A Caregiver’s Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease and Personal Care

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Caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease comes with its own set of challenges. Looking good and feeling clean is important not only for health and safety, but also for your loved one’s self image.
Here are some strategies to help caregivers look after their loved one’s everyday grooming. 


Communication is Key
Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty understanding or following directions, or get easily distracted by noise and activities. This can make it challenging to complete activities like dressing, bathing, and brushing teeth. As a caregiver, you’ll likely need to change how you communicate with your loved one in order to work together more easily. 


Helping Your Loved One Get Dressed
Putting on clothes may be a source of frustration. Your loved one may want to wear the same outfit repeatedly (tip: buy three or four sets of the same outfit) or insist on clothing that is inappropriate for the weather. 


Try keeping only one or two outfits in the bedroom and storing extra clothes in another room or a locked closet. After your loved one has chosen an outfit, lay it out in the order it should be put on, handing over one piece at a time.


Let your loved one dress themselves for as long as they can, talking them through the process step-by-step as needed. 


Preparing for Bath or Shower Time
When it comes to washing, your loved one may feel embarrassed to be naked in front of you, or angry at being unable to care for themselves. For most people, a full bath or shower 2 or 3 times a week is enough (sponge baths can be used as needed in between). Try to:

  • Stick to the routine that your loved one has always had, such as bathing or showering in the morning or before bed—especially if your loved one is resistant to or afraid of washing. 
  • Install a handheld shower head, a rubber bathmat to prevent slipping, safety bars, and (if needed) a sturdy shower chair. 
  • Be gentle and respectful. At each step, tell the person what you’re going to do before you do it.
  • If your loved one is uncomfortable being naked, put a towel over the person’s shoulders or lap, and use a sponge or washcloth to clean under the towel. 
  • Do not leave someone who is confused or unsteady alone in the tub or shower.


Maintaining Personal Care
Whether oral hygiene or nail care, it’s important as a caregiver of someone with Alzheimer’s disease to ensure their grooming needs are met. Let your loved one do as much as possible. Show them, for example, how to brush their teeth, taking it step by step. You can even brush your own teeth at the same time. 


Stick to lifelong routines. For example, if you’re caring for a man who has always sported a clean-shaven face, encourage him to shave (using an electric razor for safety). If you’re caring for a woman who has always worn makeup, let her put on powder and lipstick (but avoid eye makeup for safety). 


There will be tasks you cannot handle on your own. See if you can find a dentist in your area who specializes in working with patients with Alzheimer’s disease, or a hairdresser who does home visits. 


Get Help When You Need It
If any activity becomes too much for you as a caregiver to handle on your own, look into getting professional help. You can speak with your health care providers about services specifically for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease support in your area.


CarePartners of Connecticut members can also speak with a CarePartners of Connecticut Dementia Care Consultant who is partnered with the Connecticut chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Call 1-888-341-1507 (TTY: 711) to learn more about your options.