How often does a dementia patient NEED to bathe and wash their hair?

I googled that same question a few months ago and that is how I found this site.It was the best thing to happen for me. The answer I received was once a week is good. That helped, as I was trying for every other day. Once a week is a whole lot easier.
Getting them to actually do it is the real problem. My mom would rather not,but doesn't give me near the grief, you, and a lot of others go through. Stay tuned....someone here has an answer to help you, I'm sure. Good Luck!

As it turned out Mom relented and did wash her hair....in the kitchen sink. We had quite a time as she has dandruff or something like cradle cap that babies get and it just kept coming lose and honestly had us both sick. It took about 1 hour and washing her hair 7 times and her scrubbing it with her nails to get this stuff off of her head. I was told about a year ago by her beautician that she had dandruff and needed Head and Shoulders to get rid of it, she is still using that bottle and it is almost full, which leads me to believe that she is not actually washing her hair in the shower, but just wetting it!

I hoped the washing episode would be so gross to her that she would not forget it, but by this evening when I mentioned to her that she would need to wash her hair 2 times a week with the special shampoo to keep that stuff off her scalp, she had no idea what I was talking about.

So the next time she bathes it will be the whole ordeal all over again of just trying to get her to wash her hair and bathe......period

My Mom, almost 88 will not shower or take a bath at all, so we do sink baths. The only problem is not being able to wash her hair. For $2 or $3 some beauty shops will wash their hair for you. And if they have a wash and dry haircut it doesn't even have to be styled. My Mom does not like to get her diaper changed. She will hang on to it for dear life when I try to take it off her. I try to be reasonable but after about five to ten minutes I thank the person who invented the tearaway ones. After they come off she is ok and we just put on new ones and her pants back on and go and watch tv. It is the same way with her jammie top also. Any suggestions. She has been with my husband and me for five year.

What about asking when she wants to wash her hair? Suggest day after tomorrow at ? 3pm or whatever time she is usually "good." Remind her that she agreed to that date, 3 or 4 times a day. On the day, remind her every hour. Start collecting the things you need to do it in the sink. I don't know if it would work, but it might.

Good luck. Also see about antianxiety drugs.

My mom doesn't have dementia, but she doesn't bathe as often as I'd like her to. She generally takes a full shower once a week or week and a half. At their ages, they don't sweat nearly as much and their skin is dry and thin, so it's not like us younger people who would be stinking to high heaven after a week. My mom also does sponge baths several times a week. But it's a struggle for sure to keep her on track. Once she does shower, she feels great, but getting her in there is like your mom - a million excuses.

I tried what Jinx suggested, setting a date and reminding her over and over again. On the appointed day/time, she'd still balk. So then I changed my plan of attack and would just would go over and say, "We're going to shower now." I learned after one screaming/crying it had to be earlier in the morning, because she gets tired in the afternoon. So try to figure out when might be the best time for your mom and then do what you can. And my mom is like yours, she can't remember a day later something gross (in my mom's case, she had bugs in her pantry because she kept leaving open cookies and crackers around. Bugs crawling everywhere. It was DISGUSTING! She'd forgotten the whole thing a day later. But I didn't. Shudders.) Good luck with your mom...

My Mom quit bathing very often years ago, in her 80's I think. Usually just once a week but with meticulous personal hygiene after the bathroom. She broke her hip at 90 but recovered really well and continued to bath herself but only once in one to two weeks. Once she waited three weeks and I told her she had to take a bath. She really got upset with me, threatened to move into a nursing home near my sister. About a year ago, she fell several times, no injury but I realized it was time to help her start bathing. I was shooting for once a week but she was resistant and sometimes we went two weeks. She was uncomfortable with me bathing her though and it made me crazy too. So last February I hired a caregiver to come in once a week to bath her. At first she didn't like the idea of a stranger coming in; again she said something about going to live with my sister. This time I just laughed and said "no way." We brought in that caregiver and now she looks forward to her weekly baths (most of the time). However a couple of weeks ago our caregiver had to reschedule to the next day and Mom came into the kitchen to inform me that it would be okay with her if she only got a bath "once a month." Couldn't help it I cracked up; told her "no way." She really is pretty cooperative now, kinda like a little kid. But just thought the "once a month" idea was too funny.

