Are there any good tips on how to prepare and give a shower to someone with Alzheimer's?

I have done several things for and with my husband...
At first I would go to resale stores and purchase a VERY inexpensive walker. He could stand in the shower holding the walker and then I could shower him.
Later we went to a bench that I placed close to a grab bar so he could hold on.
Last we went to an actual shower chair so I wheeled him from the bedroom to the shower.
(I must admit I am very luck in the fact that I have a large accessible shower that is even with the floor so there are no trip hazards or edges to go over)

I did learn from a physical therapist a few hints.
The torso and head are areas that they protect so start with the feet and legs so there is not an onslaught of water rushing at the head.
I also allowed my husband control of the hand held sprayer so he could move the water where he wanted I would take it back after a while but I would give him a wash rag.
The shower can be a noisy place with the water and the talking so keep your voice quiet and I often will turn the water off after getting my husband wet. That way the noise is gone and it is a much more relaxed room.

and while hygiene is important a shower every day is not. So if a day is skipped it is not the end of the world. There are no rinse foam soaps that can be used, a sponge bath or body wipes. At some point as the skin thins washing everyday is drying to the skin and bed bath is better. Further on, the more transfers that have to be done each come with a risk of a skin tear or a bump that may cause a bruise or an abrasion. As the CNA that comes from Hospice says...Benefit VS Burden with many things that we think would be "normal" or "routine"

And what do you do with someone who can still semi functional and simply refuses to get in the shower because "he's already done that". You can point out that he's sitting there in the same clothes and the bathroom is completely dry and there are no wet towels and he just like looks at you like you have horns. He has a shower bench, security bars, anti slip flooring, sufficient lighting, perfect temperature for his age...you name it, he has it. IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE HE HAS HAD RUNNING WATER ON HIS BODY and probably a month since he's changed his clothes. And his "wash ups" at best with a rag are useless. And no, he won't let you "help" and becomes belligerent if you try. I am sick to death of this. SICK.TO.DEATH. Anyone else going through it?

Once I could no longer get my mom to go in the shower because of her fighting about going into it, she would be ok with a "sponge bath" but not her hair. We then took her at least once a week to Great Clips where they would wash and dry her her. She was fine with that because the water wasn't going in her face. Someone at a Walgreen's suggested I try No Rinse. It's in the aisle where the medical supplies are. I could put a towel on her shoulders or even under her when she could no longer get out of bed, squirt the No Rinse on, rub it in (it lathers) and then towel it dry. I was amazed how clean and soft it made her hair and she liked the physical contact of me rubbing her head and then toweling it dry. I have told so many people about it. It's great! It's sold at other stores, but don't look in the general shampoo aisle.

My mother did not like being cold, and she thought it was way to cold in a shower. We would always heat up the room to the point tat we were seating in it, and then bring her with a thick robe on. The water would be up to temp before she got in. This seemed to work better for her.

There is a class on the Alzheimer Association website called ADLs. It shoeers videos of many ways to shower people and lots of tipd to make it easier and less tramatic

Forgot to mention, that if shampooing is the major part that is difficult, just shower the body and take them to the hairdresser once a week. This also worked with my Mom for quite a while. A handheld shower does help a lot.

Oh, boy. As some of the folks on this forum may recall, one of the first questions I asked when I started participating had to do with dealing with my 93 year old mother's (with moderate dementia of the Alzheimer's variety at this point) beligerance regarding bathing. My story is virtually a carbon copy of memsobelle's and akaheba's with a sprinkling of disgusted 2000's (regarding the hair) and lataza's appointment issues. When I couldn't handle the stress anymore, we moved mom to AL last August. The move has really been a Godsend, I won't deny that, although I feel for the aides who are unable to get mom to cooperate with showering. She leaves me the nastiest phone messages when on very rare occasion able to be successful in coercing her to cooperate although they have said they simply will not fight with her about this unless it is deemed by the doctor to be medically necessary. Like some of the other posters, she seems to do enough to keep from really stinking but just smells stale and never fresh. Her clothesand linens are laundered because they sneak them out and back in when she goes for meals or I take some of the better tops and just do them myself. She has a standing hair appointment once a week so I've said the same as disgusted2000 - just try to shower her body and leave the hair alone. Lataza - the always running late for appointments was another thorn in my side but at least now her primary doctor sees her at the facility and just has an aide being her down for appointments. Taking her anywhere with an appointment was and is (including a restaurant, which we do very rarely at this point) a total P.I.T.A. because clearly no one's schedule but hers matters. Bottom line though - AL has been a lifeline when I was hanging by a very slim thread and when my husband was really starting to worry about how long I would be able to cope. Everyone on this forum has been such a wonderful source of support not to mention information....as they say in any support group, "keep coming back!" Hugs to you all!

If you have space in your shower, try a shower bench or chair, which might be more relaxing. Also, to avoid the gush of water, get a shower head with a flexible hose and keep the water flow low and quiet and off of the persons head. Delta (75700 model) is about $25 on Amazon. You can also try a distraction for the persons hands, such as a toy,

With my Mom, the thing she disliked the most was having her hair shampooed. I eventually purchased her a shampoo halo I think it's called, it was actually invented for children, but fit my Mom just fine. I ordered it on-line from K-Mart, but I think you may be able to get one from Amazon. It's a plastic visor that's cupped and keeps the water from running into and down her face. It helped greatly. Also have something for them to hold onto, like a wash cloth or plastic toy or something. My sister used essential oils like lavender, she said she thought it helped. You could have them diffuse it in the bathroom before starting the shower. This was the most difficult piece for us, but eventually the battles ceased. The Alzheimer's Reading Room also has a good article on this. Sometimes we were unable to get her top and bra off before the shower, so she got a shower with her top and bra on, but then afterwards she was ready to have them off because they were wet and we would say,"oh look, lets get you in some dry clothes, these are soaking wet" and it worked. Then just wring them out and throw them right in the wash.

Lots of good ideas, with my dad, it was so nice for him to have a shower as he had a Harttman procedure and has a stoma. Luckily as the previous blogger... A large walk in shower. I would wear a bathing suit and whilst he was seated on a plastic garden chair, he would allow me to soap and shower him.