what you want the person to do and then be patient enough as you allow them time to do what you have shown them to do. Don’t mind to repeat the process as necessary.
- Think about timing: Introducing activities say very early in the morning, that you may deem as not involving may be very involving and tasking on someone with dementia. The same applies when you introduce activities when they are too tired or it’s too late in the evening. While there is no right or wrong time, it would be helpful to carve out a timing that works based on a trend.
- Avoid towering: It is important to be at eye level as a caregiver when addressing the care receiver. This creates a warm and friendly environment which further makes the dressing and grooming activity an enjoyable experience.
It takes patience and a genuine sense of understanding to help a loved one partake in activities that you would not even think about when doing them. The most important thing is to always meet a person from where they are & not where you are at.
Those with dementia are still people and they still have stories and they still have character and they are all individuals and they are all unique. They just need to be interacted with on a human level– Carey Mulligan.