It just seems to be a thing with some older people I guess. She's still pretty careful about her personal hygiene after the bathroom, she tries, but it's getting more difficult.

My dad showers once or twice a week. He doesn't sweat or smell, but personal hygiene is an issue so sometimes he has to shower more. He is entering late stage ALZ. When he came to live with us a little over a year ago after my mom died, I read in The 36 Hour Day that tasks like showering can be overwhelming for them and that you have to break it into multiple steps. I can't just say, "okay go take your shower." He would refuse because he wouldn't have the slightest clue as to what he should do first. So I just ask him to follow me back to his room and I tell him that he needs a shower and I'll help him. The number of "steps" depends on his mental awareness that day. It is usually something like: take off your shoes and shoes, your shirt, leave your watch on the dresser, get out clean underwear, here's your pajamas, follow me to the bathroom, etc., etc. Once I have started the water I leave him to undress and get in the shower. After he's in there I stick my head in the bathroom and remind of where the soap is and tell him to wash real good and get all the nooks and crannies (he always chuckles at that). And then we do all the steps once he's out of the shower to get him dressed and back to his room. The process usually takes about 45 minutes.

Now some of this cooperation from him may come from the fact that he doesn't recognize me much at all anymore -- especially in the evening when he showers. Often times he thinks he is in a medical facility and that I work here. He doesn't know I am his daughter. Most nights when he goes to bed he tells me that I am one of his favorites here and he hopes I'm working tomorrow. If it seems to make it easier on him, I go with it and assume the role of caregiver and call him by his name rather than "Dad." It works well for us.

Bathing seems to be a problem with all elders, IMO. My mom was the same way. I went with twice a week, then put lotion on her or baby oil afterwards. She also had to wash her hair in the kitchen sink. Once I just started washing it in the shower, but she couldn't put her head back far enough, so she got water in her ears, and that set her off big time. She also LIKED to have her hair fixed up and her jewelry on, but getting that head wet was an issue, plus, she could hardly stand there long enough to get the job done. I had a seat for the shower, had two washrags (one for me, one for her), I washed her back and front and legs, she washed her privates, so we were done in about 5 minutes at most. I also had a portable heater in the bathroom before to get it all warm, even in the summer, and the water had to be cooler than I thought it would. Most of all, I tried to make it fun. I would tell stupid stories or make fun of something I did and we would laugh, which took her mind off the whole process. When I did her hair, I would talk about how I would fix it or where we could go just to keep things light.....even if we never went anywhere. Hope something I said here may help you.

Oh my gosh seemeride..... reading your shower time with your mom saved me from writing what I do for my dad... right down to the space heater to the water that would give me goosebumps. lol and by time I am done with the whole thing I am soaking wet from sweat. Not sure if it is hormones or the fact that it is hotter than hell in there.. lol I worked as a paid caregiver and the lady was in later stages of alz. She hated shower time... but I was also a hairdresser for 25 years prior so I would pride myself in doing her hair nice. She liked it and her husband loved it, the daughter......not so much. She said she got her mom's hair permed so she could let it go curly... Oh well I tried, she is a very pretty woman and photos of her before, her hair was always done just so, and her jewelry had to match her outfit. Sad you would maybe think her daughter would have been happy, it wasn't like I was charging her for the blow and curl... Whatever... I guess I should be grateful that my dad keeps himself shaved, worries about the length of his sideburns as well as his eyebrows and he appreciates his showers.. Good luck and hugs to all.

