To make getting dressed easier for your loved, go through his or her closet and throw away anything they're unlikely to ever wear. Too many clothes can confuse someone with Alzheimer's and they could be overwhelmed by having to choose what to wear. You want to make sure your loved one remains independent so help them by laying out two or three outfit choices for them to choose from.
If you find that your loved one likes to wear the same outfit each day, buy two or three duplicates of each article so that they wear clean clothes instead of ones they've worn earlier in the week.
When it comes time to actually get dressed, people with Alzheimer's can become confused and lose track of what they're doing. To encourage them, give them one piece at a time with specific instructions rather than asking them to just get dressed.
For instance, give them a pair of socks and ask them to put those socks on their feet. Repeat this with each article of clothing you give them. To make the process even easier and more fluent, make sure your loved one has non-slip, comfortable, slip-on shoes and replace difficult things, like zippers, buttons and snaps, with Velcro. This way your loved one doesn't need help with these items and it's easier and safer for them to get ready.
Other grooming tasks, like managing hair, shaving and brushing teeth, are often forgotten about by Alzheimer's patients. On top of forgetting how to do these things, they may just forget that they need to do them at all.
To encourage daily grooming, buy your loved ones favorite products so the activities are more enjoyable for them. Spend time with your loved one and get ready together so you can show them first hand how to do things and they can watch and mimic your activity.
Nail clippers, razors and other dangerous grooming items should be replaced to prevent injury. Invest in safer options, like emery boards and electric shavers. Going out in to public can be frightening for an Alzheimer's patient, so see if your hair dresser or barber makes house calls. This way your loved one can have their hair cut, colored or permed in the comfort of their own home. Hygiene and safety are important but so isn't independence. Do whatever you can to ensure your loved one has dignity as well as pride in his or her appearance.
If you find that your loved one likes to wear the same outfit each day, buy two or three duplicates of each article so that they wear clean clothes instead of ones they've worn earlier in the week.
When it comes time to actually get dressed, people with Alzheimer's can become confused and lose track of what they're doing. To encourage them, give them one piece at a time with specific instructions rather than asking them to just get dressed.
For instance, give them a pair of socks and ask them to put those socks on their feet. Repeat this with each article of clothing you give them. To make the process even easier and more fluent, make sure your loved one has non-slip, comfortable, slip-on shoes and replace difficult things, like zippers, buttons and snaps, with Velcro. This way your loved one doesn't need help with these items and it's easier and safer for them to get ready.
Other grooming tasks, like managing hair, shaving and brushing teeth, are often forgotten about by Alzheimer's patients. On top of forgetting how to do these things, they may just forget that they need to do them at all.
To encourage daily grooming, buy your loved ones favorite products so the activities are more enjoyable for them. Spend time with your loved one and get ready together so you can show them first hand how to do things and they can watch and mimic your activity.
Nail clippers, razors and other dangerous grooming items should be replaced to prevent injury. Invest in safer options, like emery boards and electric shavers. Going out in to public can be frightening for an Alzheimer's patient, so see if your hair dresser or barber makes house calls. This way your loved one can have their hair cut, colored or permed in the comfort of their own home. Hygiene and safety are important but so isn't independence. Do whatever you can to ensure your loved one has dignity as well as pride in his or her appearance.
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