1. Problem Why is Bathing Such a Problem? & How to Help!

2. Why Is Personal Hygiene a Problem? Physical Health issues Psychological Health Issues Social issues Family concerns Regulator issues Caregiver stress Others…

3. With Dementia… Problems with hygiene frequently are an indicator of… –A need for closer supervision and assistance needed with other ‘complex’ task completion – toileting, OTC meds, diet restrictions… –The beginning of loss of ability to organize time during a week or day – more down time –A need for more structure and guidance in how the day goes – appointments & activities

4. Common Issues No sense that bathing is needed Sense that bathing has already happened Need for privacy No sense that assistance is needed Dislike of the space – size, temperature, look, echo, emotional memory, wet/slippery surfaces Dislike of caregivers – personal or general Fear of… falling, water, experience, cold No understanding of what is happening

5. THE GOAL IS…??? Getting CLEAN – NOT – –Taking a bath –Taking a shower –Having a traumatic experience Keeping everyone safe – NOT – –Hurting the person – physically & emotionally –Hurting the helper – physically & emotionally

6. SIX Pieces to the Puzzle Personal history and preferences Level of dementia Other conditions & sensory losses Environmental conditions Care partner approach and behaviors What happened – full day & all players

7. If it is A PROBLEM… Describe the behavior – OBJECTIVELY & SPECIFICALLY!!! –WHO? –WHAT? –WHERE? –WHEN? –WHAT helps… WHAT makes it worse? –Frequency & Intensity?

8. BEFORE YOU EVEN START… For EACH PERSON… Get a ‘getting clean’ history & preferences… –How have they been getting clean? –History of hygiene practices –How frequently did they get clean? –What about hair? –Where did they do get clean? –When did they get clean? –Temperature sensitivity? –Privacy issues? –Gender issues? Racial issues?

9. Before You Even Start… Check on medical, physical, psychological, & sensory status and conditions –Pain- Stiffness –Mobility- Contractures –Sensation- Fear of others –Vision- Need for control –Hearing- Body fat –Balance- Circulation

10. Level of Dementia Diamonds – Using OLD Routines and Habits Emeralds – Just Get It Done & I Can Do IT! or I already did it! Ambers – Its Not a Task Its an EXPERIENCE – Busy hands & If I don’t like it I leave or hit Rubies – Got to GO or Out Like a Light – gross movement – sensitive spots Pearls – Stuck in Glue – Immobile & Reflexive stiff and tight – hard to get to & low weight

11. Uses Routines & Old Habits to function Can complete personal care in ‘familiar place’ Follows simple prompted schedules - mostly Misplaces things and can’t find them ‘Resents takeover’ or bossiness Notices other people’s mis-behavior & mistakes Territorial – refusals! Varies in lack of self-awareness Level 5 - Diamond

12. Personal Care Issues IADLs –Money management –Transportation - Driving –Cooking –Home maintenance & safety –Caring for someone else –Pet maintenance –Med administration Unfamiliar settings or situations –Hospital stay –Housing change –Change in family –Change in support system –MD visits –New diagnoses –Traveling or vacations

13. Help? Apologize! - “I’m SORRY!” – “I didn’t mean to…” Friendly NOT bossy “Let’s try” – temporary… Share responsibility not take over Use as many ‘old habits’ as possible Give up being ‘RIGHT’ Go with the FLOW Give other ‘job’ when taking away another

14. Level 4 – Emerald Limited awareness of time sensitive needs Needs some “HELP” – not doing for or to Wants the familiar … hard to find it Asks a lot about “What…? Where…?” Increasing mistakes and errors Likes to ‘stay busy’ with familiar tasks Fears being seen as ‘incompetent’

15. Personal Care Issues Doesn’t do care routinely – thinks did Makes mistakes in sequence – unaware Repeats some care routines over & over Resists or refuses help Gets lost – can’t find where to do care Limited awareness of ‘real needs’ – –Hunger, thirst, voiding, bathing, grooming… Has other ‘stuff’ to do…

16. How to Help Learn about “SO WHAT!”… is it worth it? Provide ‘subtle’ supervision for care Provide visual prompts to do –Gestures, objects, set-up, samples, show Hide visual cues to ‘stop’/prevent –Put away, move out of range, leave Use the environment to cue – SHOW Use ‘normal’, humor, friendliness, support

17. What NOT to DO… DO NOT point out errors – or focus on ‘wrong’ DO NOT offer – physical assist 1 st DO NOT offer “Let me HELP you” DO NOT try to ‘go back and fix it… DO NOT continue arguing about ‘reality’ DO NOT treat like children…

18. Level 3 - Amber LOTS of touching, handling, mouthing, manipulating Focus on fingers and mouth Get into things All about sensation…. Invade space of others Do what they like AVOID what they do NOT

19. How to Help Provide step-by-step guidance & help Give demonstration – show Hand-under-hand guidance after a few repetitions, uses utensils (not always well) Offer something to handle, manipulate, touch, gather Limit talking, noise, touch, other activities SUBSTITUTE don’t SUBTRACT

20. Level 2 - Ruby Big movements – walking, rolling, rocking Hand actions – not fingers Tends toward movement unless ‘asleep’ Follows gross demonstration & big gestures for actions Limited visual awareness Major sensory changes Major movement skill loses Fine motor skill lost – mouth & hands

21. How to Help Hand under hand Move with first – then guide Learn about patterns of ‘needs’ Gradual transitions - go to stop Use music and rhythms – help get or stop movement Use touch with care Combine cuing & do SLOW

22. Level 1 - Pearl Immobile – can’t get started Bed or chair bound Has more time asleep or unaware Has many ‘primitive’ reflexes present -Startles easily May cry out or mumble ‘constantly Increases vocalizations with distress Difficult to calm Knows familiar from unfamiliar Touch and voice make a difference in behaviors

23. How to Help Hand under hand help & care Check for reflexes – modify help and approach to match needs Guide movements Use calm, rhythmic movements and voice Come in from back of extremities to clean Stabilize with one hand and work with other

24. Before you start… Flow of the Day TIMING!!! Routine, habit, patterns Fit into the rest of the day Cues and clues What else is happening? Time to recover…

25. Before you start… Check out the Environment… –Physical –Sound –Lights –Equipment –Surfaces –Temperature –Privacy –Materials

26. Before You get started Caregiver Skills –Preparation of the space –Preparation of supplies and equipment –Preparation of self –Approach –Words –Actions –Reactions –THANKS! –BACK OFF!

27. How can we help… better? It all starts with your approach!

28. Positive Physical Approach

29. How you talk… How you say it… What you say… How you respond…

30. Use empathy & Go with the flow Reality Orientation Telling Lies

31. How you help… Sight or Visual cues Verbal or Auditory cues Touch or Tactile cues

32. Hand-Under-Hand Assistance

33. Believe - People with dementia Are doing The BEST they can!

34. Courtesy of Life Enrichment Center, Kings Mtn “It beats a cold creek!”

35. What shouldn’t we do??? Argue Make up stuff that is NOT true Ignore problem behaviors Try a possible solution only once Give up Let them do whatever they want to Force them to do it

36. So WHAT should we do??? Remember who has the healthy brain!

37. www.bathingwithoutabattle.unc.edu Training CD for facilities