I usually have my mom take a shower two times a week. She washes her face and body by herself but I wash her hair (I call it "my treat" to mom......having someone else wash your hair feels great!) It's also my way of making sure it's being thoroughly cleaned. When my mom first moved in she would be washing her hair with shampoo the same time the water was rinsing the soap out=hair was not getting cleaned......so.....now I wash, brush and blow dry mom's hair. But boy oh boy did we have our disagreements about shower days, when she had one last, etc.....now there's a calendar in her room with everything on it......shower days, appointments, etc. Sometimes mom will ask "Do I smell?" My answer? "Mom, anyone's going to have an odor after a few days." I think this answer is better than, "Well, as a matter of fact..."

This seems to be working for now. Down the line....who knows? This week mom has a hair appointment so I'm gearing myself up for "I don't need a haircut." (she does) and "Didn't I just get it cut?" (five weeks ago).....then there might be/most likely will be some complaining about having to go to the salon....then after the haircut "Oh, it looks so nice!".......... "Yes, mom, it does!" ;)

Thank you all so much, what blessings you all are! I am sitting here feeling so frustrated and thinking I am probably the only one with this problem and find out it is something everyone deals with and yet in some different ways.

Seemeride, I love how you talk and tell stories to get her mind off what is happening. It sounds like although it is work you are both having a fairly good time while you are "taking care of business!" Love It!

Several of you mentioned the coolness of the water and I was rather shocked yesterday that Mom yelled at me at one point saying the water was hot when in reality the water was lukewarm, almost cool. I was immediately wondering if when they have dementia or Alzheimer's do they lose their sense of temperature? Mom's dog sleeps in my room under the bed and Mom comes in numerous times each night to check on her and she will say, "It's too hot in here can't you turn your air conditioner down to hit the floor and 10 minutes later she is back complaining that it is too cold and the dog needs a blanket! So do they lose their sense of hot and cold?

I wish I had a chair that could lean back like in beauty shops so I could say to Mom, just have a seat and "I will give you beauty shop treatment!" That is what we use to say to the kids and now the dog....I think she would maybe laugh at it....but sit down and let me wash her hair.

Thank you all for your suggestions and stories. I wish I knew something special she liked that we could do that would make it seem worthwhile to her. I honestly HATE to experience her yelling and tantrums and at times I get upset and that doesn't help. That is why I told her if she refused to bathe or wash her hair I would hire someone to come in and help her, that was my frustration. They act like children but with a child you can normally make them do what you want I just don't want Mom to be upset and angry.....it hurts when you are trying to do what is best for them but they do not see it that way.

Raven1, I am sure all the yelling and tantrums are very stressful! My mom and I have had our moments (when she doesn't want to shower or go to a scheduled appointment but once she's in the moment she's usually better) but it stresses me out to the point where I wonder, "What the heck am I going to do as mom's dementia progresses?" Sooooo much to think about.......

Yes, our parents do act child-like because they just don't understand that what we are doing for them is in their best interest. It can be extremely frustrating! Caretaking is tough! Take care of your mom but remember to also TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!

Maybe you should hire someone to help your mom bathe and shower. This would give you free time you didn't have before and It would probably reduce your stress level. Take a deep breath and hang in there!

All I can say is "Parents are sure hard to raise" lol :)

OMG, my demented mother refused to bathe/shower or wash her hair for the last four years before being admitted to a nursing home. Because of my multiple disabilities, doing it for her was completely out of the question. When I tried to get help in, the carer support groups refused - just because mum didn't want help. Mum ended up getting very itchy red rash all over her entire body and scalp - with super bad cradle cap. I ended up catching mum's rash. And I still have to shower twice a day to control my arm pit odour and fanny itch. The family doctor knew this would happen - and make me contagious, but refused to do anything about it - just because I have multiple disabilities. I have posted more about this on other threads. But hell - daily showering - twice daily if you live in a hot climate or sweat a lot - is essential to hygiene - or you will get a rash and rashes are contagious.

maybe this is why there is a global outbreak of scabies - I read on the internet that 13 million people world wide have scabies - I think it would be mainly demented people refusing to ever washh - and their carer children who catch it off of them. ALl the more reason why all demented people should be forced to go into a nursing home - where they get looked after properly and made to shower once every day.

