Bathing can indeed be one of those difficult tasks for those residents living with dementia. Compared to those with a healthy brain, people with dementia can forget whether they have showered their hair or body.
At the Memory Care Facility In Kannapolis, NC, the healthcare professionals will have their own ways to encourage hygiene practices in individuals with dementia.
Skilled Encouragers and Counselors
The staff have undergone training and certifications. They are great confidence builders and counselors for the residents. Dementia progression may cause the resident’s brain to lose connections, especially for routine tasks like showering. Some may observe a reduced sense of smell, decreased vision and slower processing in the sentences spoken to them. As experienced professionals, they know how to ask the appropriate questions to prompt the residents to think about how important a shower is. For instance, they will focus on asking questions regarding the five senses. Do you feel sticky and sweaty? Does your hair feel oily? Do you smell a sweat stench? Do you want to feel the water cooling you off on a hot day? These will allow residents with dementia to remember that they have to bathe to achieve comfort.
Protect Your Sacred Activity
Showering is a personal private activity and no one will hope to have someone bathe them. Hence, this applies even more so for residents with dementia. They may feel uneasy as they still hold on to their sense of modesty. The thought of feeling naked and vulnerable with someone else present is very unsettling for most.
The nurses at a Care Facility will organize their shower, simplify the activity for them. They will have creative ways to encourage residents with dementia to shower. Some interesting elements may include foot spa, shoulder massage, scalp massage as well as foot massage. These are ways to make bathing more appealing and soothing for the residents.
Loving and Patient Nurses
Lastly, the nurses helping residents to shower must ideally be calm and confident. They must have the passion for older adults and want them to feel comfortable. Over here at the Memory Care Facility in Kannapolis, NC, there are many trained caregivers and nurses who know just the right tools to help people in need. The strong dedication and stable emotional health really mold them into a great caregiver for residents in the homes. You will not be surprised to hear some of their amazing voices as they sing to allow the residents to relax while showering. They know how to adjust the temperature of the water to suit the resident’s needs. Bathing will never be a scary activity for the resident once it all becomes a routine.
Remember, bathing is about trust and it may take several successful times or failed attempts to convince a loved one with dementia to shower. It also depends on their mood and energy level for the day. Do not put any caregiver stress on yourself!
You are never alone in this journey. We want you to take your mind off any worries that you have. Let us carry any weight you have. We welcome you with open hearts to schedule a tour anytime with us at the Memory Care Facility in Kannapolis NC.
