**The following post is from my guest blogger, Natalie Langley, MSW.  She is a Geriatric Care Research Analyst for SCANS (for more on SCANS, please see Eric Tinsley's blog by clicking here).**

Bathing is a challenging task in Alzheimer’s care with which caregivers have trouble.  I’ve heard caregivers say their loved one just refuses to take a shower or becomes agitated in the bathroom.  Many caregivers become frustrated because they know their loved one hasn’t showered in days and is still wearing the same clothes. 

One thing we have to remember is that as the disease progresses, the person is losing brain cells and cannot remember short term events.  Often, they are placed in big showers where water is coming down at them.  They are scared because sometimes they do not even know what water is - much less what is going on.  The bathing experience can often be very frightening for the individual. 

I would like to share some tips that may be helpful in getting your aging loved one with Alzheimer's to bathe.
  1. Keep the bathroom warm and inviting. 
  2. Refer to the shower the way the individual with the disease refers to the shower.  Generations ago, people referred to taking a shower as “washing up”, “the wash room”, “sponge bath”, etc.  Rather than saying, “OK, Mom, it is time for your shower”, say “Mom, let’s go wash up before dinner.”  Learn what they called the shower back when they were younger, because they may be more likely to understand you if you use those terms.
  3. Provide towels for them to cover up for privacy and warmth during the bathing process.
  4. If they did grow up using sponge baths, try using that method.  Even though it may not be the method you use, that may be what the person with Alzheimer’s remembers and understands. 
  5. If the person doesn’t want to shower because they don’t want to change their outfit, buy several of the same outfits in the same color so they will be able to put the “same” outfit back on after they are clean.
  6. Include the person as much as possible during the bathing experience.  Give them a washcloth to hold on to.  This will allow them to think they are a part of the process. 
  7. Fill up the tub with only a few inches of water.  Make sure the water is not too hot – their skin may be more sensitive.
  8. Use a handheld shower head and make sure the spray is not too intense.  The harder the water comes out, the worse it could feel on their skin (since it may be sensitive).
  9. Offer praise to the person for their efforts in helping
  10. Have activities ready if the person becomes agitated, such as playing soothing music or singing their favorite songs.