My mother gets her hair done every week (in AL) but never combs it after that. She won't shower and there is nothing we can do. She absolutely refuses to cooperate with the staff at her assisted living home and they can't, by law force her. She won't listen to us either. Five months ago, before we took her to the AL, my sister forced her into the shower and she howled and carried on - and was out in 2 minutes. Its the only shower she has had in years. I noticed the other day that she is beginning to smell. We simply don't know what to do. Mom is 100, still mobile, getting herself dressed, etc but has dementia, memory loss. She is just totally uncooperative in every way.

Well if dementia people refuse to shower, they should be isolated from every one else

My mom is not a fan of bathing either. However, i am mindful of keeping her peepee clean as best aa i can, she is very susceptible to UTI's. I remind her if she doesnt get clean down there, she may end up in the hospital again. UTI's really take her out at 92. Fighting to take a bath is awful, i know, but there are medical and health reasons that it needs to be done too. Good luck

Aloe sanitary wash wipes, better than nothing too

Also, we bought a shower chair and shower hose that stretches and reaches around to wash mom.....and talk about something else while i clean her

I cant stress enough regarding older women the propensity for UTIs....womem have died from untreated urinary tract infections... Cleanliness is next to godliness??

I think some of people are a little obsessed with this whole daily bathing/showering thing. There's a difference between keeping clean and showering. It IS possible to be clean with sponge baths, wet wipes etc. There are even no rinse shampoos and body washes for those who absolutely can not bathe the conventional way.
BTW, where I live the nursing home provides a bath/shower twice a week, not daily.

Good Lord, I need to shower twice a day to control my armpit honk and itchy fanny. I suffer an illness that makes me honk under the arms - within minutes of finishing my shower - while I am still wet. There is nothing the doctors can do for me - so I have to manage it myself with 2 x day showering. If I were to go out, I sometimes need to have a 3rd shower a day - or wonder why everyone keeps away from me and/or holds their noses

My Alz husband would not like to bath and would fight with me about it everyday. He would say I will do it later or I already did it. What worked for me was drugs (Celexa and Ativan). He also goes to daycare three times a week and he wants to be clean and smelling good "for the girls there". I know some of you may not like the idea of drugs but it worked wonders for me. Thank god for his new doc who helped me figure it out.

I find it very upsetting and I haven't figured out what to do about Mom. My sister just says, if that is the way she wants it.............. She doesn't want to do anything. I have a bad back, can't force her to do it by myself. I don't want her kicked out of AL because of it. I was thinking that next time she sees the doctor he might be able to prescribe something that will make her more cooperative for just that time and maybe I can convince my sister to help.

Stressed, my mom had the cradle cap in the top of her head and behind her ears. I would put a little baby oil in her and comb with a fine tooth comb to get as much out as possible before washing. Dictir told me to leave the dandruff shampoo sit in hair for about 15 mins then rinse. She told me to wash her hair 2x per week until cradle cap gone. I did exactly as she said and in 2 weeks, it was all gone and never came back. We then went back to the once a week shower.

Amy, great idea, something to calm her before shower!

Stressed, moms doc recommended head and shoulders for cradle cap. I used baby oil first and fine tooth comb to loosen. Leave shampoo on head for at least 15 min then rinse. Told to do 2x per week till gone. It was gone after 2 weeks. Good luck.

I think this is a big problem for all of Us Caregiver's. Trying to encourage Our Love One to take a shower. Mom is 86 years, and was diagnosed with Al/s 21/2 years ago. Prior to diagnosis Mom bathed six nights a week, and changed Her under clothes every day. Now I'm struggling to get Mom to take one shower in two weeks. I would never force Her, but I try encouraging. It's very embarrassing for Me as many Family members call to visit at the weekends, and of course I'd wish for Mum to look Her brightest and very best. Through My own research I discovered that Alzheimer' Sufferers cannot see water..this may be part of the problem.

I'm on vacation and my sister has taken over for me, keeping an eye on Mom in AL. I'm gone 4 days, and sis goes to see Mom and she promptly collapses and has to be taken to ER. After an all day vigil - they send sis home and the AL calls about 9pm. She is now back in AL - she has a UTI. Not surprising since she doesn't bathe, hasn't showered in years. Apparantly they finally talked her into letting them give her a shower - but, too late - her filthiness (and she was beginning to stink) has resulted in the UTI. Sis went back the next day to check on her and she got us usual ration of complaints - hates it there, wants her own apt, wants to cook her own meals.............sigh................and she is milking it for all its worth - they are bringing her meals to her room until she feels better...........sigh...............I am NOT going home!

We currently have an aide through home health and I learned from her how to quickly bathe mom, out of the shower, in wheelchair or in hospital bed.

TIPS: Use hand towels instead of bath towels. Keep various body parts covered so LO doesn't get cold. Portable heaters are a great help, preferably oscillating heater to avoid direct heat (which is too much). Wash and dry each area instead of waiting to dry after total bath. Keep hand towel in place until ready to wash then dry off and put towel back over area. Gloves diminish your sensitivity to heat and cold. Closely monitor heat level.

MORE TIPS: If in bed, use bath towels from dryer. One under body. One over body. Low lights. Soft music. Talk calmly and slowly. Talk about something else or warn as you touch body depending on LO awareness level and demeanor. Paper bathing dresses or shorts are available online if showering. (run Google search). Shower chair helpful. Use detaching arm, rain shower head if possible (Bed Bath & Beyond). Shower shoes for traction (also BBB).

OPTION # 1 (my preference) = No Rinse Cleaning & Deodorizing Bathing Wipes (soft, pre-moistened cloths provide convenient bathing alternative) (www.norinse.com) = CleanLife Products (800.223.9348). Cloths made with Rayon/Poly mix. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. Aloe Vera Enriched - No Alcohol. UPC # 0 75244 01000 9. Package of 8; heat in microwave 15 seconds then test and heat in 5 to 10 second increments, if needed until appropriate temp or use at room temp; package shows how to use, but general rule = 1 cloth for body quadrant (in order of use): (1) Face (avoid eyes), Neck, Chest (incl boobies) (2) Left Arm (3) Right Arm (4) Perineum = privates = let LO handle if able. (5) Left Leg + Feet (6) Right Leg + Feet (7) Back (8) Buttocks.

ACTIONS: Discard each cloth after bathing designated area. Bada bing - done deal!

OPTION # 2 = Plastic bowl of warm water + body wash and shampoo liquid formula + bath cloth.

ACTIONS: Use above tips. Soak bath cloth. Wring out almost completely. Bathe body quadrants as in Option # 1. Rinse cloth well each time and bath quadrant again. Dry each area.

ADD'L INFO: Watch Teepa Snow videos on bathing. Twice a week is plenty.

SHAMPOO: Soaking wet cloth but not dripping. Soak scalp until wet, but not dripping. Cradle cap - warm to hot, as much as possible. Leave in place. When done with loose hair, use thin gloves. Scrub w/ nails as much as possible to remove cradle cap. Can also use comb to scrub scalp and loosen cradle cap. If LO can tolerate, soak w/ Head & Shoulders instead of bath and shampoo liquid formula. Remember, everything incl scalp is much more tender than yours.

ACTIONS: Wash rest of hair (in quadrants) in same manner. Rinse cloth, soaking wet w/ clear water from 2nd bowl. Once rest of hair is clean, go back to scalp. Use detangling comb to comb out water into towel around neck. Use towel to squeeze and rub dry. Finally, if LO can tolerate, use hair dryer on lowest heat. Stay away from neck + other skin = TENDER.

Hope this has been helpful!!